Hawarden Investor Group Seeks New Members

July 06, 2007

Group Provides Opportunities for Industrial Investment

HAWARDEN, IA -A group of local citizens have taken the first step toward establishing an investor group in Hawarden.  Hawarden Community Investors, LLC will consist of a group of community-minded individuals assembled to make a financial investment in the industrial development of Hawarden. The group’s initial goal is to develop a 20,000 square foot speculative building in the City’s South Industrial Park.

“I am very excited to see this group get started,” said Spencer Haacke, Hawarden’s Economic Development Director. “The project will do a lot to make Hawarden as competitive as possible. As communities continue to get more aggressive in terms of economic development, it’s become somewhat commonplace for prospective businesses to search out communities that have buildings built and ready and to pass on the rest.”

The building will be the first step in establishing the 27.5-acre business park.  The City of Hawarden has committed funding to establish infrastructure in the business park as well as finance a portion of the building itself.

“The South Industrial Park is prime real estate for a number of reasons,” said Hawarden City Administrator Jason Metten.  “Businesses continue to choose Hawarden because of its hardworking and dependable labor force, affordable municipal utilities, highway and close interstate access as well as dual rail availability.  This project will allow the City of Hawarden to continue the forward momentum created by recent development efforts.”

Membership in the Hawarden Community Investors, LLC gives individuals and existing businesses an opportunity to contribute to the community and to assist in the attraction of industry as well as new citizens, students and consumers with a potential rate of return that is greater than most certificates of deposit, money markets or savings accounts.  As with any investment, membership in the Hawarden Community Investors, LLC comes with a certain degree of risk.  Individuals interested in learning more about the investment opportunity are encouraged to contact Spencer Haacke at (712) 551-2565.

“The development of the South Industrial Park has been something I’ve wanted to see for quite some time,” said Hawarden resident and business owner, Matt Hummel.  “I’m proud to be a founding member of the Hawarden Community Investors, LLC and look forward to working to make this project a reality.”

About Hawarden, Iowa
Hawarden, Iowa is a rural community located 20 miles east of I-29 between Sioux City, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Hawarden businesses enjoy the availability of a large laborforce, some of which travels from over 50 miles to Hawarden employers.  Businesses also enjoy the availability of 7 four-year colleges and universities within a 45-minute drive and an unmatched quality of life for their employees.  Available manufacturing, distributing, and office facilities as well as a plentiful incentive package will make most businesses feel at home in Hawarden.  For more information please visit http://www.hawardendevelopment.com or contact us at 1-866-403-6460.

A New Company Comes To Hawarden

May 11, 2007

The City of Hawarden announced today that it had reached a tentative sale agreement with an injection molding company to occupy the Oakhill Industrial Building located at 1111 Oakhill Drive.  The Hawarden City Council unanimously approved a short-term lease with Plasticology, LLC at a special meeting held on May 1st that will allow the company to install machinery and begin production while permanent arrangements are finalized.

If approved, contracts will sell the building to Plasticology through the terms of a forgivable mortgage that will require the company to create a minimum of 45 new jobs over a ten year period. The City will also rebate a portion of new property taxes created by a proposed 30,000 square foot expansion on the property.  Plasticology will begin operations in the facility as early as May 21st with an initial 6 to 10 employees servicing existing contracts. 

“While Plasticology is a new Iowa company, their leadership team brings volumes of business and industry experience to the table,” said Spencer Haacke, Hawarden’s new Economic Development Director.  “We are extremely happy to welcome Plasticology to the area as well as put this facility to productive use.”

The Oakhill Industrial building formerly was the Sioux Empire College gymnasium and closed its doors in the 80’s.  After sitting empty for a few years, Lutheran Social Services took over the facilities as a group home to assist troubled teens.  They occupied the building for about 10 years and gave the building back to the City on October 31, 2000. The City used the building for various City uses and rented it out on occasion to the community. 

Plasticology approached the City early in April of 2007 to entertain purchasing the building.  They had been looking at various locations and business options throughout northwest Iowa.  Jason Metten (City Administrator) and Haacke have been working diligently with them since Plasticology showed interest.  “We are excited to have Plasticology here and look forward to helping them however we can,” Jason Metten said. 

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Family First Dental New Office

April 09, 2007

Family First Dental Associates, a Norfolk, Nebraska-based dental firm, recently began construction on its latest facility in Hawarden, Iowa.  The building has filled a hole left in Hawarden’s downtown business district after a 2003 fire destroyed two buildings and severely damaged another.  More importantly, the office will fill a void left after the retirement of the community’s only two dentists in 2004. 

“We recognized the need for dental services in our town early on and began the recruitment process for another dentist as quickly as possible,” said Mike Cauwels, City Councilperson and member of a committee formed to locate a new dentist for Hawarden.  “We traveled to several dental recruitment fairs at dental schools in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska in hopes of finding a dental student looking to open his or her own practice.  We learned quickly that dentists interested in practicing in a small town are rare and that many rural communities are in a similar position,” said Cauwels.  It was during the recruitment process that committee members became affiliated with Family First Dental.  “We quickly realized the positive role Family First Dental would play in our search for a dentist,” said Cauwels.

Family First Dental committed to opening a Hawarden location in 2005.  The key was locating a dentist.  In April, 2006 plans for the office moved forward after Dr. Aly Morshed committed to relocate from Family First’s office in South Sioux City, Nebraska.  “Dr. Morshed indicated to us he would like to practice in a small town.  After a couple of visits to the community, he was positive this is where he wanted to live and practice dentistry,” said Dean Cyboron, head of Clinical Operations for Family First Dental Associates.  “We feel he will be a perfect fit for Hawarden,” said Cyboron.

Family First Dental Associates’ Hawarden facility includes a brick façade to match the surrounding historic architecture and also offers the latest dental services and equipment.  Family First Dental will be using digital X-rays and computers in every patient center. The digital x-ray not only allow for better diagnosis but expose the patient to 65% less x-ray exposure. “We cherish the patient’s comfort while visiting us and want them to feel safe and comfortable that we are giving them the best care possible,” said Cyboron. 

The office has employed four staff members initially, including one dentist, dental hygienists, and other office personnel.  Staff numbers will increase throughout the year to meet patient demand.

City Offers Former Community Center and $100,000 Grant

December 29, 2006

CITY OFFERS FORMER COMMUNITY CENTER AND $100,000
TO INTERESTED DEVELOPERS

The City of Hawarden is offering its former city hall and community center building at no cost.  The City will also contribute $100,000 or 1/3 of project costs to aid in the renovation of the historic structure.  Interested developers must submit a renovation and usage plan to Hawarden’s City Administrator for consideration.  A developer will be ultimately chosen by the City Council.  Proposals are currently being accepted and will be accepted until further notice. 

“The building was facing demolition, which was a significant cost to the community”, said Mayor Ric Porter.  “There is some great value for the community in saving the building as a historic treasure and as an anchor in our Main Street retail district,” he added.  The City Council decided to offer the cost of demolition as a grant to a developer willing to help the community save the facility. 

Many uses have been proposed for the facility, ranging from a distribution/warehouse or offices for a new business to a movie theater, to loft apartments and condominiums.  “We have begun a nationwide search for a someone with construction, real estate, or other backgrounds that may have the vision it takes to convert the building into a productive use for the community”, said Jason Metten, Hawarden’s City Administrator.  “We are working with several individuals but have not yet received any written proposals or plans”, said Metten. 

The former city hall is located at 715 Central Avenue.  It was originally built in 1917 and served as the Hawarden City Offices until 1980.  The building was used as a community center until 2004.  The building includes a total of almost 9,000 square feet of space including an open main level with hardwood floors and a stage at the west end and a lower level divided into office space. 

Interested developers should contact the Hawarden City Offices at (712) 551-2565 or 1-866-403-6460.  Details on the building are located at http://www.hawardendevelopment.com. 

HAPP Offers Cash Rewards for Business Leads

December 18, 2006

HAWARDEN AREA PARTNERSHIP FOR PROGRESS
OFFERS CASH REWARDS FOR BUSINESS LEADS

The Hawarden Area Partnership for Progess (HAPP) has again announced Hawarden Business Lead Reward Program.  The program offers cash rewards for individuals who provide business contacts which lead to a new business in the community which provides additional jobs.  The aim of the program is to spur business development and increase the participation of local residents in the community’s economic development efforts. 

The program was originally announced in 2004 and was mildly successful.  “With our new push to market the community to surrounding states and across the country, HAPP felt it was time to reintroduce the program,” said Chris Myres, Economic Development Director for the City of Hawarden.  We’ve stepped up our recruitment efforts over the past two to three years through marketing, increasing the availability of relocation incentives, and improving the quality of life attributes that new employers look for in choosing a community,” said Myres.

Community leaders hope to capitalize on the contacts of local residents.  “Our best salespeople are the current and former residents of Hawarden,” says Dan Cain, President of HAPP.  These people know the benefits of owning a business and raising a family in our community.  We hope through their business and family contacts, ideas of new business contacts will come to life and can be rewarded through the Lead Reward Program,” he said.

The program provides cash rewards to individuals providing business leads on a graduating scale.  Starting at a $2,500 reward for 15 jobs up to $25,000 for 200 or more jobs, HAPP will base its reward on the number of new jobs at the new business after one year of operation in Hawarden.

For more information on the Hawarden Business Lead Reward Program, please visit us online at http://www.hawardendevelopment.com or call 1-866-403-6460 or (712) 551-4402.