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Elk River asks for feedback from local developers
<br />COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS WORHING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS
<br />he Community Development
<br />TDepartment held a Development
<br />Forum in late March a[ Elk River
<br />City Hall. Individuals and firms involved
<br />in the development process were invited.
<br />In all, 35 people representing developers,
<br />landowners, construction companies,
<br />banks and others took part.
<br />The purpose of the forum was to update
<br />people involved in development in Elk
<br />River about changes to the process, to
<br />answer questions and, as Mr. Clark says,
<br />[o build relationships between City staff
<br />and the development community.
<br />some new people on our staff, and new
<br />roles for staff members, and we wanted
<br />to get together to make introductions
<br />and talk about the new changes we're
<br />making. It was also a good chance to
<br />build relationships, and to listen to the
<br />concerns of people in [he development
<br />community."
<br />In addition to several positive comments,
<br />the meeting confirmed that developers
<br />and builders in the past have experienced
<br />some frustrations concerning the City's
<br />development process.
<br />example, Community Development is
<br />now setting up meetings with developers
<br />and the divisions early in the process in
<br />order [o cleazly define the process and
<br />schedule.
<br />Mc Clazk notes that the City currently
<br />has a heavy load of more than 20
<br />commercial projects under development,
<br />with more coming on line this summer.
<br />As a result, the City has hired an
<br />additional building inspector [o work
<br />from April to October.
<br />""fhe fact that 35 people attended was a
<br />great sign," Mr. Clark says. "We do have
<br />According to Mr. Clark, City staff has
<br />already been instituting some of the
<br />suggestions brought up a[ the forum. For
<br />For more information or to ask a question
<br />about the development process, please
<br />call the Community Development
<br />Department at 763.635.1031. ^
<br />Qi18111y (Continued from Page 1)
<br />At first, Quality Label will occupy 20,000
<br />square feet and lease the remaining 5,000
<br />square feet to another tenant. Eventually,
<br />the company plans to expand into the
<br />whole building.
<br />The prospects for such an expansion
<br />certainly look good, as Quality Label
<br />doubled its sales in the last year.
<br />"We're excited because the new facility
<br />gives us the ability to grow even more,"
<br />says Mr. Jacobs.
<br />"We've got good products, good
<br />employees and good salespeople,
<br />and they'll be able to sell even more.
<br />We'II also add a fourth press. And, the
<br />new facility gives us room [o have a
<br />conference room where we can meet with
<br />our clients:'
<br />Locating in Elk River not only gives
<br />Quality Label the northwest suburban
<br />locale it wanted, but the City's Economic
<br />Development Authority (EDA) and City
<br />Council offered a financial incentive as
<br />well.
<br />The City provided the company tax
<br />abatement in [he amount of $133,947.
<br />Sherburne County agreed to match that
<br />amount, bringing [he total amount of tax
<br />abatement to $267,894, which equaled 75
<br />percent of the cost of the land.
<br />Under the agreement, Qualify Label will
<br />receive 100 percent of the tax abatement
<br />for a maximum of 10 years. In return,
<br />Quality Label has agreed [o create 15
<br />new jobs within two years at a minimum
<br />wage of $15 an hour. Its employees
<br />currently earn an average of $21 an hour.
<br />"The tax abatement was key for us,"
<br />says Mr. Jacobs. "As a business owner,
<br />you need to make decisions that make
<br />financial sense for your company, your
<br />employees and your customers. This
<br />move does that"
<br />Elk River officials are certainly excited
<br />about bringing the growing tympany to
<br />the City.
<br />"1 think there are several things that are
<br />really impressive about Quality Label,"
<br />says Catherine Mehelich, Elk River's
<br />Director of Economic Development.
<br />"For one thing, they've had plenty of
<br />success, which points to the quality of
<br />work they do, and they've created job
<br />growth. They also have a strong diversity
<br />of products for the industries they serve."
<br />Quality Label produces labels and
<br />bar codes for clients in the medical,
<br />food & beverage, health & beauty, and
<br />promotions industries.
<br />Ms. Mehelich firs[ visited Quality Label's
<br />facility in Fridley more than a year
<br />ago. T'he company had no conference
<br />room --officers met with clients in a
<br />nearby restaurant -- and its presses and
<br />employees were quite cramped.
<br />"It's the kind of company we want in
<br />Elk River because of the good jobs it
<br />provides, and because oftheir successful
<br />history and potential for future growth,"
<br />says Ms. Mehelich. ^
<br />City of Elk River Economic Development Spring 2006
<br />When complete, Quality Label's new facility will more than double the firm's space.
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