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danbelshan 
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,12:03 pm |
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One company's perception. Will we learn from their comments ?
Maybe this company wouldn't have come to our area but I found the comments by Paul Carlson, the operations manager very interesting. If other companies feel this way about us we need to change our approach and reassure expanding companies we have the workforce, can educate them if needed (Riverland), we have the buildings available or will build to their needs quickly, and we have the work ethic plus JOBZ tax zones.
Anybody have some constructive ideas ?
Let's find ten companies like this one. I'll bet they are right in the metro if we look hard enough.
February 5th, 2004
Branch of electronics firm opens in Le Sueur
By Nicole Christiansen
Free Press Staff Writer
LE SUEUR — A Chanhassen-based electronics company opened a new facility in Le Sueur this week.
Control Products Inc., which designs and manufactures electronic controls, opened a new branch of their company Monday in part of the original Green Giant headquarters at 901 N. 4th St.
The privately owned company had been looking to expand for about a year, but it needed to pick a place for the new facility, Vice President of Operations Paul Carlson said. Buffalo, Albert Lea and Hutchinson were considered, but the company finally chose Le Sueur.
"Le Sueur was the best fit for labor reasons, availability of facilities and health of the community," he said. He also likes the people in small towns and their work ethic.
Control Products focuses on custom electronic control development and manufacturing, and it makes more than 100 standard commercial controls.
Workers started operations Monday at Control Products in Le Sueur, but Carlson expects things will be in full swing by Feb. 16.
"We've already hired everyone from the area," he said. "(Having local employees) was one of our criteria."
The company hired 20 base employees in February, and they were trained at the Chanhassen facility. These people will be the core group as the company expands its manufacturing capabilities in the next two to three years, Carlson said.
Employees only will work in about 5,000 to 7,000 square feet of the 20,000-square foot building at first, but the company plans to fill it out as it grows.
"We've designed and planned for growth," he said. "We do plan to grow near the 100-person capacity of that building."
Control Products will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at its new facility in Le Sueur.
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minnow
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,1:32 pm |
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You are failing to see the big picture. We're a service economy now. Like Bruce Springteen said, " those jobs are gone boys... and they ain't coming back".
We will not work in factories, most of those jobs go to China and Mexico. We will work in service industries...especially when the "bid deal" begins...the baby boomer retirement!
Want to provide for your future family college kids. become a nurse, or other health related field. We must learn to change and adapt.
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jimhanson
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,2:37 pm |
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I'd be curious why they considered this area, how they heard about us, what their needs were, who they talked to, and why they chose not to locate here. Dan is right, we should learn from our mistakes so we can make a better presentation.
Minnow also brings up a good point--we should play to our strengths--if health care (a service industry) is what we can offer, embrace it.
Despite the political rhetoric in this election year--manufacturing jobs ARE in decline--but this is nothing new--Agriculture once was king here, but IT changed, and nothing will bring it back. Heavy manufacturing jobs have been exported for more than three decades (think of the steel and auto business). Two decades ago, light manufacturing (textiles and finished goods) started going overseas. Ten years ago, the electronic revolution offered hope to stop the exodus, but those jobs are also going away. As long as we don't insist that foreign companies play by the same rules as American industry (ecological, safety, wages) before selling their goods here, American industry can't compete. We have the home field advantage here (no freight costs), but if the other countries play by different rules, we lose.
Other countries don't HAVE to sell to the U.S.--they can export to nearly any other country in the world. U.S. industry would have an equal footing in the U.S. market, but still be at a disadvantage in selling in other global markets. (At least U.S. companies could sell their products HERE--and Wal-Mart wouldn't have to import from China) Don't think other countries would ramp up their quality control and certification? Look how the world has embraced the ISO standards of quality.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE "GLOBALIZATION" AND "ONE WORLD ORDER"--THERE NEEDS TO BE A QUID PRO QUO--A MINIMUM STANDARD!
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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Liberal
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,4:17 pm |
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Jim, I really doubt that we can change the way the world works so we are going to have to try to make more local changes.
If you look at the reasons that have been given lately by businesses that have decided not to locate here they have all been real unclear reasons like "Quality of life" or a "health of the community". which makes it hard to point your finger at any one thing and say, "that's the reason".
It's to bad that Albert Lea doesn't have a more qualified economic development employee that could go ask them for more specific reasons.
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The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
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Montyman
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,5:41 pm |
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I agree with Jim, Mr. Belshan, when he thinks we need more information as to why this new company didn't locate in Albert Lea. The reasons could be myriad, and we will probably never know them all.
Remember when you asked the next prom queen for a date and she said: "Not tonite, I have to wash my hair"? If I owned a business, I'd try for every advantage I could when I located somewhere new or expanded, and I probably wouldn't have many meaningful things to say to the unsuccessful suitors once I decided where to go.
I don't know if the idea of a more qualified economic development person is the answer either. People in those jobs really only follow the local politics, anyway. Look who they work for.
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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: 6
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minnow
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,6:44 pm |
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"I don't know if the idea of a more qualified economic development person is the answer either."
---->That's because you don't know a gosh darn thing...LOL  One of the all time dumbest things posted on this forum.
Hang it up pal...Yer brain is shot.
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| Post Number: 7
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danbelshan
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Posted on: Feb. 08 2004,7:06 pm |
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Control Products Inc expanding in Le Sueur
http://www.controlproductsinc.com
Blue Cube LLC expanding in Charles City
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....
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Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
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| Post Number: 8
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cpu_slave
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Posted on: Feb. 09 2004,8:31 pm |
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| Quote | From todays Tribune opinion section:
We are confident that we are moving the city in the right direction at this time and that the new city manager will soon be in place so that we can continue making positive progress for our community. |
Continue making positive progress?? Can anyone point out any positive progress that occured that the past few years, I seem to have missed it?!
| Quote | | Several elected and appointed officials countered that they were already doing all they could.... |
If the job was not getting done and this is the excuse that an employee gave his boss, he would be out on his @ss! We need to start demanding more from these people, after all they have been demanding more from us in the form of tax dollars year after year after year after year after year.....
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An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.-James A. Michener
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.-Albert Einstein
Wise men learn more from fools than fools from wise men.- Marcus Cato
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| Post Number: 9
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minnow
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Posted on: Feb. 09 2004,8:36 pm |
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Don't tell me some gal is going to come here from beautiful Fort Morgen Colorado and will be happy! LOL
You must be kidding! 6 months and she'll be awake at night asking herself what in the hell did she do...
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| Post Number: 10
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Montyman
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Posted on: Feb. 09 2004,10:05 pm |
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I really appreciate your respect for my opinion, Minnow.
I think YOU ought to volunteer your expertise to the City to get the economic development jumping!
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Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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