5. EDSR 10-13-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sherburne's job growth makes Money MAGAZINE ARTICLE RANKS COUNTY 22ND IN THE COUNTRY FOR JOB GROWTH nyone who lives or works in Elk River, the county seat of Sherburne County, certainly knows that the area is growing; in terms of new housing development ,industrial growth and job creation. Recently, Money Magazine published its "Best 25 Counties for Job Growth" In it, Sherburne is ranked 22"d on the list, which ranks counties for job growth between 2000 and 2007. The county saw job growth of 37.5 percent during that period and was the only county in Minnesota to make the list. Money's Website, www.cnnmoney.com, explains the reasons for Sherburne County's high ranking: "Capturing the runoff from nearby Minneapolis, Sherburne Country is undergoing residential expansion and growth in the retail, food, hospitality and healthcare industries" The magazine points out that companies both small and large are being attracted to the area, such as Target Corp. and UnitedHealthcare. Each company invested more than $250 million in data centers in Elk River. The magazine also notes that "Sherburne County offers a cushy place for new companies to grow, with business development assistance and reasonably- priced commercial and industrial land" According to Money Magazine, plentiful job opportunities are a key to creating a great place to live, especially in a tough economy. The City of Elk River added more than 2,000 jobs between the years 2000-2007. Local officials rally `round the rail CONSTRUCTION GETS UNDERWAY ON NEW NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL STATION valuable recruiting tool for Elk River employers recently took a step closer to reality. After years of planning, state and local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in late August at the site of the future Elk River Northstar Commuter Rail Station, which is now under construction just off Highway 10/169 at 171s~Avenue. The commuter rail will be operational in 2009. The station will be one of several stops on the future Northstar Commuter Rail line that will run from Big Lake to Minneapolis, with stops in Elk River, Anoka and Coon Rapids-Riverdale. The commuter rail line will whisk folks from Elk River to downtown Minneapolis in an estimated 32 minutes -with nary a traffic jam or a reason to honk a horn along the way. No wonder numerous local residents were on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking of the future rail station on August 22. As noted, however, the future Northstar rail line is not just good news for local commuters; it is likely to be a valuable tool for local businesses as well. "The Northstar Commuter Rail operation and this station are great news for everyone in Elk River," says Jeff Gongoll, Community Development Director for the City of Elk River. "It's a boost to the local economy and a selling point to our local companies when they're looking to hire or recruit quality people from a variety of places in the metro area" OPERATIONAL 2009 The Elk River Northstar Station will have many features, including covered and enclosed waiting areas with on-demand heating systems and an automated reader that allows commuters to pay fares instantly with a Metro Transit Go-To card. The Park-and-Ride lot at the Elk River Station will have surface parking spaces for 754 vehicles as well as bicycle lockers. Safety will be enhanced with platform security cameras, clearly- marked crossings and frequent patrols conducted by local and Metro Transit police. Future phases of the commuter line could connect to St. Cloud, the Mall of America, Minneapolis-St. Pau] International Airport and downtown St. Paul. 763.635.1040 www. ci.elk-river. mn.us Fall 2008