Spencer's industrial development breaks ground

(Photo submitted) SMU board Member Murray Hart, SMU Director Steve Pick, SMU board member Dave Hultgren, Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Director Kathy Evert, Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen, Spencer Industries Foundation representative Bruce Tamisiea, Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson, Spencer City Councilman Ron Hanson, SMU board member Tom Howe, and Sixth District State Rep. Mike May move the first shovels of dirt at the new Green Industrial Park.

"Welcome to the celebration," said Kathy Evert, president of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, greeting those gathered for Wednesday's ground breaking at the site of Spencer's new industrial park. The project marks the city's first green development.

The property - the Green Industrial Center - is a 200-acre park named after the former owner that will incorporate environmentally friendly design and encourage energy efficient building design. The site is in eastern Spencer with transportation access via the Spencer East Beltway and East Fourth Street. The location is also served by the Iowa Chicago Eastern Railroad.

"You're going to hear a lot about it for years to come," Evert said.

Mike May, Iowa's Sixth District state representative noted the number of entities that came together in order to make the idea a reality. "We're doing this thing together. It's more bang for the buck...A lot of cities are sitting and waiting...Northwest Iowa is out in front of the rest of the state in a lot of areas."

The project is being developed by the city of Spencer in partnership with Spencer Municipal Utilities. Industrial park developers believe it is the region's first "green" project, with an environmentally-friendly design in the infrastructure and landscaping.

"This development is the result of several partners working together for the common goal of continuing Spencer's progressive attitude towards business recruitment and expansion." said Steve Peck, director at Spencer Municipal Utilities, one of the project partners.

(Photo submitted) Sixth District Rep. Mike May addressed the audience Wednesday morning, congratulating all the parties involved for coming together to make what is believed to be northwest

"Thank you to the city of Spencer for partnering with us to accomplish this development. Thank you to the Iowa Lakes Corridor of Development Corporation for their expertise and leadership in this project. We would also like to thank the Spencer Industries Foundation for its commitment to build their next spec building in the Green Industrial Center.

The Spencer Industries Foundation will oversee the construction of a 40,000-square-foot spec building, which will be the first structure to go up in the industrial park. The city is funding about $435,000 of the $1 million spec building project, through Spencer Municipal Utilities. Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative and Corn Belt Power Cooperative will fund $614,500 for the spec building through grants and loans.

Plans call for rain gardens and a rural cross-section street with natural drainage rather than traditional curb and gutter. Buildings will be constructed with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles in mind.

This development will also encourage leadership in energy efficient building design and construction," said Pick.

The project also requires about 2,450 feet of new roadway from the east end of East Milwaukee Street. It continues east and north to the future 17th Avenue East. The road extension will allow access to seven new lots totaling over 40 acres in Phase I, which covers about $1.4 million of the $3.5 million Green Industrial Center proposal.

Earlier Wednesday morning, the final plat passed through the Planning and Zoning Commission. Bids have been let on the water and sewer work and bids for the street construction will be sought very soon. The city of Spencer was successful in obtaining a RISE grant from the Iowa DOT earlier this year that will help fund a portion of the street paving. The total estimated investment in the park is expected to be over $3.5 million.

Through the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, the sites will be actively marketed to new and existing companies especially companies producing products and providing services for renewable energy industries like wind and solar. "The community and its partners are taking aggressive steps to attract new jobs and new investment," said Mayor Reynold Peterson. "We believe this property will complement our existing industrial site inventory and provide a unique option for companies seeking green locations."

Addressing what he called "green principles," May continued, "It's very important as we look forward for the state of Iowa to be a promoter of business."

Evert, said, "The community is to be commended for the work already done to ready this property for new businesses and for their proactive approach." "Continuing to be as ready and responsive to new opportunities as possible is more important than ever in today's economy."

* For more information about the Green Industrial Center, contact Kathy Evert or Shaun Arneson of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation at (712) 264-3474.

A drawing of the sign that will serve as the entry way to the new green development was created by Matt Barstad, lead designer at Cannon Moss Brygger and Assoc.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is the regional economic development agency for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties. Its mission is to foster, promote, aid and otherwise assist in the economic growth and development of the region.