CEDA

CEDA Team Members Assist With A Major Expansion At A Northeast Iowa Company

September 1, 2019 ·

Article by: Jason Passmore

Plantpeddler, a supplier of top quality plants located in Cresco, IA, broke ground in July on a 100,000 square foot addition to their operation. Plantpeddler started in Cresco with just 12,000 square feet and this expansion will bring their facilities to over 550,000 square feet. Over 100 people from as far away as the Netherlands attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new space will accommodate a state-of-the-art greenhouse, new shipping and dock facilities, and an expanded genetics trial garden.

CEDA team members serving Howard County Business & Tourism assisted the $3.5M expansion with a $150,000 loan to Plantpeddler. The expansion is expected to add approximately 25 employees to the current 95 member team.

CEDA Representative Secures $42,000 Value Added Grant in Spring Valley, MN

September 1, 2019 ·

Article by: Cathy Enerson

CEDA’s Cathy Enerson, who served as Spring Valley’s EDA Director, secured a $42,011 Minnesota Value Added Grant for Valley Butchery and Meat Market. The grant will assist with an expansion to the building and equipment purchases. Rusty and Tanner Hellickson have owned Valley Butchery and Meat Market in Spring Valley for only two years. The Hellicksons are former employees of Kraut Meat Locker, and are what are referred to by Enerson as a succession story. The economic impact and success from the grant includes retaining six full time jobs, increasing the number of days per week for processing, saving energy, and saving labor. Efficiency doubles when both Tanner and Rusty process at the same time, therefore the new equipment and required separation of space while processing doubles the owner’s ability to process meats. Retail customers will be able to select from the newly installed eight door self-serve freezer case.

Valley Butchery and Meat Market is becoming a valuable retail outlet for area livestock farmers. emerging fish and shrimp farmers, and for those in the area that raise bees. Once construction of the expansion project is complete, their smoke house will smoke seven new varieties of smoked links and varieties of trout. There will be less overall transportation, and improved environmental impact when local farmers raise more animals and have them processed locally. With food safety always in the forefront, the expansion project will bring the plant up to current code. The Hellickson’s indicate that the new expansion space and the new equipment will improve overall health for themselves and their employees, and express their gratitude to Enerson for the work in securing the grant funds. The Hellickson’s share that they may hire one additional retail person, and an additional part-time seasonal processor. In addition, the Hellickson’s will be able to aide the Department of Natural Resources by processing the deer from area CWD hunts.

This is the second MN Value Added grant that Cathy Enerson has written. Enerson has secured a total of $150,000 in grant funds for local butchers in SE MN.

Claremont, MN EDA Works to Prepare for Highway 14 Expansion

August 3, 2019 ·

Article by: Marty Walsh

The Claremont, MN EDA has been working with CEDA to prepare for potential growth spurred on by the completion of the final four lane section of US Highway 14 between Rochester and Owatonna, and Mankato beyond. The new highway will pass to the south of the City, instead of the current route to the north. CEDA Community and Business Development Specialists Marty Walsh and Rebecca Charles have been working to map out which areas would be prime for annexation and development. The project includes working with Claremont Township to prepare an Orderly Annexation Agreement to quickly react to future development potential outside the City that requires annexation, as well as conducting a Development Survey that gathers information from rural landowners about their willingness to sell and/or develop land for commercial, residential or industrial use. The survey information will be used to inform City decisions about infrastructure improvements and to connect landowners to potential development projects inquiring with the City.

In addition to identifying where there is high development potential, the surveys will help to highlight areas with low development potential which will help limit over investment in attempting to annex an area or over development of infrastructure that will likely never meet capacity. Once surveys have been returned and the data analyzed, CEDA will generate Residential, Industrial, Commercial, and Industrial development Requests For Proposals that take into account the information in the surveys as well as the new highway and existing railroad service and distribute them for the City, spurring interest in the community and the location between two of the states fastest growing markets.

Micro Distillery Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting in Harmony, MN

August 3, 2019 ·

Article by: Mary Kennedy

Harmony Spirits micro-distillery celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting event on July 4th! CEDA Vice President Chris Giesen has been working with the owners of the distillery for over four years, offering small business counseling and packaging several assistance programs to help them establish in Harmony. Additionally, the Harmony Economic Development Authority sold the lot to the distillery for $1, made a $25,000 loan for equipment, and gave a $10,000 forgivable loan to get the project off the ground. “This project is exciting for the community not only because of the micro distillery opening, but also because the EDA has worked since 2005 to redevelop the lot where the distillery built.

The city received a redevelopment grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development DEED) in 2005 to demolish and redevelop blighted properties and build a public parking lot on a downtown block. It was a lot of work to find the right project to fit this important space,” Giesen explained. “This business complements the community very well. It supports local restaurants too, as the distillery does not offer a food menu, and it attracts even more tourists and visitors to the downtown.” Harmony Spirits uses locally sourced grain to make whiskey, rum, and vodka. Soon, their products will also be available in liquor stores and they will also be adding bourbon and gin to their lineup. Stop by Harmony Spirits Thursdays – Saturdays between 12-9 pm, or Sundays from 5-9 pm!

CEDA Staff Leads Itasca County, MN Communities through Brainstorming Sessions

August 3, 2019 ·

Article by: Mary Kennedy

Over the past several months, Sarah Carling, CEDA team member serving Itasca County and Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has been facilitating brainstorming sessions in communities throughout Itasca County. The brainstorming sessions consist of interactive meetings / workshops held with city staff, community and business leaders, residents, and stakeholders to identify resources, assets, challenges, and ultimate goals for the community’s future.

Carling takes an interactive approach by first facilitating a SWOT analysis, helping the group identify the communities strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. From there, Carling leads the group through several conversations concerning both the economic and commercial aspects of the community, as well as residential and tourism. For example, Carling encourages the community members to consider how all populations are being engaged and best utilized in the community, including senior citizens and youth, and to identify blighted areas. The process Carling uses to gather information throughout the brainstorming session is to have the participants individually write their thoughts on post-it notes for each of the 5 exercises, and eventually post them on a large sheet to discuss as a group. After the brainstorming session is complete, Carling is able to compile a report that will document the shared ideas and potential projects. The report will also include a living breathing Excel document that allows the city to work and track the progress, assists with prioritization, and identifies possible resources available to make these projects more attainable. “Mapping out a wish list is important for every community,” explains Carling. “How each of the communities in Itasca County will use these reports will be different, but they will have the tools and possible resources to get their ball rolling in the best direction possible for their community. I am excited to see what will come for these communities in the future.”