Recognizing the potential that exists in Belle Plaine for economic growth, the Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, and the City Council decide to organize the Belle Plaine Economic Development Authority (BPEDA) in the fall of 1990. The BPEDA will assist with Supplemental information, as well as provide financial and technical support.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Belle Plaine Economic Development Authority is to 1) improve the economic well-being of Belle Plaine as measured by job creation, increase in the tax base, and expansion of business concerns, and 2) instill a commitment to excellence, integrity, pride, and respect in community by working independently and cooperatively with other organizations and individuals, both public and private, for the purpose of promoting and advancing industrial, commercial, residential, and agricultural development and redevelopment.

Five Year Economic Development Goals:

1. Maintain an organizational focus for purposes of promoting economic development efforts and enhancing community awareness and participation in economic development/redevelopment.

2. Recruit, encourage, and assist new and existing business and industry to locate and expand within the City through development and implementation of a marketing plan.

3. Maximize all opportunities to access appropriate public and private sources of technical and financial assistance to achieve community goals and objectives.

4. Improve and expand existing infrastructure to meet projected industrial, commercial, and residential growth.

5. Research, study, evaluate, and implement a plan for central business district (downtown) expansion and/or redevelopment.

6. Develop an ongoing community beautification and enrichment program.

Commercial and Industrial Sites: The City has several available commercial and industrial sites available for development. These include lots in and immediately east of the recently opened 40-acre Belle Plaine Excelsior-Henderson Industrial Park. Contact City Hall for a list of available sites.

Visibility: Belle Plaine will showcase commercial businesses and industries to the Upper Midwest. Frontage on the heavily traveled U. S. Highway 169 provides tremendous visibility. Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Co. has set the stage for a first class industrial park. Belle Plaine is seeking businesses which would not only compliment this development but become a cornerstone in the community.

Size of Sites: The size of the sites vary and may be determined based on the needs of the business(es). Several areas have not yet been subdivided in order to allow the sites to be custom sized.

Utilities: Belle Plaine is served by Northern States Power, Minnegasco, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative and Frontier Communications Telephone Company. Telephone service includes toll-free calling within the Twin Cities metro area. Cable television access is available to City residents from Triax Cablevision.

The City maintains its own water and sewer systems and service. A recently completed addition of a third well and a previously completed $3 million expansion project of the City's waste water stabilization ponds provide the community with reliable and cost-effective service now and in the future.

Rates: The City of Belle Plaine sets water and sanitary sewer rates on an annual basis. For water use of 3,000 gallons or more, a volume charge of $1.50 per thousand gallons is charged for water, plus a charge of $1.50 per thousand gallons is charged for sewer. This is in addition to the normal minimum monthly fees.

Properties are also serviced by the private utility companies. NSP and MN Valley Electric Coop. provide reliable electrical service, Minnegasco provides economical natural gas, Frontier Communications provides local metro area phone service, and Triax Cablevision services the City through a franchise agreement.

All the private utility companies are eager to expand their customer service base within the City of Belle Plaine. Specific rate incentives for a large manufacturing demand may be explored directly with each utility company. The utilities servicing the Belle Plaine area are exceptionally reliable and cost-effective. Any rate increases are subject to approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Labor Resources: The Belle Plaine labor market is favorable for new businesses locating in Belle Plaine. Our proximity to the Twin Cities makes it easy to obtain a large number of well educated and qualified workers on short notice. Located only 50 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Belle Plaine may draw a work force from a population of nearly two million people. Located on U. S. Highway 169, a four lane all weather roadway, makes our community especially attractive to workers who wish to commute to our community. In addition, we are situated near LeSueur, Rice, Nicollet, and Sibley Counties with average wages well below those of the Twin Cities. This labor market from "out-state or rural Minnesota," is often complimented for its work ethic.

The City of Belle Plaine is a member of the Scott County Economic Development Coalition which recently contracted with an educational institution to survey all manufacturing companies within the County. The results of the survey showed current skills, education, and compensation levels for employees in area businesses. This information will prove valuable as new businesses proceed, gearing up and hiring personnel. The Scott County Economic Development Coalition hosted a job/career fair in February of 1998 to assist Scott County businesses with their employment needs and over 600 individuals attended. This program is anticipated to be offered again in 1999.

The following is a breakdown of major employers, the type of product or service they provide, and the number of employees for select businesses within our community.

Major Employers	Products & Services	Employees
Lutheran Home	Nursing Home	287
Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Company	Motorcycle Manufacturing	95
Emma Krumbee's Restaurant	Restaurant	85
Wendt Laboratories	Vet. Medication/Pharmaceutical	30
State Bank of Belle Plaine	Banking	21
Belle Plaine Cooperative	Feed/Seed/Fertilizer	18
Siemon Implement	Farm & Lawn Equipment	17
Creative Tool & Eng.	Tool and Die	12
Prairie Farm Supply	Feed and Farm Supply	11
Belle Plaine Block & Tile	Drain Tile & Tanks	9

Status of Unions: Currently there are no businesses in Belle Plaine that have been unionized.

The following is a sampling of wages and working conditions of various businesses in Belle Plaine:

Business A:

1. Employs over 200 workers.

2. Availability of workers: Positions are usually filled immediately.

3. Quality of workers: Overall, good.

4. Wages: Unskilled $6.91/hr; health insurance.

- - -Skilled $7-15/hr; health insurance.

Business B:

1. Employs 75 workers.

2. Availability of workers: Adequate.

3. Quality of workers: Excellent crew.

4. Wages: Unskilled $4.25-9.00/hr.

- - -Semi-skilled $4.25-9.00/hr; health insurance.

Business C:

1. Employs 50 workers.

2. Availability: No problem.

3. Quality of workers: Good workers.

4 Wages: Unskilled $6.00-10.00/hr; health insurance.

- - -Semi-skilled $6.00-10.00/hr; health insurance.

Business D:

1. Employs 20 workers.

2. Availability: No problem.

3. Quality of work force: Excellent.

4. Wages: Unskilled $6.00-10.00/hr.

- - -Semi-skilled $6.00-10.00/hr.

In conclusion, it is apparent labor needs could be filled locally or, if needed, drawn from the over one million member labor force within the seven county metro area.

Property Taxes: The City Council and governing bodies of the other taxing jurisdictions affecting the City of Belle Plaine have exercised great care in limiting tax increases, yet at the same time, sought to efficiently provide the essential government services necessary to a thriving and growing local economy. The table below shows the breakdown of net capacity rates by jurisdiction for the current year and past six years.

Tax Capacity Rate	Total	ISD 716	City	County
1999est	133.37	55.382	35.988	39.564
1998	137.122	59.796	34.156	40.936
1997	138.322	63.455	31.173	41.683
1996	145.724	65.401	29.174	46.060
1995	162.803	76.784	33.432	50.217
1994	149.406	67.720	30.802	48.475
1993	128.481	53.298	27.994	45.564
1992	130.593	59.939	27.074	41.839

Note: Sum does not equal the total because miscellaneous taxing districts have been omitted.

For more information, contact Joanne Foust at 612-873-5553 ext. 236.

Created by Christopher L. Pouliot for Belle Plaine, Minnesota.
Last modified 04/29/99