11/3/2003 -- NEWS RELEASE -- State Representative Al Juhnke
281 State Office Building
100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-6206
Juhnke, Johnson Unveil Economic Development Package for Region
Lawmakers will seek state bonding for proposals to enhance area’s job growth, competitiveness
Citing the need for economic growth and enhanced competitiveness in West-Central Minnesota, State Representative Al Juhnke and Senator Dean E. Johnson today unveiled plans to pursue state bonding for a package of economic development projects across the area.
“Willmar and the rural area around it need jobs, and the best way to get those jobs is to give businesses the infrastructure and amenities that make the area an attractive place to live and work,” Juhnke said. “That’s the goal of this proposal: To make the Willmar area competitive with other regional centers like St. Cloud or Rochester, and even with the Twin Cities.”
With Willmar as the area’s economic hub, job creation in the city benefits thousands of people throughout West Central Minnesota, Johnson added.
“We have to build for the future,” Johnson said. “In the changing economic climate of Minnesota, we must be pro-active and aggressive. Our aim is to keep West Central Minnesota on its track for economic success.”
The Juhnke-Johnson package includes five elements:
* New Willmar Airport: $3.57 million in state bonding to allow the new Willmar airport to have a 6,500-foot runway - long enough to handle all sizes of private aircraft, many military aircraft and even small commuter flights. Current federal funding has limited the planned runway to only 5,500 feet - 200 feet shorter than the old airport’s runway and too short for even many private planes. The longer runway could also help Willmar’s bid to win the Minnesota Air National Guard helicopter maintenance base, which itself would add 100 jobs to the region’s economy.
* Railroad Bypass: $1.5 million in state bonding to create a railroad bypass around the southwest side of Willmar. This would be half the estimated $3 million cost of the project, with the Burlington Northern Railroad or other non-state sources covering the other half. The railroad bypass would create railroad access for the industrial parks planned for both the old airport and the new airport, enhancing the value of both industrial parks. It would also reduce train traffic within the city, enhancing traffic safety and reducing pollution from locomotives in the BN freight yards. Willmar’s BN yard is the second-busiest railyard in the state.
* RTC Re-use: Bonding to convert the six unused buildings at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center to other uses, such as a veterans’ home or industrial and commercial uses. The dollar amount needed for this has not been determined, but Juhnke and Johnson say they are committed to helping find job-creating new uses for the old buildings.
* Glacial Lakes Trail: $900,000 in state bonding to pave the Glacial Lakes State Trail from New London to Paynesville. Paving the trail will make it more attractive as a recreational tourism destination, which will benefit small businesses in the communities along the trail. The lawmakers noted that paved bicycle trails have proven to be great economic stimulators in many small communities, spurring development of new restaurants and shops.
The fifth element is reauthorization of the local sales tax in Willmar that was originally used to build a new regional library. City officials have discussed reauthorizing the tax for other projects, such as moving the county fairgrounds or industrial park infrastructure. Juhnke and Johnson said that if the Willmar City Council and local voters approve reauthorizing the tax, they will pursue the necessary permissive legislation at the Capitol. However, Juhnke noted, Republicans who hold the House majority have recently refused to pass bills for local-option sales taxes.
“When we look at cities similar to Willmar that have succeeded with economic development, we find the most important elements are good transportation links and a good quality of life, along with a strong local workforce,” Juhnke said. “We have the people. We have a good quality of life. We need to build the infrastructure that will let Willmar compete with other regional centers.”
