VIEWPOINT:

Economic Development Association of Minnesota

 

 

Industrial is important to a community because it builds a tax base and additional investment in a community by providing jobs and creating a clustering of businesses, explains Marc Nevinski, president of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota. "It can be a catalyst for additional community investment, which may include retail and restaurants to support the employees, some of whom are coming from other communities to work."

 

Is it fair for some communities not to have their fair share of industrial? "I don't think it's an issue of fairness," Nevinski says. "It's more an issue of local control and deciding on your community's destiny. I would think that every community would want a reasonable amount of industrial to offset costs and support it with a tax base. Also, if you've got employment opportunities within your city, it's a quality of life issue." People, he says, aren't commuting long distances to work and can spend more time with their families. "It comes down to what's your vision for your community?"

 

 

Return to the "Industrial Foundation" Feature