City permits 128 projects valued at over $15 million in 2021

A good way to measure growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction.
Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled numbers for 2021 when he issued 128 permits valued at $15,077,990.
Of those, seven were for single-family home construction valued at $1,128,742 and comprised nearly 13 percent of permit valuations last year.
McClure points out that these valuations don’t reflect actual cost; they’re based on formulation for permitting purposes only.
Major projects permitted in 2021 include: 
•Luverne Aquatics & Fitness commercial addition and remodel on North Blue Mound Avenue valued at $4.3 million.
•Kemp Electric new commercial building in the industrial park valued at $180,000.
•PrairiE Loft Apartments new commercial building at Hatting Street and South Highway 75 valued at $7 million.
•Luverne Storage Rentals new commercial building in the industrial park valued at $230,000.
McClure points out that 2021’s permits don’t include the $17.5 million Armory National Guard Readiness Center, which is permitted through the state.
Also, the $50 million Lineage cold storage warehouse near PMP and the city’s $11 million power plant and generation project will finalize permitting in 2022.
There were fewer projects permitted in 2021 than 2020, but the construction value was much greater in 2021 —$15,077,990 vs. $9,797,569 in 2020.
Major projects permitted in 2020 were the Premium Minnesota Pork new commercial building at $4.5 million, the HRA (Blue Mound Towers) remodel at $1.1 million, the Subway new commercial on South Highway 75 at $350,000 and the Henning Construction new commercial building at $150,000.
 
In other 2021 business news:
•ATLAS ministry moves and expands in the former Kawasaki building
•Big Top Tents moves and expands in the former Bomgaars building.
•Schomackers buys next-door Sewing Basket building and connects for crossover business.
•Agri-Energy to reopen May 1 after pandemic and economic closure.
•Luverne Counseling gets façade upgrade on Main Street business front.
•Vasshous Candle Co. opens on Main Street.
•Generations buys Grand Prairie Events and offers existing seniors building on Lincoln Street for sale.
•Blue Mound Digital opens with new local marketing opportunities.
•Barbara Kay’s Bridal Boutique opens in Victorian brick home south of I-90.
•Papik Motors buys Iowa dealership.
•Honor Barber Shop opens on North Freeman in apartment building under renovation.
•Lineage announces a $50 million cold storage warehouse construction near PMP to start in 2022.