"Industrial Strength" Article from bizTimes Copyrighted
August 7, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 7.
ITEM TITLE: 'Industrial Strength" Article from bizTimes
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting an article from bizTimes related
to regional industrial parks.
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In the 1990s, leaders saw a need
and took steps to expand
the area's industrial parks
BY EMILY KLEIN SHEDEK, PHOTOS BY DAVE KETTERING AND NIOKI KOHL
In the 1990s, Dubuque's economic experts deter-
mined that industrial park development could be
vital to revitalizing the city's sluggish economy.
Two decades later, after giving the city the boost it
needed, industrial centers continue to play an im-
portant role for the community by keeping the ar-
ea's workforce diverse, offering existing businesses
a place for expansion and attracting new companies
to the area.
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bizTimes.biz,Dubuque,Iowa,July 2017 o
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DUBUQUE INDUSTRIAL CENTER
Available acres:Fully developed.
Tenants:
A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.,Ainley Kennels &Fabrication, Central
Transport, First Supply, Frito Lay Distribution, Hodge Company,
7G Distributing LLC, Nordstrom, Rite-Hite Corporation,
The Metrix Company, Uelner Tool&Die, Unison Solutions,
United States Postal Service, Geisler Brother Company,
Dubuque Regional Humane Society and Weber Paper Company.
Location:
Less than a mile from U.S. 20 and connected to Dubuque
Industrial Center West via Chavenelle Road.
Source:Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
Online:For an interactive map of the industrial parks,
and the business incentives analysis
go to www.biztimes.biz
%X COVER STORY bizTimes.biz.Dubuque, Iowa,July 2017
THE DEVELOPMENT there would be no need for a development Dickinson said these unique features make
group, Dickinson said.At that time, there the land extremely expensive to develop for
OF DUBUQUE S wasn't much collaboration between the pri- use as industrial property.
INDUSTRIAL PARKS vate and public sectors at that time. What is now known as Dubuque Indus-
Rick Dickinson, president and CEO of "Without that investment, we couldn't trial Center was the first park developed.In
Greater Dubuque Development Corp.,said have grown and because of the investment, 2001,the first building was constructed on
when he joined the group we have,"Dickinson said. it.
in 1995, an outside analyst In 1998,city leaders decided to evaluate Since then,the Dubuque Industrial Cen-
was hired to examine the property around Dubuque for acquisition ter and Dubuque Industrial Center South
Dubuque County Metro- and development. have been added.
politan Statistical Area.The When considering new sites for industrial
w findings were bleak. The arks,Dickinson said there are three rima
P prima- THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE -
economy was flat and slow ry criteria to consider.First is the proximity Today there are more than 60,000 people
to recover from difficult to Dubuque,which is key to ensuring utili- working in the Dubuque area.
times in the 1980s. ties are accessible and affordable.Second is In 2012, the New York Times analyzed
Rick Dickinson In 1980,there were about identifying a willing seller,as Dubuque has more than 150,000 local business incentives
43,000 people working never used imminent domain to acquire granted nationwide and interviewed more
in the area. By 1983, that land for the purpose of industrial develop- than 100 government and business organi-
number dropped to 37,000, in part due to ment. zation officials, corporate executives and
the closure of the Dubuque Packing Co. It Lastly,he said it's important to determine consultants.The analysis showed that Texas
wasn't until a decade later,in 1993,that the if the site will make a good industrial park. awarded more business incentives than any
economy started to recover and the number Even the best properties would never be other state,with annual spending at more
grew back to 43,000 workers again. considered viable in the private sector be- than$19 billion.
"It was 10 years of devastation and stag- cause of the challenging,undulating terrain, Iowa spends roughly $223 million per
nation,"Dickinson said. significant rock formation and subsoil con- year on incentive programs, according to
The analyst's recommendation was to de- ditions that are common in Dubuque Coun- the New York Times analysis. That's $73
velop industrial property because without it, ty because of the nearby Mississippi River. per capita and 4 cents per dollar of the state
f
DYERSVILLE INDUSTRIAL PARK
Available acres:93.59. Location:
Adjacent to U.S. 20.Flexible lot sizes
Sale price:$55,000 per acre. along 1.2 miles of highway frontage in
an urban renewal district that is tax
Tenants: increment financing eligible.High-end
Digga North America LLC, fiber optic lines are available.
Dardis Communications,
Crop Production Services,
JEDA Polymers and Steiger Realty Co.
bizTimes.biz,Dubuque,Iowa,July 2017 COVER lO
r
Dan McDonald Maurice Jones
budget.By contrast,Illinois spends$1.51 billion
each year,which is$117 per capita and 5 cents
per dollar of the state budget.And in Wisconsin,
the annual spending for incentive programs is
and billion,which works out state's
$26te's per capita DUBUQUE TECHNOLOGY PARK
and 10 cents per dollar of the state's entire bud- n
get. Y
Dan McDonald,vice president of existing busi-
ness at Greater Dubuque Development Corp., Available acres:36.79.
said Iowa and its communities can't possibly
compete with states like Texas from a monetary Sale price:
standpoint so officials have to get more creative. $120,000 for highway frontage, $100,000 for other.
You have to take care of your existing base
and recruit new businesses in a targeted,smart
way and tell them what you're good at;'he said.
City of Dubuque Economic Development Di- Tenants:
rector Maurice Jones said he believes the most Change Healthcare, Cartegraph, Integreat, E91,
effective way to grow the area's economy is to be
create a diverse workforce.Small businesses,like Kunkel&Associates Inc.,Windstream, Straka Johnson Architects,
restaurants and retailers,are important but they P.C., Sedgwick, and Rockfarm Supply Chain Solutions.
need to be balanced with larger companies and
manufacturers.
From a logistical standpoint, Jones said
Dubuque is an ideal site for corporations. It's Location:
centrally located in the country,close in proximi- Adjacent to U.S. 151 and 61.
ty to both rail and barge access,has a reasonable
cost of living,strong workforce and local colleges
"This is a community where you want to grow
your business,"he said.
In 2010, Hormel Foods Corporation opened
Progressive Processing in Dubuque on
Chavenelle Court.It was one of the first manu-
facturing facilities to be Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design certified when it
opened.
Plant Manager Kari Pollak said Hormel Foods
is a 126-year-old company with a long history of
supporting the communities in which it operates.
"Dubuque has provided us with a great loca-
tion fora talented workforce and logistical effi-
ciencies,"she said.
In 2015,the facility expanded to add two new
production lines. Currently, the Dubuque site
employs
Comp eats icr people and produces Horm-
el
am- CENTER SOUTH
el Com Teats microwave meals,the SPAM fam-
ily of products, Hormel bacon toppings,Valley
Fresh chunk chicken and Hormel chunk chicken
products. Available acres: 28.
"We are very proud to be here in Dubuque and Sale price:$120,000 per acre.
to be an employer in this wonderful community,"
Pollak said.
THE FUTURE OF DUBUQUE'S Tenants:
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY Verena Street Coffee Company, Tristate Quality Metals,
One of the biggest trends in economic devel- FleXsteel Industries.
opment is modernization,McDonald said.Many
large companies are closing outdated manufac-
turing facilities and replacing them with fewer Location: Seippel Road near U.S. 20.
COVER STORY -
bizTimes.biz.Dubuque,Iowa,July 2017
locations that are larger, more efficient and more modern. Com- in front of the competition by having a 160-acre site west of Radford
panies are finding a way to do more with less,which often means Road between Chavenelle Road and Pennsylvania Avenue predevel-
fewer jobs. oped and certified by the Iowa Economic Development Authority as
The impact of those mega manufacturing locations is a boost to development ready for industrial use.
local economies. The two-year certification process is nearing completion, and
Jones said the competition to attract new businesses can be fierce, Jones said it will give Dubuque an edge over the other cities that are
so it never hurts to get one step ahead of other cities. not certified.The state will also help market the property on behalf
"Businesses don't have time to wait,"Jones said."If they're willing of the city,once the site is certified.
to invest and have the capital,we have to have space available now.
"If you're reactive,then you've missed your opportunity,"Jones said.
That's why Dubuque's leaders are working to put the city one step Continued on page 13
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DUBUQUE INDUSTRIAL CENTER WEST
Available acres:88.32 acres.
Sale price:$120,000 per acre.
Tenants:
Alliant Energy Dubuque Operations Center, M&M Sales Enterprises Inc.,
Spiegel Warehousing, DDI Inc., Dubuque Screw Products Inc., FedEx
Ground, Giese Manufacturing, Green Industrial Supply, Hodge Company,
Hormel Foods/Progressive Processing, InfoSafe Records Management,
ITC Midwest, IWI Motor Parts, Medline Industries, Oral Arts Dental
Laboratory, Spiegel Warehouse, The Adams Company, Theisen Supply Inc.,
TM Logistics Inc., Tri-state Industries,Universal Tank&Fabrication
and Vanguard Inc.
Location:
Less than 2 miles from U.S. 20 and connects to the Dubuque Industrial
Center via Chavenelle Road.
s bizTimes.biz,Dubuque,Iowa,July 2017
9✓
PF
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CASCADE INDUSTRIAL PARK
Available acres:57.
Sale price:$40,000 per acre.
Tenants:
American-Iowa Manufacturing,Weber Construction, Eastern Iowa Excavating
and Concrete, Rail-Way Inc.
Location:
Adjacent to U.S. 151,the Cascade Industrial Park is located in the city of Cascade
on First Avenue East.
WL
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+-
4
FARLEY INDUSTRIAL PARK
Acres available:60.
Sale price:Negotiable.
Tenants:
Western Dubuque Biodiesel, Dyersville Die Cast, Lund Manufacturing,
Behnke Enterprises, Precision Wire,Top Grade Excavating, Innovative Ag Services,
Rauen Precision Machining, Triton Manufacturing, Precision Wire&Design Inc.
Location:
One-quarter mile from U.S. 20, located adjacent to rail with service
from the Canadian National railroad.
bizTimes.biz,Dubuque, Iowa,July 2017 COVER STORY
Continued from page 10 Leaders at one long-time Dubuque business,Flexsteel Industries,
Three years ago,the GDDC contracted with IIW Engineers&Sur- recently announced their intention to keep the company's manu-
veyors in Dubuque to identify potential sites for additional industrial facturing operation in the city.The company is expected to spend
properties.Three sites were identified and targeted for purchase, at least$25 million on a new facility in Dubuque Industrial Center
Dickinson said. South.Flexsteel will close its location at 3400 Jackson St.,which was
Though not yet titled or included in any existing industrial centers, built in 1897,and relocate in late summer or fall 2018.
three properties contiguous to Dubuque Industrial Center West were In May, the Dubuque County supervisors approved a purchase
acquired for future use.A 25-acre parcel of that land will be used for offer from the City of Dubuque for more than 25 acres of industrial
Alliant Energy's new solar energy field,which is expected to be the land for Flexsteel.About 22 acres are located in Dubuque Industrial
largest solar array in Iowa. Center South.The remaining 3.9 acres are in Industrial Center West,
Many of the businesses residing in the city's industrial parks are near the county maintenance building.The Dubuque City Council
companies that had a presence in the community and opted to also agreed to submit an application for state incentives on the com-
expand locally.McDonald said the most effective way to grow the pany's behalf.
economy is to take care of existing businesses so they can flourish "If you don't have room to expand for your existing customers,
and expand locally. they would and will look elsewhere,"McDonald said.
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KERPER BOULEVARD
Available acres:Fully developed.
Tenants:
Georgia Pacific, Hirschbach Transportation, Drive Line,Union-Hoermann Press,
Rainbo Oil,Van Meter Inc.,Anderson/Eagle Window and Door Inc., Key City Plating,
United Parcel Service, Rousselot, Black Rock Fabrication, Home Technology Systems,
B&F Fastener Supply,Anova Pallet, Innocor Inc., Bradley Iron Works,
I
Klauer Manufacturing Company, Dubuque Fire Equipment Inc., Flint Hills Resources,
Quanex, Brightwood Corporation,Advantage Sheet Metal, Inc.,
Thompson Truck&Trailer,AG Trucking, Energetics,Automotive &Industrial
Hardware,Weitz Sign Systems, Coca-Cola Bottling Inc., Bel-Aire Rental,
Matthews Distributing, Drive Line of Dubuque, Hurst Logistics, Complete off Road,
Smart Retract-a-Gate,Advance Designs.
Location
Kerper Boulevard from East 16th Street to Hawthorne Street in Dubuque.