Beacon

Promotions

sets up in

New Ulm

Company will

initially employ 30

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Beacon Promotions with its 30 employees will be setting up shop in the old MTS Systems building later this summer, according to information presented Tuesday to the Economic Development Authority.

Beacon Promotions, which is basically a printing business, began leasing a small office in the building at 2121 S. Bridge St. Monday, said Industrial Development Coordinator Brian Tohal. The company plans to take over the entire building when the temporary tenants leave, Tohal said.

The company is exploring several avenues of financing including a loan from the state, Tohal explained. A state loan would require that the firm have at least 100 employees at the end of three years.

EDA commissioners also learned that the cost to replace the patios and most of the sidewalks at Broadway Haus as well as expand its parking lot, and to renovate the exteriors of the family units is approximately $303,000. The cost was determined by a consultant hired by the EDA.

Community Development Director Dave Schnobrich, who also serves as assistant executive director of EDA, said there was sufficient money in the authority's capital fund and reserves to do the entire project this year.

In other news, the EDA learned from Tohal that Firmenich has not made a decision yet on placing a second plant in New Ulm. "We're trying to get their CEO a meeting with our governor in an effort to tip the scales toward New Ulm," he said.

Firmenich also is considering a New Jersey city where its U.S. headquarters is located.

As for the biomass burning facility proposed for New Ulm, Tohal said the New Ulm Utilities Department "was opposed" to locating it in the city "so that's a dead issue."

The leasing of the EDA's property on the corner of 4th North and Broadway to Lori Furth of Cornerstone Coffee for her mobile coffee stand is moving along, Schnobrich told the commissioners.

When the EDA purchased the property where the old Jiffy gas station stood, Schnobrich said, the sellers required a non-compete clause in the sales agreement so they now must sign a waive to certain provisions in that clause.

"The city attorney has prepared the papers for the owners of the Super Stop to sign. That's the last remaining hurdle," Schnobrich said.