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-SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION <br />F= d t v ) - r ��.. si 1 <br />X -E <br />J. <br />VA <br />���, . '� ._t__ '��� <br />Location, labor force, and a c an7d® attitude are key to Fridley s busirless climate. <br />Last year, John Gohmann decided to <br />build a steel translooding focility.as part <br />of Minnesota Commercial Railways <br />expansion in the Twin Cities. The idea <br />turned out to be easier than the <br />execution. He wrote one community for <br />information and never received a <br />response. He called and left several <br />messages. None were returned. <br />In the midst of negotiations with <br />another metro area city, a piece of <br />properly became available in Fridley, <br />and Gohmann's luck changed. "Fridley <br />was quick to respond. Within three <br />weeks, they processed the whole <br />proposal—including lac increment <br />financing," Gohmann recalls, "and they <br />initially said it would take a couple of <br />months. They gave me fast responses <br />without the bureaucracy. Everything <br />they promised, [boy did on time—or <br />before." <br />Gobmann's experience with the city <br />that prides itself on its "Friendly Fridley' <br />nickname isn't uncommon. Businesses <br />are Finding Fridley to be extremely <br />business friendly. They like its terrifically <br />accessible location, dedicated work <br />force, and proactive government. <br />.Companies of every size and type <br />can be found in Fridley. Among them <br />are prominent firms such as Medtronic, <br />Inc., Orion Corporation, Target Stores, <br />United Defense, and Burlington <br />Northern Railroad. Fridley attracts <br />growth companies such as Stylmark, <br />Safetron Systems, NT International, and <br />Minco Products because of its <br />accessibility and business climate. <br />Fridley city manager William Burns <br />says building and construction is up <br />sharply in 1997. 'We issued about <br />$37 million in permits during all of <br />1996, but we already reached $27 <br />million by August of this year. The hot <br />economy is heating up Fridley as well." <br />Micro Control manufactures <br />equipment to test computer chips and <br />hos been located in Fridley for the past <br />21 years. "In the lost Iwo years we've <br />just about doubled in size," says Micro <br />Control president Harold Hamilton. <br />"We hired an additional 75 workers <br />and added about 20,000 additional <br />square feet." Acquiring the necessary <br />permitting from the city was, Hamilton <br />says, "no problem. We've never had a <br />problem with Fridley. It's always been a <br />Companies located In Fridley include ?.eget S1 <br />Corporation, and Gnvlin9ton Northern Railroad. <br />very positive experience." Hamilton also <br />credits the area's competitive labor <br />rates as a major plus. <br />As the gateway. city to the North <br />Metro, Fridley sits at the epicenter. of the <br />area's recent business growth spurt. Just <br />north of Minneapolis, Fridley offers <br />Building and <br />construction in <br />Fvidley rose <br />sharply in 9999. <br />corporate headquarters in Fridley, says <br />the site has served the corporation well <br />over the years. "The location is <br />wonderful, and we're close to both <br />downtowns and to a good employs - <br />resource base, which has allowed the <br />headquarters to expand to some 2,500 <br />"The city has been very cooperative (aced <br />interested in sustaining growth in the Fridley gFe a, <br />They're very proactive and make it very easy <br />to uca:oniplish your business goals." <br />Rodger McCombs <br />Medtironic, Inc, <br />unmatched freeway access to every part <br />of the metro area. Downtown - <br />Minneapolis is less than 15 minutes <br />away. SL Paul and the Minneapolis/St. <br />Paul International Airport are barely <br />half an hour away by freeway. Plus, <br />Fridley offers one of 16e largest pools of <br />highly skilled and well-educated - <br />workers in the Twin Cities. Its unique <br />position at the base of the booming <br />North Metro area allows resident <br />companies to draw employees from all <br />over Anolm County and the northern <br />suburbs. <br />Rodger McCombs, vice president of <br />shared business services at Medtronic's <br />employees at that location." <br />. McCombs says [hat, especially <br />during the last Five years, "the city has <br />been very cooperative and interested in <br />sustaining growth in the Fridley area. <br />They're very proactive and make it very <br />easy to accomplish your business <br />goals." <br />F-ridley's civic leaders believe strongly <br />in the concept of public/private <br />partnership and know that The success <br />of the companies that locate or expand <br />here is also the key to its success as a <br />city. The city's government receives high <br />marks from independent organizations <br />such as the Citizens League for its - <br />