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Economic Development
Click here to visit Owatonna's Economic Development website. |
Major Employers
Manufacturing and Insurance Mega-Center. Steele County has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing jobs in Minnesota* - more than double the state average. The county also outpaces the nation in the percentage of finance/insurance jobs - a mark of its skilled, diverse workforce. Owatonna boasts more than 40 industrial firms, several with international distribution. Major employers include:
• Federated Insurance (business insurance)
• Viracon (architectural glass)
• Truth Hardware (window hardware)
• SPX (automotive tools)
• Wenger (musical equipment)
• Josten's (school rings/recognition)
• Cybex (exercise equipment)
* 28.7% versus 13.2% manufacturing employment in 2004, QCEW.
Retail Market Analysis
Owatonna's primary and secondary retail trade area consists of $285 million dollars of purchasing power. Ideally situated on three primary highway systems, Interstate 35 and U.S. Highways 14 and 218, Owatonna presents an ideal location for retail shoppers. The three shopping areas are the Cedar Mall/Oakdale shopping area on the south side, Hoffman Drive and the north side shopping area and the downtown area in the heart of the city. All three areas are united in their promotional efforts to make Owatonna an exciting place to shop.
Owatonna has a total of more than 500 retail, wholesale and professional firms supporting its large industrial base. Boasting over 40 industrial firms, Owatonna's business community provides jobs for a labor force in excess of 17,000 people.
MainSreet Owatonna
The MainStreet program's mission is 'to ensure that our downtown remains an important and prosperous part of our community.' MainStreet is continually seeking ways to revitalize and preserve our historic downtown. Projects include the hanging flower baskets, welcome banners, street planters, downtown cleanup and vacant property tours. In the past, the MainStreet committee has worked to place parking lots signs and bike racks throughout downtown.
Improving economic management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to downtown's future as recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and expanding parking. Building on downtown's inherent assets -- rich architecture, personal service, and traditional values and most of all, a sense of place -- the Main Street approach has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern. It has earned national recognition as a practical strategy appropriately scaled to a community's local resources and conditions. And because it is a locally driven program, all initiative stems from local issues and concerns.
Promotion
Another component to Owatonna's MainStreet program is the Promotions committee. The OACCT Promotions' mission is ‘to drive retail traffic in the community.' The committee works to provide events for the community to participate in while promoting retail business. A few of the events include the Armory sale, 5 Days of Fun, Hometown Holidays, Farmer's Market and 11@7 concert series.
Helpful Downtown Owatonna Information
- MainStreet Downtown Design Guidelines
- Downtown Parking Map
- Historic Walking Tour Brochure
- Downtown Map
- Sponsor A Basket
The goal of the MainStreet Committee is to ensure the long term viability of downtown Owatonna through strengthened public and private activities and participation. MainStreet Advisory Committee volunteers oversee MainStreet activities including: Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, Welcome Banners, Hanging Flower Baskets and other activities as needed.
If you'd like more information about this committee, contact Melanie Blanchette, mainstreet manager, at 507-451-7970 or mblanchette@owatonna.org.
