Business Interest Surfaces For Former ALCO building | Mayville - Portland, North Dakota

Business Interest Surfaces For Former ALCO building

shopko-logoTom Capouch, representing the Mayville-Portland Economic Development Committee, met with the Mayville City Council Sept. 8 and reported on correspondence with Shopko, a Wisconsin-based business considering coming to Mayville and occupying the former ALCO building. The building is owned by a trust based in San Diego, Calif. The company is looking for incentives from the city and community to establish a retail store in Mayville. Some incentives suggested included giving back a portion of the sales tax generated, a property tax abatement, or other types of incentives and/or combination of incentives.

“The community is expecting us to be proactive,” said Mayor Don Moen. Right now there is zero revenue coming in from any business that is not in that building. Any business would bring customers into town and those customers also shop at other places, have lunch, buy gas, whatever, offered a councilman. The city of Lisbon came to an agreement on incentives to Shopko before the business came into town. Bill Brudvik of Brudvik Law Office said he had talked with the city auditor and city attorney in Lisbon about their agreement with Shopko.

As the discussion on the topic came to a close, it was decided to hold a public meeting Monday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. to discuss the potential of attracting the business to the city and what incentives could be offered. It’s the hope of the council and the EDC that there would be a good turnout of business people, community leaders and general public to learn about the discussions thus far and to give their input.

Public meeting set for Sept. 21, Mayville City Hall.

Traill County Tribune

A special thanks to the Traill County Tribune for the use of this article from September 12, 2015

 


 

MPEDC ponders incentives to attract Shopko

Directors of the Mayville-Portland Economic Development Committee are united in having to take a more progressive approach to finding a replacement for ALCO. They now have incentive to consider incentives. Tom Capouch, MPEDC secretary/ treasurer, reported that Shopko has been negotiating some terms with the landlords of the ALCO property and have hinted that Shopko might be interested in ALCO if the City of Mayville can strike a deal similar to the agreement the department store chain reached in Lisbon.

Lisbon inked Shopko by agreeing to a 1% rebate of sales tax generated over five years. “You can’t blame them for asking,” Capouch said of Shopko, who then touched on the concept of a sales tax rebate, “Anything you offer to one business, you really have to consider for all.” Ernie Strube, MPEDC president agreed, “It’s a slippery slope, an issue of fairness,” stressing that local business owners and managers would have to be on board with the rebate, and they in turn would have to make the recommendation to MPEDC to present to the Mayville City Council, which would have the final say. Mayville Mayor Don Moen said, “There’s not a lot of enthusiasm on the council, as I see it.” But, Moen later stated,” I can’t say for sure how the City would react, but we’d try to be responsive to the community… if there is visible support,” meaning businesses would favor the rebate. Strube and Capouch maintained they’d struggle with setting a precedent. Strube listed other options, such as property tax incentives or tax incentives through moving or adding to Mayville’s renaissance zone. Capouch said their may be dollars available through the renaissance fund organization (RFO). Jay Henrickson suggested putting all “creative avenues” on the table and have the EDC, Mayville City Council and the community get a policy in place, even if it should set a precedent.

He proposed inviting local business owners to an informal meeting. Henrickson emphasized, “Those avenues need to be explored quickly. We should have a plan in place before next month.” Moen added, “Personally, I’d prefer to be a little bit out on the edge. We’d be shortsighted if we don’t look long-term.” Jeremy Strand said that Hardware Hank, owned by Tim and Sue Strand, had seen “the two best months” the business has ever had since ALCO’s departure. He said Tim was quick to point out the importance of the discount store: what local and outside consumers couldn’t find at ALCO drove them to shop at Hardware Hank and other businesses. Directors decided to have Strube and Capouch attend the Sept. 8 meeting of the Mayville City Council to pose the sales tax rebate question.

Traill County Tribune

A special thanks to the Traill County Tribune for the use of this article from September 12, 2015

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