BRAINERD LAKES AREA
Progress Edition B R A I N E R D
www.brainerddispatch.com
D I S P A T C H
L A B O R
D A Y
SERVING THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA SINCE 1881
S P E C I A L
September 1, 2016 • September 5, 2016
INVESTING in
2016
Renee Richardson/Brainerd Dispatch
Royal Tire’s new building on Washington Street is part of the redevelopment along one of the city’s main thoroughfares.
Renee Richardson/Brainerd Dispatch
On a hot August afternoon, crews work on the Dennis Drummond Wine Co. in preparation for a spring 2017 opening for the wine company, bistro and event center.
Renee Richardson/Brainerd Dispatch
Construction for 48,200-squarefoot Avantech building in the Baxter Industrial Park was completed in the spring of 2016. The manufacturer is the sister company of LINDAR, which is across the street.
For Your Info Brainerd lakes area economic indicators
(2014) from Brainerd Lakes Economic Development Corporation. • 28,233 jobs, an increase of 534 compared to previous year. • 5,000 home-based businesses. • 2,074 companies. • $678 average weekly wages. Interesting fact: For 25 consecutive years, the greater Brainerd lakes area has annually added an average of 500 jobs and 30 new companies.
Renee Richardson Managing Editor The long recovery following the Great Recession found a hiring boom last year and in 2016, and construction and development plans followed. This year Brainerd’s jobless rate of 5.2 percent hit a low it hasn’t matched or seen in 15 years. As recently as 2013, every month of the year — save one — was still in double-digit unemployment in Brainerd. But the tide began to turn in the spring and summer of 2014. The Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation stated the successes of 2015 created heightened anticipation for 2016. “Over the past couple of years we are definitely starting to see construction, investment in equipment and people hiring,” said Sheila Haverkamp, Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp. executive director. “I’m optimistic our
area will continue to move forward at a healthy pace and we’ll see job growth and creation in the years to come.” Haverkamp said they are continuing to see leads and prospects who are outside the lakes area but expressing an interest in being
part of the market. In recent years, multiple potential retail development projects seemed to evaporate as deal makers turned into tire kickers. But in 2016, retail appeared poised to make a jump start. HJ Development of Wayzata presented plans for two separate multi-store projects. One dubbed a junior box retail development was presented for wooded land between Costco and J.C. Penney Co. in Baxter. The other proposed to add a shopping center and two restaurants. After Costco joined the Baxter business landscape in 2012, expectations were other businesses would soon follow, especially in that section of the city. But a cascade of other construction didn’t
INVESTING: Page S5
Labor Day:
Honoring hard work and dedication
Pete Mohs Publisher My parents often emphasized the importance of developing a good work ethic. They made sure their six children enjoyed life but also understood their responsibilities with
chores around the house, from doing dishes to mowing and shoveling. My parents were preparing their children for career skills in the working world. Today is Labor Day, and we take time to honor and thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to their jobs. The Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal staffs also worked hard to produce the 11th edition of the Labor Day salute. Our writers and photographers put together editorial packages while our sales
Table of Contents
Overview .................................................................. S1 Labor Day ................................................................. S1 Toms TV ................................................................... S2 Breweries .................................................................. S3 Reader Submissions ................................................ S4 Metal Work ............................................................... S9 Babinski Properties ...............................................S10 Brainerd Bikes ........................................................S11 Crosslake Bike Stores ............................................S14 Jack Pine .................................................................S17
and production teams contributed advertising content in this series of sections that salute the area workers and owners of all sizes of business, who worked hard to make their dreams come true. Owning and managing businesses is never easy. Established businesses have achieved success over the years by providing quality products and services and navigating through the challenging economic times. A good example is our own newspaper industry, as we’ve adjusted to the
BLAEDC: Attracting Tech Ready companies to the lakes area Crow Wing County is reaping the rewards of an initiative to attract more technology-related companies to the Brainerd lakes area. During the past year, several tech firms have either opened offices in the area or expanded their operations, adding goodpaying jobs and helping the area’s increasingly diverse commercial economy. The Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation is the engine behind the Tech Services Initiative, which is showcasing the assets that make this area an attractive place for tech companies to do business. High on the list of valuable assets is an evergrowing fiber optic network that allows companies to move large amounts of digital data quickly over the internet. And BLAEDC’s local partners, like Consolidated Telecommunications Company, continue to invest in expanding the network throughout the region. The development corporation’s Tech Ready program is also
changes in technology to successfully combine our print and online coverage with the changing demand of our readers and advertisers. Meanwhile, new businesses gain success with determination and admirable marketing as they find their niche in each community. Patience is critical since financial success doesn’t usually happen overnight as owners follow their business dreams. Over the past decade, hundreds of long-time and new businesses have been recognized in our annual Labor Day salute. Those area businesses have covered many categories, especially from manufacturing,
Cuyuna ....................................................................S18 Big Axe S .................................................................... 19 Roundhouse ...........................................................S20 Gull Dam ................................................................S21 LAB S ......................................................................... 22 Cheers Hospitality .................................................S25 Moreys ....................................................................S26 Iven’s Turns Cowboy .............................................S27 The Barn .................................................................S28 Four Seasons ..........................................................S33
high on the list. Through partnerships with local tech companies, local high schools and Central Lakes College, education curricula are including a strong technology component, which prepares students for careers in technology. Tech Ready is creating a sustainable, homegrown workforce that tech companies find great value in. Available and affordable real estate is also a key component. Local industrial parks have affordable shovel-ready lots available with financing programs, and existing office buildings are move-in ready. Also, BLAEDC is gearing up for a marketing campaign to highlight local tech companies and feature the area’s infrastructure and attributes that make it a great option for tech companies looking for a place to expand or relocate in. The campaign includes generating media coverage in Twin Cities and statewide media.
retail sales and the service industry. This year, we’re again featuring a variety of topics from manufacturing companies like AJ Metal Works of Crosby, Nortech of Merrifield and Crow Wing Recycling of Brainerd/Deerwood. We also have stories on food-related businesses like Sprout Food Hub and Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace of Little Falls, Trident Seafood of Motley, Morey’s Seafood Market of Baxter and Four Seasons Shrimp Co. of Pierz. There’s also coverage of the increasingly popular craft brewery business in our area. The section also features business profiles
of owners, especially women who have found success like The Iron Waffle Coffee Company in Lake Shore, Ideal System Solutions of Pequot Lakes and Wild and Free Animal Hospital in Garrison. And finally, this Progress edition’s Labor Day salute recognizes businesses that are trending with an emphasis on future through promoting healthy living to companies doing testing and research, especially with a focus on environmental concerns. Please take time to read through all seven sections of our salute while you enjoy a relaxing Labor Day.
Sprout Food Hub ...................................................S34 Green Biologics ......................................................S35 Crow Wing Recycling ...........................................S41 Non Destructive Testing .......................................S42 Nortech ...................................................................S43 Wild and Free .........................................................S47 AW Research Lab ..................................................S48 Iron Waffle ..............................................................S49 Ideal System Solutions ..........................................S50