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Ramsey's Commercial Industrial Development Exceeds All Prior Years The City of Ramsey has experienced more commercial/ industrial construction over the past 15 months than at any time in its history. "This success was only possible after a lot of hard work by volunteer commissions, the City Council and City Staff. Our efforts have been further assisted by our partnership with a local electric provider, Anoka Electric Cooperative (AEC)" states Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator. City Council initiatives have included an active marketing effort, investments in land and infrastructure, and development of partnerships with several parties over the past few years. One of these partnerships was made possible when AEC purchased the Gateway North Ah'port property for a new customer service and corporate headquarters facility and most recently by the announcement of the new Vision-Ease Lens 149,000 square foot polycarbonate lens manufacturing facility. This 149,000 square foot facility is added to a growing list of businesses that have chosen sites in Ramsey to build their new facilities. This list now includes: Wendell's, Automated EDM, Trend Scientific, Barkela Manufacturing, Detail Tool and Engineering, T & G Land, Listul, Landmark Community Bank, Command Tooling Systems, Northland Security Bank, and Carbon Products. This commercial/industrial development is important to the City of Ramsey to balance market values of residential property which has been the largest growth sector in our economy to this point. The City, therefore, needs to provide for the development of the commercial/industrial tax base to provide for the financial stability of the community. "We believe that this type of growth will allow the City of Ramsey to grow into the future as a prime location for high quality development and a place people will like to call home." Mr. Ken Wagner, Chairperson of the Economic Development Commission, has recently stated. "In the future, companies will look for sustainable communities that understand how businesses operate and those that share comparable values and goals." (continued page 3) THE CITY OF RAMSEY WELCOMES Vision-Ease Lens The City of Ramsey, in conjunction with the Anoka Electric Cooperative (AEC), is pleased to announce the approval of a 149,000 square foot facility for Vision-Ease Lens-Polycarbonate Lens Division. "It was the unique Ramsey/AEC combined partnership which offered Vision- Ease Lens the most comprehensive opportunity to fill our needs" stated Barbara Arnold, Vice President Domestic Operations. "We decided that the optimum location for our new state-of-the art manufacturing operation is the AEC Energy Park in the City of Ramsey." The new facility is located within the AEC Energy Park and encompass a total of 18.1 acres within the park. Facility construction began in September 1996, with completion currently slated for early summer 1997. The facility will house the division of Vision-Ease Lens which produces polycarbonate lenses, the fastest growing type of prescription lenses. Vision-Ease is currently the second largest producer of polycarbonate lens and has invested over one million dollars in the last few years to improve its market position. The new facility represents an additional seven million dollar investment in the fast growing field of polycarbonate lenses. The AEC Energy Park was developed to provide the opportunity for high-tech businesses to take advantage of the amenities the City of Ramsey has to offer. "The development of the Vision-Ease site is the type of business that we, at AEC, had in mind when the park was planned" stated Doug Uhrhammer, Vice President of Community Development & Public Affairs at AEC. "We look forward to working with our new neighbors and the development of a long term relationship with Vision-Ease as our companies continue to grow." Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator noted that, "The Vision-Ease facility will complement the AEC Corporate Headquarters recently completed in the northern portion of the industrial park. The long term stability of Ramsey's tax base is further strengthened by these types of developments which will provide for an improved standard of living for all residents of Ramsey. We look forward to Vision-Ease Lens becoming a member of our business community and being involved in the future growth of the City."