HOW A MISUNDERSTOOD MANUFACTURER AND OPEN-MINDED CITY OFFICIALS DEVISED A WIN-WIN SOLUTION IN EASTERN WRIGHT COUNTY

 

Tony Vertin Sr. had a problem. After almost 30 years in business Mr. Vertin says, “Nobody seemed to want us. They all thought we were some kind of big polluter.”

The reason was that some public officials viewed one of Mr. Vertin's ventures,

Ver-Tech Labs, as an undesirable “chemical company.” The company manufactures stock and custom-blended products like cleaners, degreasers and brighteners for car and truck washes, printers, concrete companies and other firms.

Taking the time to really listen

Nobody, that is, except the city officials of Rockford , Wright County . Unlike some other communities, Mr. Vertin says Rockford City officials actually took the time to understand his businesses.

“They wanted me,” Mr. Vertin says. “They showed me they wanted me. It's been an attractive deal.”

Ironically, in addition to Ver-Tech Labs, Mr. Vertin operates businesses that literally improve the environment. Ver-Tech Inc. makes balers and trash compactors used in recycling, and Ver-Tech Air Quality makes dust collectors, environmental booths, ventilating systems, air cleaners and other products that make the air healthier to breathe.

 

 

A time to build

At the suggestion of his banker, Mr. Vertin began to explore the idea of building his own building.

Fortunately, the City of Rockford had space available and Mr. Vertin's Realtor spotted along Minnesota Highway 55 the cities sign advertising its new 80-acre Millennium Industrial Park. Rockford officials promptly responded to the firm's inquiries about the park.

“They seemed very receptive,” Mr. Vertin says.

That positive working relationship eventually resulted in a new, $3 million, 73,000 square foot facility on six acres in Millennium Industrial Park . Ver-Tech moved into the building in August 2001. The firm owns an additional six acres that could be used to expand the facility to a total of about 100,000 square feet.

 

Public financing made it feasible

The investment included about $264,000 for land, about $2.44 million for construction and about $210,00 for equipment, according to Shannon Sweeney of David Drown Associates (DDA), a firm that aids Rockford and other communities with municipal

finance and economic development programs.

The city and DDA assisted by helping

Ver-Tech to assemble a package that included Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and a low-interest loan from the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED). Under the TIF program, the city is helping Ver-Tech to defray land costs by reimbursing the firm for 100 percent of the amount of the new property taxes generated by the property for nine years. The seven-year, 4 percent DTED loan covered the cost of machinery and equipment.

“That financing package – combined with competitive lands costs and Wright County 's relatively low property taxes – sealed the deal,” Ms. Evers says.

Through it all, Mr. Vertin says he has enjoyed a good working relationship with Rockford and Wright County officials. “The city's been good and the county's been good,” he says. “They're good people as well as cooperative people.”

The feeling appears to be mutual.

“It's been a very nice project for the community and they're very pleased and satisfied with it,” Mr. Sweeney, Ver-Tech project added. “The owners of the company have been very good people to work with.”

 

“Not as far as I thought it was.”

One of Mr. Vertin's few concerns about relocating to Wright County was whether it would be difficult to recruit and retain employees to work that far from the core of the metro area. But, like the stereotypes regarding chemical companies, the fears about being “too far out” were equally unfounded.

“We showed him that wasn't the case,” Ms. Evers, City of Rockford Administrator says. Indeed, Mr. Vertin says he's found plenty of qualified employees – and hard workers, too.

“People here have a better work ethic,” he contends. His more tenured employees like it too. Some have moved to the area, he says, and others are planning to do so. About 45 to 50 people are based at the Rockford facility.

Customers also seem to like the new location. One thing people say is that, “ Rockford is not as far as I thought it was.”

A good investment – today and tomorrow

“It's been a real plus to show people the building” Mr. Vertin continues. To bring people through here is a selling point.” Photos of the new facility are prominently featured on Ver-Tech's website and other marketing materials.

Overall, the decision to move to Rockford and Wright County has proven to be a good one, Mr. Vertin concludes. “We have a first-class facility here,” he says proudly. “We have a facility that's going to be able to serve us for a long time in the future.”

Wright County Countryside