STURGIS — A baby formula manufacturer in Sturgis that made headlines in 2022 is planning to expand, according to a report from WOOD TV-8.

WOOD TV-8 reported a site plan has been approved for the expansion of Abbott Nutrition, 901 N. Centerville Road, in Sturgis.

Abbott is seeking to build a 35,000-square-foot expansion on its warehouse building, plus a 1,060-square-foot water treatment room and a 12,548-square-foot boiler and compressor addition. According to WOOD TV-8, circulation improvements and a new chemical drain are also part of the plans.

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes told WOOD TV-8 the Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan last week.

“We absolutely appreciate their continued investment and commitment to the Sturgis community and look forward to the job opportunities that will be provided,” Hughes said. “Sturgis continues to see significant overall development and we look forward to future opportunities and growth that projects like this will spur.”

Production of baby formula at Abbott resumed in July after shutting down in February over contamination that contributed to a shortage nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration investigated four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powered formula from the plant — resulting in two infant deaths.

More:Production resumes at troubled Abbott baby formula factory in Michigan

Abbott said its products haven’t been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains, but the FDA found several violations at the plant — including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols.

Abbott is one of four companies that produce roughly 90 percent of U.S. formula, according to the Associated Press.

The Sturgis Planning Commission last October also approved a site plan for Abbott Nutrition that included a soil erosion control project, a distribution center truck parking area, truck staging area and a tracking pad for vehicles to return to North Clay Street.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Baby formula manufacturer in Sturgis planning expansion