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minnow fan 
Group: Members
Posts: 198
Joined: Nov. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,12:24 pm |
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High Tech businesses, an established large-scale operation and a high rise Hilton hotel downtown...looks like things are just fine in Mankato Minnesota.
Mankato Free Press
Excerpts from articles:
February 22nd, 2004
Look for a business boomlet here this spring
By Dan Nienaber
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — Companies that have been nosing around the Mankato area for a while are getting closer to deciding whether they want to start doing business here.
"There's a couple of things bubbling up here, there's just nothing official," said Louise Dickmeyer, Greater Mankato Economic Development Corp. interim executive director.
Dickmeyer said she is optimistic there will be some new business announcements this spring. Two hot prospects include a start-up company and an "established large-scale operation." She couldn't be specific.
A "Prospect Report" sent out to members this week highlights several businesses that are looking. One is a "high technology" company that is looking for 5,000 square feet of office space for 30 employees and six to 10 new employees.
Another is a "food manufacturing company" that expressed interest in a Mankato facility. Two other companies were referred to GMED by Mankato city staff. One was looking for 5,000 square feet of space in Lime Township, but is now looking at property in the Sakatah Industrial Park it would share with the second company.
Calpine, a builder of electricity-producing plants, is still interested in Mankato and working through the preliminary requirements for building a plant, Dickmeyer said.
Also:
February 22nd, 2004
Hotel developer enters final talks
By Mathias Baden
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — Leisure Hotels agreed to help finance a downtown hotel if a local investor doesn't, a consultant for hotel developer H&E Enterprises said.
H&E's proposal is for a nine-story, 100-room hotel along Riverfront Drive and between the Midwest Wireless Civic Center and Mankato Place parking ramp. H&E's Phil Hines, the developer and an investor for the project, and Schneider plan to attend the Mankato City Coun-cil meeting on Monday to discuss documents recently submitted to the city as part of a preliminary agreement for the development.
With a nod from the council, the city manager and the developer could enter into final negotiations, the city could begin plans for public improvements like skyways, utilities and parking. City land could be used for the project.
"Our proposal is not contingent on having a local investor," Terry Schneider, who works with Hines. "He's still very interested. He's critiquing the plan. He's doing a lot of things. We can't represent that we have any kind of commitment."
Three weeks ago, Schneider said the plan would include a local investor, and he said he prefers that. But the developer is researching the tax implications of applying for a federal grant meant for downtown re-development projects.
Leisure Hotels and H&E haven't formalized a franchise agreement with Hilton Garden Inn, but Schneider said the investor is a licensed operator for the brand.
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Even if you think the ALEDC is a good idea, do you really want to put Sparks and Bishop in charge of all the economic development in Albert Lea?
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Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,12:36 pm |
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So what's your point, minnow fan?
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Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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minnow fan
Group: Members
Posts: 198
Joined: Nov. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,1:47 pm |
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no point really, just thought it was interesting reading this morning.
No, wait, I guess I do have a point after all...
Maybe if the leadership of Albert Lea could progress instead of regress you would see stories like this in the AL trib. The past 30 years of Sparky & his gang putting all the towns eggs into the meat packing basket is coming back to haunt, again & again
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Even if you think the ALEDC is a good idea, do you really want to put Sparks and Bishop in charge of all the economic development in Albert Lea?
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Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,3:51 pm |
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In a way, I agree with you.
But there is really no way to make even a remotely close comparison between Albert Lea and Mankato.
Albert Lea may never have as much going for it. That is not to say that a more positive attitude on the part of our people that are supposed to be encouraging development is warranted. Years ago, we used to say that Albert Lea's motto was 'can't be done'. It's time that changes. If not, it's time for more people to speak out to demand change.
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Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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| Post Number: 5
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minnow fan
Group: Members
Posts: 198
Joined: Nov. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,4:48 pm |
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Agree 100% Montydude.
Time for Sparky to say goodbye.
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Even if you think the ALEDC is a good idea, do you really want to put Sparks and Bishop in charge of all the economic development in Albert Lea?
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MrTarzan
Group: Members
Posts: 564
Joined: Feb. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,5:05 pm |
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NEVER, he will never leave, ever, he is here to stay and we must learn to live with it. He will just keep making more and more and more, and giving away grants with nothing to show because he can, and he can belittle any on he wants and soon he will consolidate the port authority with the DNR and the Sherriffs and the Highway Patrol and he will become unstoppable AH HAH HAH HAH HAH, Madness, Madness I say 
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Be not simply good, be good for something-Henry David Thoreau
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danbelshan
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,6:43 pm |
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We are no Mankato but neither are these two cities.
I'm reposting this in case you missed it when posted Feb 8
Control Products Inc expanding in Le Sueur MN
http://www.controlproductsinc.com
Blue Cube LLC expanding in Charles City IA
http://www.bluecubelcd.com
Press release on Blue Cube
http://www.globegazette.com/archive....nt=http
Here are two high tech companies going to small midwest towns that are not cultural meccas. Both towns have lost large good paying employers in the past, (Le Sueur lost Green Giant corporate and some processing), (Charles City lost Oliver and White tractor plant,the largest employer at that time)Sound familar?
With the JOBZ neither of these sights have any advantage over our area. Plus we are told lakes, interstate highways , new school, new Courthouse build and they will come.(hasn't brought them yet)
Instead of waiting to see if this theory comes true.
I proposed this in my Dec 2002 newsletter.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CALL OUT THE SWAT TEAM?)
One of my county board committee assignments is to represent our county on a regional workforce development board. We keep an eye on the economic job and retraining situations which are important to our region. During a “meet the candidates” forum in Albert Lea I proposed a Special Workforce Action Team (SWAT) consisting of Workforce Development, Riverland, Greater Jobs, county, and other local government and business leaders, to show industry a coordinated front and hopefully bring jobs to our economically depressed county. Several elected and appointed officials countered that they were already doing all they could....
Later a high ranking official from the city said we already have just what your proposing.
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Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
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MrTarzan
Group: Members
Posts: 564
Joined: Feb. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,6:54 pm |
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Keep swimming upstream Dan, your fan base is growing and that is a fact. I admire what you are trying to do, and you need to somehow connect better with the paper and get them to tell the story better. Keep recording the meetings, the fact that they don't want you to record them proves that it is needed. What are they afraid of, that you might accurately quote something?  You might also want to bring a sobriety testing kit I think the idea of a SWAT is great, but maybe the accronym would give kinda a bad vibe and highlight our "growing crime problem" and all of the heavy weapons we need here now 
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Be not simply good, be good for something-Henry David Thoreau
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danbelshan
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,7:04 pm |
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Globe Gazzette link I posted to story didn't work so here is the story on Blue Cube. I would to like see us land ten of these companies !!
High-tech company opens in Charles City
By KRISTIN BUEHNER, Of The Globe Gazette
CHARLES CITY - Charles City has gone high-tech in a new Main Street business with roots in the Silicon Valley.
Blue Cube LLC, 413 N. Main St., develops and manufactures liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors for recreational vehicle, marine, medical and industrial use and any number of other customized applications.
Open since November, it is owned by Charles City native Jason Meyer, 33, and his wife, Carolyn, 34. They moved to Charles City from Santa Clara, Calif., in October.
"We wanted to move out of California," said Jason, an electronics research and development specialist. "I always wanted to have my own business."
The high-bright units they produce are designed to be easily read out-of-doors.
Jason said that LCD monitors for marine use was the company's original focus.
But he is working on a prototype for medical packs for filmless X-rays and has a contract to produce factory work stations for Cambrex Inc. in Charles City.
He is also working on a touch-screen informational kiosk system that he hopes to sell to large grocery chains. The kiosk would be available to customers to help choose wine or specialty breads or any products or services offered by the store, Jason said.
"We can do any design from concept to finished product," Jason said. "I like doing specialized products, things other people can't do, being on the cutting edge."
The building they are leasing, which includes a working freight elevator, is the former Hovey Automotive building, which had been vacant for three years, said Charles City Community Development Director Jim Thompson.
The Meyers are still remodeling, but plan to have a reception area in the front room; a room for optical bonding, film enhancements and touch-screen assembly; and a full-assembly room on the second floor. A basement area will be used for storage.
The Meyers have hired three employees and plan to hire three additional people in January. Their end-of-the-year target is to employ 15 to 20 people. Technical skills are essential.
The Meyers have two sons, Alex, 10, and Cyrus, 14 months.
You can reach the Blue Cube at (641) 228-2818 or at www.bluecubelcd.com
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Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
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irisheyes
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 3040
Joined: Oct. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2004,7:09 pm |
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You can breath some relief of wanting Sparks out Tarzan, he's close to retirement.
I agree I think Belshan is doing a good job. Although the SWAT name sounds a little corny. I didn't care much for the new library in the old Wal-Mart proposal either, but atleast it shows thinking "out of the box". Looking at the minutes for the first week in January (which was recently released), it was good to see atleast you & Mathiason trying to limit spending on seminar's and classes for our government officials out of state. Behrend's had a week arguement of "that's how they learn is going to the classes", as if all the trips paid for in this state aren't enough!
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You know it's going to be a bad day when you cross thread the cap on the toothpaste.
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