Luverne working on 500 new jobs

By Sara QuamLuverne is working with a company that could bring up to 500 jobs town. The business is a call center where employees would earn $34,000 to $39,000. Other than that, the city doesn’t have much information on the venture, because it was approached by the state to put together a proposal for the business. The state Department of Employment and Economic Development said that, so far, Luverne is the top choice for Minnesota locations, but nine other states are also in the running. DEED hasn’t released the name of the company to Luverne officials yet. The company is drawn by Job Opportunity Building Zone tax breaks and a financial package from Luverne. The business would need a 40,000- to 60,000- square-foot facility, which the city of Luverne would build, and then sell to the company. The city would also finance a $750,000 loan at 6.5 percent, with interest-only payments for the first few years. The city and state would also offer training grants, and infrastructure and technology grants. The city itself is offering employees discounted lots for new construction and discounted memberships at the Pool and Fitness Center. Culver’s Restaurant Culver’s has formally declined the city’s offer to open in Luverne. One of the owners, Chad Huebner, Sioux Falls, said, "Luverne is a great community. We wouldn’t have considered it if we didn’t like it." He said he’s concentrating on existing restaurants before expanding, but that Luverne could be an option in the future. There was some sentiment among existing restaurant owners that the city shouldn’t try to draw another one to town. But, Huebner said that wasn’t a factor in deciding against a Luverne Culver’s. In other economic development news:
Luverne Economic Development Authority Director Jill Wolf is starting a Downtown Council, which will bring Main Street business owners together to discuss issues, or to gather input on things such as uniform lighting, signs or planters.
The LEDA will have to pay $35,000 it guaranteed for CorTech. That business has closed.
The LEDA is pursuing options to collect $7,200 owed from Falcon Pallets, which rented the former Exsito building on West Hatting Street.