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Manufacturing Week luncheon scores a touchdown
<br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, CHAMBER TEAM UP FOR INFORMATIVE EVENT
<br />txing business with fun and
<br />education was an overriding
<br />theme at Elk River's
<br />Manufacturing Week Luncheon in mid-
<br />October at the Time Out Restaurant &
<br />Sports Bar.
<br />Sponsored by the Elk River Economic
<br />Development Authority (EDA) and the
<br />Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce,
<br />the luncheon drew more than 50 people,
<br />including representatives from about 10
<br />manufacturing firms located in Elk River.
<br />The featured guest speakers were Dr.
<br />Frederick Zimmerman, a manufacturing
<br />expert and a professor at the University
<br />of St. Thomas, and Chuck Foreman, the
<br />All Pro running back from the glory yeazs
<br />of the Minnesota Vikings.
<br />With these two well-known guests
<br />providing their insights for success,
<br />the title of the day's events, naturally,
<br />blended football with business: "What's
<br />"We were impressed that the luncheon
<br />featured Dr. Zimmerman, who is a well-
<br />known and well-respected industry
<br />expert," says Mr. McChesney. "When
<br />we saw that he would be speaking, we
<br />knew we had to go because anytime you
<br />can heaz him talk you're going to gain
<br />valuable insight into what's going on in
<br />the industry... seeing Chuck Foreman was
<br />a nice bonus, too."
<br />Dr Zimmerman provided local business
<br />owners with valuable information about
<br />strategic planning and manufacturing
<br />processes, while Mr. Foreman spoke
<br />about the vital leadership role that
<br />local businesses have in a community.
<br />Mc Foreman also provided plenty of
<br />autographed memorabilia and gave away,
<br />as door prizes, four NFL footballs signed
<br />by the legendary No. 44.
<br />Before lunch, participants toured two new
<br />manufacturing facilities in Elk River:
<br />Orluck Industries, a precision machining
<br />firm that opened a 23,500 square foot
<br />building earlier this year; and Gradient
<br />Technology, ahigh-tech firm that opened
<br />a 13,000 squaze foot headquarters and
<br />reseazch facility in late 2004.
<br />I Your Game Plan for 2006?"
<br />On hand at the luncheon were Elk River
<br />Machine Co.'s Jim Barthel, the president,
<br />and Todd McChesney, the manufacturing
<br />manager.
<br />Community
<br />(Continued from Page 2)
<br />"The city is well-positioned to continue
<br />to grow in terms of more housing,
<br />retail, and light industrial," Mr. Clark
<br />says. "Our industrial parks offer great
<br />opportunities for companies that bring
<br />with them good jobs. Our downtown
<br />redevelopment project should stimulate
<br />other development in the city, as well as
<br />major redevelopment projects"
<br />Mc Clazk adds that the Community
<br />Development Department is planning
<br />to host a developers' forum in February
<br />in which city officials will explain
<br />changes in the development process and
<br />ask for input from developers. Details
<br />I -onceming the forwn will be available
<br />after Jan. 1. Please call the Economic
<br />Development Division at 763.635.1040
<br />for updates. ^
<br />City of Elk River
<br />"Elk River business people tell us
<br />they like to go out and tour the city's
<br />manufacturing businesses," says
<br />Catherine Mehelich, Elk River's
<br />Economic Development Director. ^
<br />Huger Target Tech Center is big catch
<br />CITY, COUNTY TEAM SECURES QUICK APPROVAL
<br />Target Corp. broke ground in October on its future 160,000 squaze foot
<br />Technology Center, which will be located on 30 acres of land formerly
<br />owned by Sherburne County in faz western Ells River.
<br />Despite the fact that the massive project involved the county and several city
<br />departments, the approval process took just a matter of months. Last spring,
<br />Elk River's Economic Development Division received an inquiry from a broker
<br />looking for a site for a large user, which remained anonymous at the time.
<br />Upon receiving the inquiry, the Economic Development Division referred the
<br />broker to Sherburne County, which was in control of 70 acres adjacent to its
<br />government center to accommodate future growth. Because the county does not
<br />need all of the land, it was looking to put a portion back on the property tax rolls.
<br />"The City of Elk River and Sherbume County distinguished themselves well, both
<br />during the negotiations for the land and the approval process," says Collin Barr,
<br />Vice President of Development for Ryan Cos. USA Inc., the designer, builder and
<br />general contractor on the Tazge[ project.
<br />"They did the whole thing efficiently and effectively, which often is not the case
<br />here in Minnesota, and which was important on this project."
<br />The project needed to pass through the City's Planning, Engineering, and
<br />Building Divisions. Along the way, it needed approvals for platting, site plan and
<br />conditional use permits. It also needed approvals from the Elk River City Council
<br />and the Sherburne County Board.
<br />"It really did take alot ofhand-in-hand coordination between the City and the
<br />County, and they did a very goodjob of that," says Mr. Barr. It will be Target
<br />Corp.'s second technology center in the Twin Cities. ^
<br />Economic Development Winter 2005
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