Topic: Albert Lea attractive to businesses
started by: Memphis
Posted by Memphis on Jan. 28 2016,10:50 am
Nice read in the paper about this. One question I have to ask is... Where are the jobs. Nolander said this is information he already knows. So where all the new companies if we are such a bright area??? Am I missing something?
Posted by mrugly on Jan. 28 2016,10:55 am
< link to article >
Posted by Self-Banished on Jan. 28 2016,11:37 am
Bright area? No no, that's a misprint, blight area is what was meant. 
Posted by Botto 82 on Jan. 28 2016,12:09 pm
Coals to Newcastle. What a load of hot air. The area should have been attractive to businesses the moment the I-90/35 cloverleaf was completed. And we wait...
Posted by Botto 82 on Jan. 28 2016,12:42 pm
Maybe if your local paper wasn't constantly printing xenophobic rants from a racist crank, you'd have a better shot at those new businesses. Maybe Randy Kehr should go talk to someone at the Fishwrap about that. 
Posted by Self-Banished on Jan. 28 2016,3:15 pm
^^ Businesses stay away because of racist rants in "letters to the editor"? They don't give a rats ass about that. All they want to build is decent tax base (they're gonna play one community against another, that's just a fact) and a work force that can count over 10 without taking off their shoes.Why would anyone want to build there anyway when you can go a few miles south and set up shop in a right to work state?
Posted by ICU812 on Jan. 29 2016,1:00 pm
< At least they have another story to back the "Attractive" story >Much easier to get on I-35 or I-90 from Lake Mills...
Posted by Moparman on Jan. 30 2016,10:29 am
(Self-Banished @ Jan. 28 2016,3:15 pm)
QUOTE
^^ Businesses stay away because of racist rants in "letters to the editor"? They don't give a rats ass about that. All they want to build is decent tax base (they're gonna play one community against another, that's just a fact) and a work force that can count over 10 without taking off their shoes.
Why would anyone want to build there anyway when you can go a few miles south and set up shop in a right to work state?
Why would anyone want to build there anyway when you can go a few miles south and set up shop in a right to work state?
We have a lot of "right to work" states licence plates in our parking lot. Turns out people like to work for more money, great benefits, and safer working conditions. Go figure. Also, if you need a lower educated worker force or are afraid you might get out negotiated in a business contract, then by all means right to work is the place for you.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jan. 30 2016,11:02 am
The whole "Right to Work State" argument doesn't pass the smell test, when you attempt to factor in Albert Lea's lackluster job of attracting business. Owatonna and Faribault are both in Minnesota, yet they have grown from cities with half of Albert Lea's population to thriving communities that show significant business growth. Either those cities are doing something really well, or A.L. is doing something really badly.
Posted by Self-Banished on Jan. 30 2016,11:22 am
(Moparman @ Jan. 30 2016,10:29 am)
QUOTE
Also, if you need a lower educated worker force or are afraid you might get out negotiated in a business contract, then by all means right to work is the place for you.
You might feel like a dumbass but Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the nation.
There's also this..
< http://www.inc.com/drew-he...er.html >
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 02 2016,12:52 am
(Botto 82 @ Jan. 28 2016,12:42 pm)
QUOTE
Maybe if your local paper wasn't constantly printing xenophobic rants from a racist crank, you'd have a better shot at those new businesses. Maybe Randy Kehr should go talk to someone at the Fishwrap about that.
That racist crank is just the tip of the iceberg, the most "articulate" of the mob.
The fascists refuse to print my input.
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 02 2016,4:28 am
^^I can't imagine why 
Good to see you back Twink, day room privileges restored?
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 02 2016,1:25 pm
The predictable iceberg below with all its borrowed euphemisms, fake idealism, sandbox social skills, loud Pavlovian bark, thread ending vulgar insults. A pure essence of Troll.A hiatus did some good. More folks here should try it. Make room for fresh discussion. This forum is starving of oxygen. Linear, despite the efforts of a few suggesting new paths.
Counterfeit Fake posted an excellent comment, something beyond caveman intellect, doomed as a target of trolls and e-bots, their unrelenting efforts to lower the discussion bar to that of slime mold.
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 02 2016,3:35 pm
^^must have took you days to look up all those big words Cruz rose to the occasion with hard work and an organization that will put stroke lady's to shame. Cruz's average donation is running in the the $50-$70 dollar range.
Good to see you back Twink, makes me all warm and fuzzy inside
Posted by Botto 82 on Feb. 02 2016,5:10 pm
This.(stardust14 @ Feb. 02 2016,1:25 pm)
QUOTE
The predictable iceberg below with all its borrowed euphemisms, fake idealism, sandbox social skills, loud Pavlovian bark, thread ending vulgar insults. A pure essence of Troll.
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 03 2016,2:25 am
Today's word is:vo·cab·u·lar·y... It's a BIG scary word. It has FIVE syllables. It means "the body of words used in a particular language." Or it can mean "the body of words known to an individual." See, now big words aren't so scary once you know their meaning. Enough, though, of all those big scary words.
Let's go over yesterday's lesson.
Run. See Dick run. Run, Dick, run.
Good! Tomorrows big scary word will be "ineptitude".
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 03 2016,4:52 am
(stardust14 @ Feb. 03 2016,2:25 am)
QUOTE
Good! Tomorrows big scary word will be "ineptitude".
The root word being inept, the dictionary even has your photo next to it. :
It is good that you're back, your lapdog's posts were getting weaker than normal and few and far between. Now Butt-o' tail is wagging and his nose is brown...ummm, I mean wet!
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 03 2016,5:25 pm
Peace and love.
Posted by Marneman on Feb. 04 2016,3:35 am
The problem goes back to when Paul Sparks was city manager. He seemed to steer businesses away from Albert Lea as his goal seemed to be to convert our city to some kind of retirement community like Sun City, Arizona. Well we're in the wrong part of the country to be a retirement community (unless global warming hurries up and changes our climate!). Albert Lea is in what should be a prime location for businesses with the 2 intersecting interstate highways, but we keep watching businesses avoiding us. Now we're spending money on all these little beuatification projects some how thinking that these will attract businesses. Putting a pretty ribbon on a trash can dosen't change the trash can! We need to invest money on attracting new employers to our city, then worry about the beuatification work. A long time ago we were the second smallest city with 2 intersecting interstates, the smallest being Sheridan, Wyoming. Today we are the smallest because thanks to good city management Sheridan, WY is now bigger than us.
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 04 2016,3:29 pm
(Marneman @ Feb. 04 2016,3:35 am)
QUOTE
Putting a pretty ribbon on a trash can dosen't change the trash can!
Imagine a medium sized high tech entrepreneur moving their business to AL. Then imagine the skilled workers in their free time attempting to find some culture and entertainment in this area. Sixty miles to Rochester, hundred miles to cities.
Owatonna has plenty of industry but no culture there either. Towns as such have become outsourcing outlets from the Steel Belt seeking cheaper labor.
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 04 2016,3:36 pm
(stardust14 @ Feb. 04 2016,3:29 pm)
QUOTE
(Marneman @ Feb. 04 2016,3:35 am)
QUOTE
Putting a pretty ribbon on a trash can dosen't change the trash can!
Imagine a medium sized high tech entrepreneur moving their business to AL. Then imagine the skilled workers in their free time attempting to find some culture and entertainment in this area. Sixty miles to Rochester, hundred miles to cities.
Owatonna has plenty of industry but no culture there either. Towns as such have become outsourcing outlets from the Steel Belt seeking cheaper labor.
Please do tell what you consider couture Mr. Twink.
Posted by Botto 82 on Feb. 04 2016,7:25 pm
Culture? The problem around here is a quanitative one, both in venues and patrons.Years ago, a downtown lounge would have a jazz band on Thursdays. Turnout? Some executives and lawyers and cougars early on, then the crowd tapered to a few regulars that would have been there anyway, band or no. Meanwhile, the rockers down the street that were playing Sweet Home Alabama for the fifth time that month were drawing throngs of slack-jawed yokels.
The local community theaters in the area have some good offerings, but that's an awful lot of eggs in one basket. I remember when what passed for the local discotheque had a dress code. Chew on that, for a moment.
As small-town people go, I think we try. I think we all want to wrap our heads around this "culture" thing, and, failing that, lash out at people purporting to have some handle on this "culture" thing.
I love a good symphony. I love a good play. I love a good four-piece that does some justice to Miles. I just don't see the Home Depot crowd we've become going nuts about any of those things.
It's hard to compete with a metropolis that has First Ave, The Fine Line and Bunkers, all within walking distance from one another.That doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
Posted by ALAngst on Feb. 04 2016,10:42 pm
(Marneman @ Feb. 04 2016,3:35 am)
QUOTE
The problem goes back to when Paul Sparks was city manager. He seemed to steer businesses away from Albert Lea as his goal seemed to be to convert our city to some kind of retirement community like Sun City, Arizona. Well we're in the wrong part of the country to be a retirement community (unless global warming hurries up and changes our climate!).
Then you'll love Experience Albert Lea. The great send-off party they had for snowbirds so they would go to Texas, Arizona, Florida or to any other sunshine state to suntan for five months, only to spread the word how wonderful Albert Lea is live in the other seven months of the year.
You have to appreciate Nolander to understand his understated declaration that he had heard nothing he didn't already know but gosh darn it it's hard to compete against Rochester, Owatonna, and Austin. He learned that from Dorman who used to exasperate the same statements. And look how that resulted in a job promotion. Dorman for ALEDA was a fix. But Nolander taking over was worse. Anyone hear of a job posting or a search for candidates? Nope, because when the fix was in for Dorman it came with a consolation prixe for Nolander to shut up: Dorman will be there a few years before returning to government and the job would be his.
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 04 2016,11:11 pm
I threw out the word "culture"with no explanation. Just pipe dreaming again.I remember that club downtown. Some good times. Was the discotheque where the theater is now?
This cycle of handheld technology satisfies many for now. Driving a hundred miles is nothing nowadays, I guess.
The old timers had their dance clubs. My parents went almost every weekend. These places rocked. Nowadays you can't step off your front curb without threats of massive fines.
You're right. No demand, no way. AL culture is what it is.
I still think, though, there is something about culture, something hidden behind all the brick & mortar and entertainment preferences. A connectiveness. In AL this can be seen in church groups, education committees, town councils, YMCA, etc. Guess I'm just on the outside of all the action.
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 05 2016,5:25 am
^^you throw a lot of things out there with no explanation.Yes, AL is void of pretty much anything cultural. I suppose there was once a time, maybe, I never considered disco cultural. Once again AL is the poor cousin, Rochester is rich with culture AND business, the same with Mason City. Austin, Owatonna are lacking but their business base is strong. The list goes on with even the small towns having more.
AL's downtown looks blighted though there has been some improvements (looks like lipstick on a pig) I've heard there's some good fishing, I suppose the fine folks from Iowa might find it appealing. I know, how about the Argon?
Posted by Moparman on Feb. 10 2016,8:45 pm
(Self-Banished @ Jan. 30 2016,11:22 am)
QUOTE
(Moparman @ Jan. 30 2016,10:29 am)
QUOTE
Also, if you need a lower educated worker force or are afraid you might get out negotiated in a business contract, then by all means right to work is the place for you.
You might feel like a dumbass but Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the nation.
There's also this..
< http://www.inc.com/drew-he...er.html >
Nice try!!! But, Minnesota is ranks higher than Iowa in pretty much every list of smartest states. If we got rid of guys like you we would rank even higher!!!
Posted by stardust14 on Feb. 11 2016,3:10 am
There's a reason why american business and Wallstreet invest so little in education. An "uneducated" workforce coming out of universities is better policed while the crooks pillage and destroy. Iceland is not known for its great "education". But the people there jailed 29 bankers with long sentences while our "educated" society baaaas like lambs on their way to the alter.
Posted by Self-Banished on Feb. 11 2016,4:26 am
(Moparman @ Feb. 10 2016,8:45 pm)
QUOTE
(Self-Banished @ Jan. 30 2016,11:22 am)
QUOTE
(Moparman @ Jan. 30 2016,10:29 am)
QUOTE
Also, if you need a lower educated worker force or are afraid you might get out negotiated in a business contract, then by all means right to work is the place for you.
You might feel like a dumbass but Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the nation.
There's also this..
< http://www.inc.com/drew-he...er.html >
Nice try!!! But, Minnesota is ranks higher than Iowa in pretty much every list of smartest states. If we got rid of guys like you we would rank even higher!!!
I know lots of forklift drivers, nice folks but IQ? Strictly room temperature.