Industrial park work underway

By: 
Jamie Hult, Staff writer

Ground work is underway at Rovang Industrail Park, just west of Brandon’s I-90 interchange. Forty of the 80 acres will feature street-lined lots for sale this spring. Jamie Hult/BV Journal

Dirt is turning and engines are churning at Rovang Industrial Park, Brandon’s sixth park in 34 years. 
Ground work began last week at Rovang Industrial Park, just west of the I-90 interchange and adjacent to the Brandon and Corson industrial parks. 
The Brandon Development Foundation is tackling half of the 80-acre development this fall. Water and sewer lines will be laid in this fall, with streets to follow early next year.  
 “We’ll have finished lots for sale in the spring,” said Dennis Olson vice president of BDF, which has brought five industrial parks to the area since 1983. 
BDF’s vision for its newest industrial park is simple: to bring companies to town and provide jobs.
“It’s my philosophy that in order to build communities, you need to build primary jobs – those that are head of the household. When you have that, people are more likely to build houses here, and when you have houses, you have retail, and you don’t have to go looking for that – those rascals just come no matter what,” Olson said.
The city of Brandon annexed in the 80 acres on Sept. 5. Forty acres on the east side of Rovang Industrial Park are rail accessible. Olson said the land’s proximity to train tracks gives the property unique appeal to potential buyers, as does its flat topography and price tag – a bit less, per acre, than land in neighboring Sioux Falls.
“Rail is very important to the Sioux Falls metro area because Burlington Northern Santa Fe has daily operations along there, and rail is not that available,” Olson said. 
With access to rail and the I-90 interchange, Rovang Industrial Park site is ideal for both large and small industry companies, said Nick Fosheim, executive director of the Minnehaha County Economic Development Association.
“There’s been a really consistent, strong interest in developing the park, and that’s due I think to the strong infrastructure that’s already there,” he said. “There’s been good momentum. It’s important for people to know we’re actively searching for opportunities.”
“The interest is strong, but no company has committed yet,” said Fosheim, who has fielded several inquiries since the February groundbreaking, including one from a company with considerable clout.
“It’s a household name – that’s all I know,” said Olson, who stays in contact with Fosheim regarding Brandon economic development news. 
Industrial development takes patience, Olson said, but with time the employees at those plants, factories and warehouses move into the area. That residential growth spurs economic growth, and the cycle continues, he said. 
In 34 years the BDF has developed 320 acres, added 1,400 new jobs and increased assessed land value by $60 million.
“That’s quite a feat for a foundation,” Olson said. “I think that’s pretty good for a small town.”
Fosheim noted that Brandon’s industrial area –situated in and around Marmen Energy – has seen a lot of new construction in the past 12 months. 
“I don’t know if people drive by, but I think they’d be surprised,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting the right project in place and then everything else comes together.” 
BDF purchased the 80 acres from Odell Rovang, who farmed and produced organic crops there for many years.

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