WILLMAR—Fifteen years after it was first established, the MinnWest Technology Campus continues to be transformed into one of Kandiyohi County’s economic development stars. Currently, it is home to 27 different companies offering employment to 693 people, with an average salary of $55,000 a year.
“It is a real gem for this community,” said James Sieben, president of both the campus and Nova-Tech Engineering, one of the largest employers on the campus located in Willmar.
However, despite the many successes, the campus still relies on subsidies and tax breaks to stay viable. Nova-Tech and Life Sciences Innovations have paid more than $3 million in subsidies to the campus, Sieben said, on top of the companies’ regular rental expenses.
“We still have a long ways to go to turn a real profit,” Sieben said.
At the Dec. 2 meeting of the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners, Sieben, along with Sarah Swedburg, business development manager for the Kandiyohi County and city of Willmar Economic Development Commission, asked the commissioners to consider a new tax abatement for the campus.
Read the full article by the West Central Tribune.