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progressive vision, fiscal responsibility, and careful resource management. In addition, a 1996 survey of city residents indicated that 74 percent rated the city's - tax -related spending as "excellent" - Dennis Zylla, vice president of Northco Real Estate Services, which sold John Gohmann his properly, describes Fridley city officials as "rational and objective. They understand the importance of business and jobs." Fridley's mayor, Nancy Jorgenson, adds, "Our professional staff has a can - do attitude when it comes to offering technical assistance to the business community.". - Says city manager Burns, who also serves as executive director of the tiff's Housing and Redevelopment Authority, "We try to be responsive to everybody and keep our best foot forward. I think we recognize business as an extremely valuable constituent in our community. We want to do what we can to help those businesses that are here—and generate new, really strong businesses on the vacant sites we have left." In addition, says Burns, the city recently re-examined its philosophy about the development of the highly desirable Fridley Executive Park location. "It's an extremely valuable piece of land that's well located and we want to make sure it's used well," he explains. "Our original idea was to stimulate high-rise corporate development as opposed to single -story development. Butalthough we have thbt as a primary goal, we determined that we ought to inject more flexibility into our approach and will also be considering one-story, high-tech production Facilities for at least a portion of the site." Fridley's financial strength is reflected in its reputation for credit -worthiness. It carries a Moody's rating of Aal, the highest rating for a city of its size. Outstanding debt is serviced from tax increment revenues, special assessments, and water system net revenues. The city typically carries a large carryover balance in its general fund, and sizable operating reserves . have allowed it to .maintain a stable tax levy, This tax climate offers significant advantages to businesses locating here,including lower day-to-day operating costs and enhanced bottom-line earnings. It also permits more accurate year-to-year budgeting and forecasting, allowing the Past two p ovmers to reinvest in their companies with the confidence that the city is working to maintain its "no surprises" business environment.. "We're reasonable with the resources we have available," Burns says. "We try not to became involved in inter -city bidding wars fora company. We understand the financing tools that are - available and try to use what we have to the best of our ability to meet our customers' needs." A Fridley location puts a business at the center of one of Ike region's largest pools of highly skilled, well-educated workers. Total employment in the city was estimated at 23,700 in 1995. Fridley's work force is also projected to grow ata faster -than -average rate through the year 2000. Two, prime worker age groups -25 to 41 and 45 to 64—are expected to significantly exceed the rate of growth for the some age groups in the metro area as a - Whole., The area's labor pool is (mown for its strong work ethic and high productivity, as well as high levels of personal shills. Growing numbers of the region's residents, attracted to the area by its great schools and pleasant neighborhoods, are choosing to work closer -to their homes rather than endure the difficulties of a long downtown or cross-town commute. - "We've been able to attract and retain outstanding employees as we've grown over the years," says Bruce Micro 6ontvol hired 95 new worieers d"I"g ears. Brenholdt, executive director of the Columbia Parl<Medical Group, which operates the Fridley Plaza Clinic. "Primarily they come from the North Metro area." (Carl Schurr, president of Mince Products, an international manufacturer of components used in space technology, says he relocated to Fridley from Minneapolis after finding that most of his employees already lived in That region. Other major employers, such as United Defense/PMC, Target Stores, and Unity Flospilal, continue to draw on Ike ready supply of skilled workers available in Fridley and its neighboring communities. TWIN CITIES BUSINESS MONTHLY DECEMBER 1997 V"70