Owatonna Business Development Continues Despite Pandemic
The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (OACCT) announces progress for several new and existing business expansions despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. In their weekly e-newsletter Tuesday Talk, the chamber lauds advancements at Rise Modular, Minimizer, the Costo Depot, Daikin Applied, Revol Greens, and Bushel Boy.
The newsletter states, "Entering the COVID 19 crisis the Owatonna Partners for Economic Development team welcomed six development projects to the area, three of those projects and new businesses to the market and three of the projects are expansion of existing businesses. Those projects represent significant investment-each project has either started construction, or is nearing completion."
Rise Modular purchased and outfitted an existing building and has started operations. Rise constructs modular apartments and hotels. They expect to employee 80 people. Minimizer is consolidating operations from several buildings in Blooming Prairie to one in Owatonna. They are a supplier to the trucking industry and expect to employ 70 people. Construction has started on their new facility.
The Costco Depot is on track for an October 2020 opening for their 385,000-square foot building to serve nearly 30 warehouses in eight states. Employment should exceed 150 people.
Revol Greens is tripling its greenhouse capacity for growing lettuce, adding ten acres and projected 25 employees. Daikin Applied has completed its warehouse expansion of 150,000-square feet with expectations of adding 50 employees. Bushel Boy has wrapped up an 80,000-square foot strawberry-growing expansion.
The chamber also reports Bosch Distribution will break ground on a 265,000-square foot expansion this fall that will add about 50 jobs.
The JumpStart Owatonna initiative has passed $62,000 in assistance to local businesses. The fifth round of grants included Natural Beauty Sale, Old Town Bagels, Owatonna Grocery & Gourmet, Straight River Coffee and Torey's Restaurant and Bar. JumpStart offers financial support in the way of grants and in-kind donations. (The picture from the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce features representatives from Hat Chic Clothing Company and Kottke Jeweler's.
Other items you can find in Tuesday Talk:
- Crazy Days is July 23-25. (Remember the 7 @ 7 concert Thursday, July 24 too.)
- The chamber's golf outing is August 6 at the Owatonna Country Club.
- Sneeze guards are available courtesy of Gandy and Viracon.
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