WILLMAR — The Willmar City Council will consider Monday night a proposal to sell two parcels of land totaling 8 acres to Jennie-O Turkey Store for the company’s proposed new headquarters project.

The City Council will also consider a 10-year right of first refusal to Jennie-O for a nearly 30-acre parcel in the Willmar Industrial Park for a possible future expansion of the turkey processing plant.

The City Council should approve both proposals.

These two parcels have been appraised by an independent analysis and review conducted by Holmgren Appraisal of Willmar of comparable land sales at a value of $238,072.

The Jennie-O headquarters project has an estimated market value for the building, parking and miscellaneous improvements of at least $4 million and would bring 90 additional jobs to the Willmar-based headquarters.

Under the Willmar Industrial Land Pricing Write-Down Policy adopted by the City Council in 2013 and in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, the company would receive $1 million in employment and tax base credits for the headquarters project. This credit will help pay for this land purchase.

This proposal is a critical project for Willmar, Kandiyohi County and west central Minnesota. Jennie-O is the major employer in Willmar and has a significant economic impact. Many communities would jump at having a major employer like this Fortune 500 company locate in their town.

The company employs 2,000 individuals within 30 miles of its Willmar headquarters for a payroll of more than $300 million a year. The company makes $400-600 million in product purchases a year as well, much of it bought right here in west central Minnesota.

A new company headquarters will help keep those local employees in Willmar and Kandiyohi County, instead of moving to some other location. The project will also bring some new jobs to the county from Wisconsin.

The headquarters project is the first phase, with the second phase being even bigger. The company built its last two plant additions in Montevideo and Melrose because Willmar did not have the wastewater treatment plant capacity to match their need.

This city has been working for over a decade to build the necessary infrastructure and expand the industrial park to help current businesses and attract new business, both of which will maintain and create jobs and growth in our local economy.

The time is here for Willmar to make this strategic investment in its own future by facilitating Jennie-O Turkey Store building a new headquarters in Willmar and prepare for future growth.

The best economic development strategy is to first help your current businesses grow and prosper.

To make this strategic investment in its own future by facilitating Jennie-O Turkey Store building a new headquarters in Willmar and prepare for future growth.

The best economic development strategy is to first help your current businesses grow and prosper.

 

—The West Central Tribune

 Jennie-O Turkey Store is a subsidiary of the Austin-based Hormel Foods Corp. Jennie-O is based in Willmar and employs nearly 7,000 people.