BJM Enterprises breaks ground in Valley

After more than two years of putting their plans on pause, BJM Enterprises’ partnership is finally realizing the dream of relocating their Minnesota-based diesel mechanic business to the new BJM Industrial Park. On Sept. 28, the BJM ownership trio of Burdell Jansma, Mark Rozeboom and Eric Van Grootheest put the ceremonial spades in the ground before a crowd of city leaders, family, friends and membership of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. 

“We’re just super excited to be coming over here. It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad today is here,” Rozeboom said.

Jansma and Van Grootheest echoed his sentiments.

“It took a little while, but it’s started now,” Jansma said. 

“To have a building this size, the room and space to work – what we’re in now is a very nice building, but we’ve outgrown it. This will be a nice location on the highway and easy access to the interstate. Hopefully, the new building and location will bring new customers,” said Van Grootheest, who purchased half of Jansma’s shares in April of 2016. He started as a mechanic with BJM in 2013.

BJM purchased 10 acres of land on the north side of 262nd St., directly across from the existing Valley Springs Industrial Park. Rozeboom said BJM will utilize five acres, leaving the remaining five available for future business endeavors.

“In the future – five to 10 years – we’ll look to sell that off and try to bring in more companies like ours out here to generate some income for the city,” Rozeboom said.

He said there’s been some interest in the property. “But until we get BJM situated here, we’re going to concentrate our efforts on getting here before we switch gears and develop that. The main goal, the priority right now is to get BJM Enterprises up and running,” he said.

The project’s general contractor, D&M Construction, also a Valley Springs company, began moving dirt earlier that day, prepping the land for the 72-foot by 240-foot building. The new building will nearly double their current shop.

“We’re hopeful that we can bring on a couple of full-time guys in the first 24 months, then venture out and try and pick up some new customers throughout the area. But we need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to be able to service any new customers that we may bring in,” Rozeboom said. BJM Enterprises currently employs six, including the partners.

BJM plans to be operating in their new shop after the first of year, “before the busy spring run,” Rozeboom said.

In February of 2015, BJM Enterprises first announced their intentions to move their business across the state line from Minnesota to Valley Springs. The city of Valley Springs had secured a $75,000 local infrastructure grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to bring water and sanitary sewer services to the property. But when the project didn’t move forward, the city returned the grant. Valley Springs secured a second grant from the GOED about a year ago Mayor Carl Moss said, and last month awarded the utility project bid to CMC Excavation of Emery.

“That’s something we’ve never had to do before, go under a major highway,” Moss said. “It will be well worth it and we’re glad they’re moving forward.”

BJM also turned to outside sources to help them move the project forward.

“We tried wading through the water on our own for a while,” he said. “When we teamed up with First Bank Southwest, we’ve been elated since. They’ve been nothing but awesome through this whole process. It’s been a really smooth process, time-consuming, yes, but a lot of things had to happen to make all this happen.”

Brad Bruxvoort, chief credit officer, and Brad Meester, ag commercial lender with First Bank Southwest, enlisted assistance from the Prairie Economic Development Corporation (Small Business Administration), which is headquartered in Slayton, Minn. 

“Events like this are ideal projects for us to be involved in because it’s a younger, next generation business that’s going to be around for a long time. It’s the future for all of our economies no matter where we’re located at,” Meester said.

“It reinforces our dedication to the local communities that we’re involved with, too, knowing that we need to be involved in how we can help grow that local economy,” Bruxvoort added. “We really have a great partnership with Prairieland to help get these projects done that we wouldn’t be able to otherwise.”

Moss said BJM’s move to Valley Springs will boost the city in a variety of ways. 

“It means more jobs and likely more exposure because there will be customers coming to the business,” he said. “Also, it should help with a little revenue coming into the city.”