2003 Year in Review

MADC and the Morrison Industrial Park

“It seems like a long time,” MADC president Everett Pannier commented, “since we acquired the industrial park property in 1996-97.” But they should be very proud of their accomplishment. They have three businesses occupying four lots with only two lots remaining.

The two remaining five-acre lots are on the north side of the road as you entire the park and to the south of the existing Altronic building. A local company reserved one lot with a “right of first refusal” and if another company wants to buy the property they have first chance at it.

Morrison Blacktop and Altronic are the current companies in the Industrial Park but a large new building is being built for a Morrison manufacturer. Currently there are 12-15 jobs because of the Park but Pannier hopes that number will increase next year. “The future of this area is tied to jobs,” Pannier explained. There will be several hundred jobs coming to the area in 2006 with the Wal-mart facility. And other facilities will be needed in place for the growth such as truck facilities. Another opportunity for growth will be the infrastructure corridor between Rock Falls / Sterling and Wal-mart.

A year ago the MEDC changed their E for Economic to A for Area and became the MADC (Morrison Area Development Corporation). They would like to be involved in the whole area rather than just the Industrial Park and if an opportunity in the downtown or elsewhere for growth became available they would be willing to help.

The eighteen-member “not for profit” board meets monthly and they donate their time and talents to benefit the community. All the money for the land was borrowed from local lending institutions and most of the property cost has been paid for. Although they still have financial obligations. For the last 6-7 years they have benefited from the generosity of local businesses through donations. They have also worked very closely with the City of Morrison who has applied for grants to establish the current infrastructure. Betty Steinert of the Whiteside Economic Development has also worked closely with the board.

Dick Parkinson of M.I.T. is currently working on a Web site for the MADC and will they will be online very soon. “Companies looking to come to Morrison want to view a Web site first,” according to Pannier.

With a positive attitude, they continue to look for other property. “Everyone is looking for a big corporation to come to their industrial parks but small companies are also very desirable,” explained Pannier.

The current Industrial Park is part of the Whiteside Enterprise Zone and has tax advantages in building there.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
December 17, 2003