HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.a. Project & Econ. Dev. Coor. Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Port Authority Meeting Date: December 17, 2019
AGENDA ITEM: Project & Economic Development
Coordinator Update
AGENDA SECTION:
Old Business
PREPARED BY: Eric Van Oss, Economic Development
Coordinator AGENDA NO. 4.a.
ATTACHMENTS: Retail Strategies Update APPROVED BY: LJM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information Item
ISSUE
Previous discussions with the Council and Port Authority indicated a desire for more information
regarding completion of workplan activities. The following highlights some of the project and economic
development activities since the last Port Authority meeting.
Business Visits:
Akona Manufacturing: Mayor Droste, City Administrator Logan Martin, and Economic Development
Coordinator Eric Van Oss met with Tori McDowell and Steve Wenborg from Akona Manufacturing on
December 12th. Akona, part of the larger TCC Materials, manufactures cement products at the Rosemount
location and is a major supplier to Menards. They employ 18 people in manufacturing roles and 5 office
staff at the Rosemount location. Currently, Akona is about 3-5 workers short for their existing shifts and
hiring workers has been a major source of difficultly. Eventually, Akona would like to add a 3rd night shift,
but currently does not have the workforce capacity. The City also briefed Akona on future projects that
may impact their location such as the paving of Biscayne and the addition of a traffic signal on County
Road 42. Akona also requested to be notified prior to Public Works hydrant flushing schedule, as they are
unable to use the water for manufacturing during those times.
Commercial Contacts:
Kwik Trip: Staff continues to work with Kwik Trip after they indicated interest in the location at Akron
Avenue.
Carousel Way: Staff has met with Davis business representatives to discuss necessary approvals and
schedule in November. Davis expects to submit plans after January 1, 2020.
2
Davis: After meeting with Davis regarding the Carousel Way parcel, Davis reached out regrading a second
project in Rosemount. They were interested in a 1-2 acre parcel or 10,000 existing square feet of
commercial space. Staff provided information on several suitable sites in addition to existing space located
in Sweet Harvest’s building.
Multi-tenant Retail: To date the permit has not been picked up.
Israelson property: Staff spoke with Mr. Israelson regarding the PUD process for the first phase of this
project which would be 20 luxury apartment units.
Merchants Bank site: Still working on details of purchase.
Akron Ave: Another meeting was held with the property owner regarding the Indoor Rec Center. Staff
will be working with a consultant to commission site planning work for the property. The Council is being
asked to approve a scope of work at the meeting on December 17, 2019.
MGM retail space: Broker indicated some interest from a larger fitness group. Two additional users are
working through market feasibility.
Affordable Housing: Staff is working with the Dakota County CDA to notify affordable housing
developers that the CDA property on Akron will be going on the market in 2020. The site is zoned for
high density residential. Companies contacted include Dominium, Aeon, and Common Bond.
INDUSTRIAL
UMore Industrial site: Staff met with the site selection group, Xcel energy representatives and the
University this week to discuss the larger UMore site. There is no new information to share on the Opus
site.
Biscayne Business Park/ Cerron Commercial Properties: Building plans have been submitted for the
first building. The foundation work will begin soon and the construction is slated to begin in Spring 2020.
Staff continued to work with Bruce Rydeen to find prospective tenants for the forthcoming spec light
industrial space. Cerron is deciding whether they will pull the permit this year or wait until spring 2020.
Rosemount Business Park: No new information currently.
Minneapolis Real Estate Journal: Staff attended the MREJ Industrial Development event. The
conversation largely revolved around the growing market for spec industrial developments for
warehousing and 3rd party logistics companies. Contacts were made with Opus Development, Duke Realty,
Hyde Development, Crawford Merx, and Hoyt Properties, Inc.
Workforce:
WDB: Eric Van Oss joined the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board Business Services
Committee officially on December 13, 2019. He attended orientation for new members and has been
working with the committee on 2020 visioning. This is a group that meets every other month to discuss
3
ongoing economic development activity, grant opportunities, hiring events, and employer needs through
Dakota County. Staff has linked Rosemount employers to hiring events and funding/training programs.
DCTC: Staff is working with DCTC on holding an April 2020 Community Forum on Employer-Educator
Partnerships. This forum will include Rosemount businesses that have established training programs as
well as businesses looking to create their own pipelines. The next planning meeting is scheduled for
January 6, 2020.
We make retail happen.
RETAIL RECRUITMENT UPDATES
•Diehl and Partners –We touched base with Lisa to verify her vacancies in Celtic Crossing.
She let us know that their has been some interest and deals she’s been working on but
nothing is completed at this time. We’ve sent a handful of retailers information on that site
so we are hopeful.
•National Convenience Store–Our team contacted them again to see if their strategy had
chanced since last year. They let us know that they still have no interest in the market at
this time.
•National Hotel Chain–We reached out to this group to see if they would have any interest
in Rosewood Center. They received our information and have agreed to review it. We sent
them the site plan showing a hotel use in this development.
•National Sporting Goods Retailer –We contacted their tenant rep broker to gauge their
interest in the market if a larger development was potential put together. He said at this
time they don’t have interest. However, he asked that we touch back if a development
were to come together at some point.
•National Chiropractic Group–We have been speaking to this group as they are expanding
across the country. We showed them space in Rosewood Crossing. They don’t currently
have a franchisee but let us know they would be in touch if that were to change.
•Regional Sandwich Restaurant–We have sent information again to them to follow back up
from our prior outreach. We are currently awaiting feedback.
•National Pizza Restaurant–Our team sent information again on the market and showed
them multiple options for location. They are passing this along to the regional franchisee
for review and will be back in touch if there is any interest.
•National Convenience Store –We continue stay in touch with them and look for a site they
might agree to.
ROSEMOUNT, MINNESOTA
BETH MILLER
PORTFOLIO DIRECTOR
205.314.0385
beth@retailstrategies.com
November 2019