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<br />IS anything, it is a confluence of histories.
<br />From Dakota and Ojibwe nation skirmishes
<br />in the late 1700s to industrial park develop-
<br />ments in the 1970s, Elk River is a veritable
<br />time capsule of Americana. Nestled between
<br />forested hardwoods and prairie along the
<br />Mississippi and Elk Rivers, the city, eight
<br />miles north of 1-94 and just minutes from
<br />Minneapolis, is a blend of both rural
<br />America and commercial convenience. But
<br />much has changed since David Faribault
<br />built the first trading post on one of the
<br />town's bluffs in 1846.
<br />"We're growing at a solid four percent a
<br />year," said Marc Nevinski, the city's Assis-
<br />tant Director of Economic Development.
<br />"We've seen a considerable amount of resi-
<br />dential and commercial development in the
<br />past decade or so. To balance that growth,
<br />the council and EDA (Economic Develop-
<br />ment Authority) have taken steps to increase
<br />industrial development in the city."
<br />Nevinski cites the zoning of over one hundred
<br />and fifty acres as business park, the creation of a
<br />strategic economic development plan, and the es-
<br />,ablishment of a location site process plan to
<br />better serve the city's industrial clients.
<br />"The goal," Nevinski said, "is to make the de-
<br />velopment process as smooth as and seamless
<br />as possible for businesses looking to locate here."
<br />In 1872, the village of Elk River incorporated
<br />and became the county seat. A little over 100
<br />years later, Elk River consolidated with the sur-
<br />rounding township, creating a city of 44 square
<br />miles-one of the largest in the state. The town
<br />witnessed some moderate growth in the 1970s,
<br />but nothing like the influx of residents in the '80s.
<br />"We have the residents and all the amenities-
<br />the retail shops and restaurants-and now we're
<br />looking to expand our industrial base. And that's
<br />been happening," said Nevinski, who in addition
<br />to Catherine Mehelich, the department's di-
<br />rector, comprises one half of the city economic
<br />development staff. The city's staff also in-
<br />cludes a financial director, a three-person
<br />planning department, a six-person inspections
<br />department and a public works staff. In addi-
<br />tion, the city has a 30-member police force
<br />and a volunteer fire department that includes
<br />a full-time fire chief.
<br />With a population of close to 18,000, Elk
<br />River is projected to exceed 20,000 in 2002.
<br />That's unprecedented growth, considering that
<br />in the 1970s the population of Elk River was
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<br />around 2,000, the same size it was just
<br />after the Civil War. Part of the reason for
<br />the rapid growth, according to Nevinski, is
<br />due to recreation.
<br />"Elk River is on the way to where people
<br />go to relax," he said. "U.S. 10 and U.S. 169
<br />carry a great deal of traffic. The city is on the
<br />way to Brainerd and the cabins up north. And
<br />it doesn't hurt being just eight miles north of
<br />1-94, which links us to the Twin Cities. The
<br />commuting advantage of working in Elk River
<br />versus the Twin Cities is the 'reverse' com-
<br />mute.lt's a much easier drive for commuters
<br />coming to Elk Riverthan it is driving into the
<br />Cities."
<br />Of course the close proximity of the Twin
<br />Cites to Elk River is another reason why com-
<br />panies are flourishing in the historic town.
<br />Manufacturers can get supplies from metro
<br />vendors in same- or next-day deliveries to
<br />reduce customer turnaround times. "Elk
<br />River," Nevinski said, "is fast becoming the light
<br />industrial hub in the northwest metro area.
<br />"We did a business survey last year. One of
<br />the things that our businesses consistently noted
<br />was Elk River's excellent access to vendors and
<br />services in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Addi-
<br />tionally, we have a lot of those services right here
<br />in Elk River. Tool grinders, hardware stores, of-
<br />fice supplies, printers and publishers, quality ven-
<br />dors so that businesses here don't have to keep
<br />running into the Twin Cities-we're getting a nice
<br />group of businesses that serve one another."
<br />
<br />
<br />Marc Nevinski, and Catherine Mehelich
<br />(Economic Development Staff)
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<br />I n the 1970s, the city developed the Elk River
<br />Industrial Park not far from the center of town,
<br />a conglomeration of industries on sprawling,
<br />well-manicured lawns. Though the plan eventu-
<br />ally called for the city to take over the park, the
<br />city had yet to establish an economic develop-
<br />ment authority. Thus, the park was devel-
<br />oped by a local development corporation of
<br />over 100 Elk River citizens. One of the ma-
<br />jor players in Elk River development has al-
<br />ways been First National Bank of Elk River
<br />president and CEO Dick Gongol!.
<br />"One of our goalS as a community was
<br />to try and provide work here so people didn't
<br />have to commute," Gongoll said. "It's also
<br />important in Minnesota to have a good com-
<br />mercial base because of the tax structure-
<br />we can better support our schools that way.
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