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Northfield Economic Development News PHOTO: GRIFF WIGLEY
Mayo Breaks Ground in Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057
With a public ceremony on September 15, Mayo Clinic broke ground for a new radiation oncology treatment center in Northfield.
Home to two premier colleges, close to the Twin Cities and centered on a thriving riverfront and downtown, Northfield, Minnesota is a great place to live and work. Home to a wide range of businesses from large food manufacturing and distribution firms, to small high-tech start-ups, Northfield enjoys the strength of a diversified local economy. The City of Northfield and the Northfield Economic Development Authority are committed to helping current and prospective businesses obtain the resources necessary for success.
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F S T. O L A F C O L L E G E
507-645-3018 www.ci.northfield.mn.us/business eda@ci.northfield.mn.us
The clinic, located on land leased from St. Olaf College immediately across North Avenue from Northfield Hospital and Family Medical Clinics, will serve patients from the southern tier of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, as well as Northfield and surrounding communities. The clinic is expected to open in the spring of 2011, employing approximately a dozen people. In a Northfield News article published when Mayo announced its plans to build the $10 million facility, Northfield Hospital administrator, Mark Henke, noted that “there’s a lot of patient and family benefit built into having this kind of center close to home. Patients from our market have typically gone outside our service area to receive radiation treatments. [T]he idea that Mayo is going to put a new oncology facility here in Northfield is really good news.” Northfield’s Economic Development Director, Jody Gunderson, described the new radiation oncology treatment center as a positive step in the long-term development of a health care and wellness campus in the northwest corner of the city. “We have nearly completed the master planning of an large area recently annexed west of the hospital, and this new treatment center is another positive step building momentum for the long-term development of the area. It’s great for patients who will no longer have to travel out of the area for services, and it’s also a step forward for the city.”
Business Park Master Planning Update Led by a steering committee of citizen volunteers, planning consultants, Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., continued to refine the master plans for two areas northwest and southwest of the city. The northwest area, 530 acres, was recently annexed into the city limits. The southwest area is in Bridgewater Township. The revised plans are nearing the final stage for presentation to the Northfield City Council, which will also soon be considering a long-anticipated revision of the city’s land development code. The master plan presents 20-40 year plan for phased, mixed use development, while the land development code specifies the requirements and standards for development within the city limits. The City Council is schedule to consider the master planning document in November.
Northfield Honored for Programs for Youth
Business Briefs NEW DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES
PanPan Cafe, a pan-Asian restaurant has opened at 303 Division Street, serving an eclectic menu of omelets, salads, and Asian-themed favorites. PanPan Café is part of 1001 Solutions, whose other Northfield restaurants include the Contented Cow, Chapati, and Butler’s Steak & Ale.
America’s Promise Alliance named Northfield one of the Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People. The city’s 2010 recognition marks the second consecutive win for Northfield in the competition; Northfield won in the 2008, the last time the competition was held. The 100 Best designation recognizes those communities that make youth a priority by implementing programs that help keep children in school and prepare them for college and the 21st century workforce.
BUSINESS UPDATES
Riverwalk Market Fair suffered a brief disruption during the late September flood, but has come back to life with a flourish. Fall farmer’s market produce, baked goods, street performances, and a wide variety of artisan crafts and fine arts can be found downtown every Saturday morning through October.
“Through its innovative and far-reaching programs, Northfield is taking bold and effective steps to help their young people graduate and lead healthy, productive lives,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO. “Northfield serves as an example to inspire and educate other communities across the nation to tackle the challenges facing their city and children, and to implement initiatives that give them the essential resources they need to succeed in life.” Among the Northfield programs and initiatives cited in the award were TORCH, a program to raise the high school graduation and postsecondary attendance rates of the community’s Latino and low-income students; the Mentoring Coalition, which pairs adults and local college students with nearly 200 young people; the Northfield Union of Youth, which brings together adults and youth at the nation’s longest-running youth-led youth center; and the PRIMEtime out-of-school collaborative, providing academic support, mentoring, workshops, field trips, and community building. According to Healthy Community Initiative Executive Director, Zach Pruitt, “At a time when youth are under tremendous pressures, this award recognizes just how much Northfield does to help its youth succeed. It is truly a community-wide effort.”
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLBOX
The Economic Development Toolbox is a useful, one-stop resource for online access to a wide range of information and tools. From city codes, EDA grant and loan programs, and links to our economic development partners, the Toolbox is a great place to learn more about how Northfield can help you grow your business. Check out the Toolbox at www.ci.northfield.mn.us/business/ economicdevelopmenttoolbox
EDA Authorizes Emergency Loans The city of Northfield was hit hard by flooding in late September, with downtown businesses along the Cannon River suffering substantial damage to buildings and equipment, and significant loss of income. In a special meeting on October 1, the Economic Development Authority approved a temporary change to the downtown development revolving loan fund to provide affected business with access to $200,000 in loans funds. “This was an extraordinary event,” said Economic Development Authority president, Jenelle Teppen. “We need to use the financial tools at our disposal to help our downtown businesses weather this storm.” P H O T O S T H I S PA G E C O U R T E S Y O F G R I F F W I G L E Y