By YVETTE SAARINEN
Of the News-Register

McMinnville Industrial Promotions has just finalized the purchase of a little more than 26 acres of industrial land from *Commodore Corp. for an undisclosed price, according to MIP President Carol Granger.

*Located between property owned by Cascade Steel Rolling Mills and Mission Foods, it is the largest parcel of land in the area carrying light industrial zoning, Granger said.

It also is the largest acquisition for MIP since its founding by local businessmen in 1953, with the mission of expanding the economic base and creating jobs following a downturn in agriculture and forestry.

*MIP is in the process of getting the former farmland shovel-ready for a new owner. That means getting all of the conservation and environmental studies completed and all of the utility hookups arranged so a prospective tenant can break ground immediately.

"When a company decides to come in, the owners don't have time to jump through the hoops, which could take six to eight months," Granger said. "We are doing all of the sitework so if a company decides to move up or start up here, it will be able to roll."

MIP can also help facilitate the permitting process. The city is on board with this plan, she said.

Shovel-ready land tends to get snapped up fast, Granger said. As property along the I-5 corridor continues to escalate in price, properties like this one become more enticing. "This is an extremely viable piece of property," she said.

Granger said she and former MIP President David Wiegan were delighted to find the property "right under our noses." They evaluated wetlands issues and other environmental considerations before inking the contract.

First Federal is MIP's financial backer on the deal.

MIP is hoping to attract one or two medium-sized businesses paying above minimum wage. The property would give them room to grow.

Recruiting one or two more industrial operations would address MIP's concern with economic growth as well as giving young people a reason to stay in McMinnville after high school or college, Granger said. And ownership gives MIP the ability to screen prospect to ensure compatible uses.

The property will be listed on the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership website.

MEDP, a partnership between MIP, the city, chamber of commerce and private business, recently was formed to recruit new business and retain established ones. Funding has just been pledged by both the city and McMinnville Water & Light.

MIP also expects to get recruitment help from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, Granger said. "When MEDP was established, the state finally considered McMinnville a serious contender," she said.