Two buildings kick start 80-acre Rovang Industrial Park
For the Brandon Valley Challenger
The Rovang Industrial Park north of Brandon is starting to take shape.
Two buildings have been built in the Phase I plan according to Brandon Development vice president Dennis Olson. Olson said Soles Enterprises has a new vacant building, and NextGenNutrition is moving its operations to Rovang.
Olson said the Brandon Development Foundation is currently developing 80 acres in the park. There is another 80 acres that the foundation is hoping to acquire for future expansion at the site.
The site was opened in 2018 and includes rail access by BNSF and proximity to Interstate 90. It is located just north of Marmen Energy near the Splitrock Blvd. and I 90 interchange. Lot sizes vary at the park with all utilities provided by Brandon services. Non-rail lots are currently selling at $2.50 per square foot. Rail lots are $3.50 per square foot.
Along with Marmen Energy, other neighboring businesses include Rosen's, Henkle, Raven Engineered Films, Wausau Supply Company and Midwest Railcar Repair.
Rovang is the seventh industrial park in Brandon, and Olson said there has been numerous inquiries about development in the park, and the current global pandemic hasn't slowed interest.
"It's been just the opposite," Olson said. "There's been a lot of inquiries, both from local companies and from all over the country."
The Brandon Development Foundation began in 1983 when Luverne Trucking moved to Brandon. Olson is the former city administrator and has worked in the development of business in Brandon since 1986.
In July of 2017, he was named the economic development director for the foundation, and he said he's held on to one thing that's helped with the vision for Brandon. Former Sioux Falls director of development, Dan Scott, told him it's all about job growth.
"He told me the only way you can grow communities is to provide primary jobs," Olson said. "When you do that, the retail will come. There's some people that still argue with me, but that's what happened."
Rachel Polan of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce said Brandon has nearly 30 shopping and specialty retail members.
Olson said the number of primary jobs developed by the foundation since 1983 is nearly 1,500 with about $72 million worth of taxable property.
Jesse Fonkert, executive director for the Minnehaha County executive director economic development association, said it's important for the county to have a variety of choices for industrial development.
"Parks like Rovang are key to attracting industry," he said. "Site selectors and industry leaders prefer to build on land that has already been improved and developed like Rovang."
Fonkert said industrial parks can fill up as quickly as 10 years. Others can exceed 20 years before they hit capacity.
"Based on interest in Rovang Phase I, it is entirely possible that Brandon might be in a position to move into Phase II within 10 years," he said. "Rovang is important for Brandon's economic development success because it provides opportunities for industry to invest, leading to jobs, sales tax revenue and property tax revenue."