On Monday, September 22, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced an award of $3.3 million from the Economic Development Administration for the City of Crookston to upgrade infrastructure in the city’s industrial park. The new infrastructure will include a roadway, water, and wastewater lines, adding 73 acres of developable lots to the industrial park. The project will create 75 jobs and provide the city with resources to spur economic growth once completed.
“That will be used for the infrastructure in there so we can start to build out businesses in there and also to support the railroad spur that is going in there in the spring,” said Karie Kirschbaum, Crookston Economic Development Executive Director. “When I got hired three years ago, Corky Reynolds was our city administrator and he said, I want you to focus on building out the industrial park. So that’s what got that ball rolling. And the Northwest Regional Development Commission, they set aside funding to get us some extra help there to get the project through.”
The grant will help Crookston’s Industrial Park be shovel-ready for businesses looking to build. “When people looking for a place to land, when deed is looking, somebody contacts DEED and says, hey, we want to build in Minnesota,” said Kirschbaum. “Our place will come up, we’re going to get towards the top of the list, right? Because we’re going to actually have all of our ducks in a row and have things ready.”
The City will be able to market the industrial park in a different way after receiving the grant. “We hired a firm that is out at a lot of the different trade shows and they’ve been starting to advertise Crookston and the industrial park,” said Kirschbaum. “But now we’ll actually be able to add to our advertising that we’re going to be able to put infrastructure in there. So we know that it is shovel-ready.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement: “Improving infrastructure is essential for fostering community and economic growth,” said Klobuchar. “This new road and water and wastewater lines will increase the size of the industrial park and significantly boost Crookston’s economy.”
Senator Tina Smith said, “Revitalizing our infrastructure is about more than just fixing roadways, bridges, and water treatment facilities; it’s about improving people’s lives and promoting economic growth, which is precisely what these projects will do,” said Smith. “These projects are going to support businesses and strengthen the economy for people in Crookston and Polk County.”