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<br /> Elk 4River R i er ' . jam
<br /> 'rah T e Light Indus rta ; -
<br /> ,,,:-4:_2,4,,,,'� wb In The Northive 7-37`
<br /> Oanything, it is a confluence of histories. ,, around 2,000, the same size it was just
<br /> rom Dakota and Ojibwe nation skirmishes - Twin Cjtl.'. . after the Civil War. Part of the reason for
<br /> in the late 1700s to industrial park develop- o " `.� : x the rapid growth,according to Nevinski, is
<br /> ments in the 1970s, Elk River is a veritable due to recreation.
<br /> time capsule of Americana.Nestled between "Elk River is on the wayto where people
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<br /> forested hardwoods and prairie along the �•_ go to relax,"he said."U.S.10 and U.S.169
<br /> Mississippi and Elk Rivers, the city, eight , carry a great deal of traffic.The city is on the
<br /> miles north of 194 and just minutes from } w " way to Brainerd and the cabins up north.And
<br /> Minneapolis, is a blend of both rural -y e � ,. la. i. itdoesn't hurt being just eight milesnorth of
<br /> America and commercial convenience. But 194,which links us to the Twin Cities.The
<br /> ' much has changed since David Faribault commuting advantage of working in Elk River
<br /> 1 built the first trading post on one of the } -; versus the Twin Cities is the`reverse'com-
<br /> town's bluffs in 1846. t „ -,v- mute.It's a much easier drive for commuters
<br /> "We're growing at a solid four percent a coming to Elk River than it is driving into the
<br /> year," said Marc Nevinski,the city's Assis- . Cities."
<br /> tant Director of Economic Development. •'-'''',.-....7,44• 11Of course the close proximity of the Twin
<br /> "We've seen a considerable amount of resi- 4Cites to Elk River is another reason why corn-
<br /> 1 "We've
<br /> and commercial development in the a, 'i* j panies are flourishing in the historic town.
<br /> past decade or so.To balance that growth, Manufacturers can get supplies from metro
<br /> the council and EDA (Economic Develop- ..1.."!,,A-..w..,, , `°'; _. ', ''v '' vendors in same-or next-day deliveries to
<br /> ment Authority)have taken steps to increase reduce customer turnaround times. "Elk
<br /> industrial development in the city." River,"Nevinski said,"is fast becoming the light
<br /> Nevinski cites the zoning of over one hundred To St.Cloud c-L industrial hub in the northwest metro area.
<br /> and fifty acres as business park,the creation of a I "We did a business survey last year. One of
<br /> strategic economic development plan,and the es- the things that our businesses consistently noted
<br /> blishment of a location site process plan to was Elk River's excellent access to vendors and
<br /> Wetter serve the city's industrial clients. * services in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.Addi-
<br /> "The goal,"Nevinski said, "is to make the de- Etk Rivertionally,we have a lot of those services right here
<br /> velopment process as smooth as and seamless %' in Elk River. Tool grinders, hardware stores, of-
<br /> as possible for businesses looking to locate here." '% fice supplies,printers and publishers,quality ven-
<br /> In 1872, the village of Elk River incorporated dors so that businesses here don't have to keep
<br /> and became the county seat. A little over 100 , running into the Twin Cities—we're getting a nice
<br /> years later, Elk River consolidated with the sur- "°' .- group of businesses that serve one another."
<br /> rounding township, creating a city of 44 square Elk River is located
<br /> onlythirtyminates as'�W--� {
<br /> miles—one of the largest in the state. The town from the Twin Cities witnessed some moderate growth in the 1970s, In the 1970s,the city developed the Elk River
<br /> but nothing like the influx of residents in the'80s. �; Industrial Park not far from the center of town,
<br /> "We have the residents and all the amenities— S`�`.ad C� a conglomeration of industries on sprawling,
<br /> Elk River M'S P u;'s' well-manicured lawns.Though the plan eventu-
<br /> the retail shops and restaurants—and now we're Minneapolis 9
<br /> looking to expand our industrial base.And that's S`_Paul '1' x ally called for the city to take over the park,the
<br /> been happening,"said Nevinski,who in addition w city had yet to establish an economic develop-
<br /> to Catherine Mehelich, the department's di- ment authority. Thus, the park was devel-
<br /> rector,comprises one half of the city economic oped by a local development corporation of
<br /> development staff. The city's staff also in- Marc Nevinskl anUGatfienne Me itch ' ` '" over 100 Elk River citizens. One of the ma-
<br /> cludes a financial director, a three-person (Econamic.Qeveiopmenttatfu; jor players in Elk River development has al-
<br /> planning department,a six person inspections i x .. x ways been First National Bank of Elk River
<br /> department and a public works staff. In addi- .' president and CEO Dick Gongoll.
<br /> 1 tion, the city has a 30-member police force 4, y _ . "One of our goals as a community was
<br /> and a volunteer fire department that includes i t . 4' .` 1 to try and provide work here so people didn't
<br /> a full-time fire chief. -. , '. . ` . a have to commute," Gongoll said. "It's also
<br /> g
<br /> With a population of close to 18,000, Elk � - important in Minnesota to have a good com
<br /> i iver is projected to exceed 20,000 in 2002. mercial base because of the tax structure—
<br /> ehat's unprecedentedconsideringthat .•••. , .' we can better support our schools that way.
<br /> growth, Y
<br /> i in the 1970s the population of Elk River was
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