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McMinnville Industrial Promotions (MIP) has purchased a 30,000 square-foot facility on 10 acres in the McMinnville Industrial Park, formerly owned by the Richmond Baking Co. The building includes an American Institute of Baking certified superior facility.
MIP is interested in leasing the property; however, they are open to other options. Local commercial Realtor Gene Zinda of Windermere Pacific Crest Realty is representing the property.
Jody Christensen, executive director of the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership, said that this piece will be a good addition to what they have to offer, especially since during the past year, many companies who were referred through the state's business recruitment agency were looking for existing facilities.
Now, Christensen said, they have a ready-to-go facility with first-rate amenities. She said that Richmond closed the facility through a slow process and just recently removed all the equipment.
Initially, it was announced in 2001 that Summit Food Group, whose owners have been operating a family-owned baking company in Indiana for decades, planned to build a $1.1 million plan which was to open in early 2002. The company planned to make items for other food processors, including batters and breading for meat and vegetable companies, graham cracker crusts for dessert companies and 50-pound bags of dry blends and spice blends for other food processors. In 2003, Richmond decided to put Summit and another subsidiary under the corporate umbrella and change the operations names to Richmond Baking.
"Unfortunately, we lost a company," said Christensen. "But it's great it's in local ownership."
"We felt compelled to look at the property as an addition to our portfolio," said Doug Hurl, MIP board president. "This is a fantastic facility with important amenities for world-class food production."
The purchase adds to other land that MEDP has available.
Christensen said a key property is a 26 acre site in the industrial park on Orchard Avenue. The parcel is on the governor's certified property list as shovel ready. Christensen said most of the first phase issues of development have already been completed. The property is also dividable.
Another premier parcel is 28 acres, also in the industrial park, which is flat and has a lot of infrastructure right next to the property.
On a 90-acre parceloff of Highway 18, just across from the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and water park complex, Christensen envisions another corporate complex.
"It would be beautiful if the windows were sited toward the landscape," said Christensen. The property, owned by Alan Roodhouse, has the stubbed roadway right at the new stoplight. Currently, it is being farmed.
"It's a great location," said Christensen.
The former Forest Grove Lumber propertyin the industrial park, Christensen feels, has potential for multiple users with many access points. It offers a number of buildings, great warehouse space and a newer facility constructed for lumber storage.
"It's one of the best office spaces I've seen in a long time," said Christensen. "It feels very contemporary."
Christensen said the site is move-in ready and could accommodate a large sales force. Plus, there is now fiber optics available at the site.
There's also a seven-acre corner lotowned by Granary Properties available, as well as other smaller properties.
"I'm feeling we're competitive," said Christensen of the properties in the agency's portfolio to offer businesses. "We're able to talk to a diverse group of people."
Another recent development is that MEDP was invited to participate in a TEAM Oregon recruitment process, which focuses on food processors. The statewide collaboration is being led by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Economic Development Association and the state's recruitment office.
Participants will attend the January Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, Calif., and the March Natural Products Show in Anaheim.
Kelly McDonald, board member for MEDP, said that attendance costs, collaborative marketing materials and strategic technical support will be shared through the effort.
"The TEAM Oregon approach fits with the MEDP philosophy of leveraging partners," said McDonald.
And you can bet that the participants from McMinnville will showcase all the properties, opportunities and amenities available to businesses that relocate here.
"It's good to have a healthy list of properties - particularly as we go into 2012," said Christensen.
By Molly Walker of the News-Register
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