Transcript West Bend, Iowa

West Bend, Iowa
The Grotto . . .
and a WHOLE
lot more!
Donald Miller
General Manager, Northwest Communications
History
 Established in 1856
 First town in Palo
Alto County
 Special tax of 5 cents
was voted on for the
building of the
railroad within
Township borders
 Celebrating 150th
anniversary in 2006
Community Snapshot
 Population – 834
 Municipal electrical, water, sewer & gas
 Communication services, ie telephone, CATV &
Internet provided by Northwest Communications
 West Bend-Mallard High School – Grades PreK
through 2nd and 8th through 12th in West Bend
 St. Peter & Paul Catholic School – K through 6th
Amenities
 Municipal Swimming Pool
 Ice Skating at Grotto Pond
 West Bend Golf & Country Club
 Public Library
 Professional Services
 Doctor, dentist, lawyer
 Community Daycare Center
Attractions
The Grotto of the Redemption
 Began in 1912 by Father Paul
Doberstein. Largest accomplishment
of its kind in the world
 Father Doberstein died in 1954
 In 1946, Father Louis Grieving came
to assist, staying for 50 years
completing the project
 80,000-100,000 tourists each year
Other Attractions
Historical sites
 Old School House & Post Office
 Sod House
 Historical Museum – A funding drive has been
started for a new building for the Museum
 Old Fashioned Soda Fountain at The Villager
 Lodging
 Park View Inn & Suites
 Campground at Grotto
 Variety of Shopping Choices
Business Climate
 88 Businesses
 8 of top 10 businesses have
10-30 employees
 Over 66% of West Bend
households fall above $40,000
in annual income
 Approximately 75% of
businesses are owned or
managed by people under 50
 Approximately 10 businesses
have their main headquarters
in West Bend with satellite
offices in other communities
Economic Development
West Bend Country Club
 Project began in 1977
 Sold $200, $500 & $1,000 shares, offered rebate
toward membership for shareholders
 Lots of volunteerism involved in project
Economic Development
Medical Doctor Committee
 Project began in 1979
 Donations from the community to build a medical building
 A Doctor was then recruited and in the mid 80’s 2 two new doctors
purchased the practice of which one is current at the clinic
 In the mid 90’s the building was also sold to the doctors
 Currently, the Clinic is part of Palo Alto County Health Systems – and a
Partner in Mercy Health Network
 8 employee including a full time doctor and a PA
Economic Development
West Bend Ford
 Ford dealership began in 1919
 Various owners until 1986 when the business was going to close
 Four employees sold 140 shares at $500/share. Shareholders had
to purchase 2 shares
 1998 – sold to private owners and currently has 8 full time
employees
Economic Development
A & B Hardware
 Previously Our Own hardware
 Purchased by 6-7 community investors 1989
 Moved to new location
 Closed in 2001
Economic Development
School Addition
 Large committee put together the proposal and plan
 $1.1 million dollar addition to the school
 1992-1993 passed a bond issue with an 82%
approval rating
Economic Development
West Bend Community Lumber
 Opened in 1993 – was an existing lumber yard in the process of foreclosure
 200 shares sold to approximately 70 shareholders
 Run by Board of Directors
 5 full-time & 15 part-time employees plus a full-time plumber
and electrician
Economic Development
Dentist & Eye Clinic
 1994 project
 Funds through USDA Loan to purchase equipment
 Building financed by the Doctors’ Committee
using proceeds from the sale of medical clinic
 Brought eye doctor and dentist to West Bend
Economic Development
CountryMaid, Inc. - Butterbraid
 1989 CountryMaid was started by a local
family in their basement
 Produce Butterbraid - braided bread and
carmel rolls. They are sold for fundraisers
through dealers
 1997 West Bend Econ Dev applied for a
Rural Economic Development
Loan/Grant (REDLG) to build a building
 The building was build and leased to own
 As funds are paid back, they go into
Revolving Loan Fund to be re-loaned
 Approximately 15 employees
 RISE Grant, TIF program through the
city for land & roads
CountryMaid
Growth & Future
 Purchased additional
building in 2003
 Cookie dough product
released Q2, 2003
 Moved to 100% employee
owned structure also
in 2003
 New meat based product to be released in Q3, 2004
 Plans for building expansion, new products and additional 30 jobs by
2008. Currently employ approximately 40
 Good corporate citizenship – 5 year commitment to West Bend
Historical Society for assisting in the construction of new museum
Economic Development
Revolving Loan Fund
 Established with CountryMaid
REDLG in 1997
 Businesses apply for loans for
expansion, purchase and growth
 Run by committee using guidelines
approved by USDA
 Typically award 5%-5 to 10 year
loans
 Since inception, over $450,000 has
been loaned to 12 businesses
Economic Development
I-LEARN Video Conferencing
 RUS Distance
Learning &
Telemedicine
Grant (DLT)
awarded in 2000
 $350,000 plus $150,000 (30% match) from 3 telephone
companies
 Established video conferencing system for 3 schools,
hospital & 2 satellite clinics
 Classes taught over the system
 Monthly costs to school districts – provides 7/24 use
Economic Development
Park View Inn & Suites and
Conference Center
 Existing motel purchased by shareholder capital
 414 shares/217 shareholders
 Estimated $150,000 in-kind donations
 Run by Board of Directors
 Lots of development initially
 Community meetings
 Field trips to other motels
 $1000/share – not $10,000. Offered payment plans
 New motel built in 2002
 36 rooms – 6 themed suites
 Pool, hot tub & sauna, poolside party room
 Conference center can seat 160
 80% USDA loan guarantee
 $250,000 donation from City. TIF for new utilities
 10% stay because of the Gotto
Economic Development
Prairie Creek Assisted Living Center
 10-unit Assisted Living facility
 Connected to Care Center
 REDLG awarded in 2001 which funded a portion of the building
 As loan is paid back, the funds go into the Revolving Loan Fund
 City setup a $250,000 tax rebate program
Economic Development
Skoglund Meats
 Approximately 5300
square foot new locker
facility currently under
construction
 Business purchased by
current owners in 1978
 Will allow USDA certification for
state-to-state selling of products
 Only locker with this certification within
an 80 mile radius
 REDLG zero-interest loan helped
to fund building
 City committed to $300,000
water & sewer project
Economic Development
Spec Home Revolving Loan Fund
 New Program – established in
2003 to create spec homes
 20% of Revolving Loan fund used
for spec home construction
 Additional $75,000 revolving fund
through the WBEDC was
established by Northwest Telephone
Cooperative Association
 Projects are managed by
West Bend Economic Development
 West Bend also offers tax
abatements and housing incentives
for new homes
Economic Development
Park Project
 2003 new park next to high
school
 New basketball/tennis court
was constructed
 Improvements to shelter
house
 New playground equipment
 Joint effort between the WBM Community School, City of West Bend,
Economic Development & Chamber of Commerce
 $20,700 project – Over $18,700 has been donated by 100 contributors
 Sold yards of cement for fundraiser
 $10,000 of labor was donated by construction companies. Grade school
kids raised over $500
Future Projects
 New Historical Museum
 Spec Home(s)
 Feasibility study for Bio-Diesel plant by Max
Yield Cooperative
 CountryMaid expansion
West Bend, Iowa
The Grotto . . .
and a WHOLE
lot more!
www.WestBendIowa.com
www.WestBendGrotto.com
West Bend City Hall
515-887-2181
[email protected]