Dakota County Community Helps Farmington Students Surpass Goal!

Dakota County students from Farmington HS Soles4Souls collectionDakota County Community Helps Local Farmington Students Surpass Fundraising Goal!

Dakota County businesses, APPRO and CERRON, are excited to announce that our local shoe drive was a huge success! Our local Dakota County community answered the call to donate shoes for an international not-for-profit organization, Soles4Souls (see recent blog article HERE). Farmington High School Students, Sydney Bockelman, Jacqueline Smithson, Andrew Lupowski, and fellow students involved in the Youth Development group, set a goal to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes for this 2nd annual event. The group was eager to share that they were able to collect 1,467 pairs of shoes, with 143 pairs collected from the APPRO and CERRON collection site (and a $200 cash donation). The Dakota County community was eager to help for this event. The APPRO and CERRON team also donated 450 cans of food to go to the local food shelf in connection with 360 Communities.

The students processed the shoes to be sent to the Soles4Souls regional collection site at a student lock-in – an annual event called “Games for Change”. At this event, the students play games like Volleyball and Dodgeball, and then spend time devoted to the non-profit work including Soles4Souls, 360 Communties, and making 500 peanut butter sandwiches for area youth.

Soles4Souls collection for Dakota County HS student programThe team at APPRO and CERRON was thrilled help support these local students in some small way and applauds all their hard work to help make both our local and global community a better place in which to live, learn, work and ideally to thrive! Way to go Farmington High School students!!

The Youth Development group was featured on WCCO news, you may see their website here(scroll down to find the Games for Change story).

Local General Contractor and CRE Co. Present Award: Dakota County, MN

Gift Certificate to Firehouse Grille Awarded

Local General Contractor APPRO & CRE Co CERRON Award Firehouse Grille Drawing - Award to J. ZwartAs a local general contractor and commercial real estate (CRE) company, our team at APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties sends out a Commercial Property Solutions newsletter every month. In our February E-Newsletter, we asked our subscribers for feedback on our companies by completing a survey about working with our team. To encourage participation, the survey respondents were all entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to the Firehouse Grille, located in Elko New Market, MN.

We were delighted to have so many people respond and grateful for the feedback we received. On Wednesday, March 5th, we held an official drawing for the gift certificate winner, and drew Jeanne Zwart’s name. Jeanne and her family have worked with the team at APPRO and CERRON for many years on multiple commercial property projects. Jeanne was awarded a gift certificate in our Lakeville office on March 19th.

Our sincerest congratulations to Jeanne and many thanks to all those that responded to our recent survey. We truly appreciate your time and feedback!

If you would also like to subscribe to our free monthly E-Newsletter, you may do so, HERE.

The Firehouse Grille is a bar & restaurant located in Elko New Market, Minnesota, and is also a completed project by APPRO & CERRON. You may learn more about this great local restaurant at their website HERE.

APPRO and CERRON Team Seeks “Sole-Mates”

APPRO and CERRON Team Currently Seeking Sole-Mates!

APPRO and CERRON offer site for Soles4Souls Kris Bockelman showing collection bin & Farmington newspaper article at APPRO and CERRON offices in Lakeville

APPRO and CERRON team members are excited to support a local Farmington High School student and her partnership with a non-profit group, Soles4Souls. Sydney Bockelman, along with her classmates, is part of Youth Development, a student organization, who in 2013 sought to collect 500 pairs of shoes, then more than exceeded their goal by collecting 900 pairs!

This year, in 2014, the Farmington Youth Development group’s goal is to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes for the nonprofit whose mission is “to fight the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty… by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith-based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities. The term “micro-enterprise” describes an approach toward helping the poor and their communities by providing sustainable jobs to impoverished people through the creation of ultra-small (micro) businesses. This might mean, for example, a single table selling used shoes in an open marketplace. Or a street vendor with an inventory of used jeans spread out on a blanket.”

According to the Soles4 Souls website, “The difference we make in Haiti and other countries is in the opportunity for people to support themselves. The concept itself is simple, an embodiment of the old saying, ‘Give a man a fish, he will eat for day; give him a way to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.'”

The entire APPRO & CERRON team is pleased to help support this effort by hosting a collection site for new or used shoes (with or without “sole-mates”) at our Lakeville office located at 21476 Grenada Avenue, Lakeville, MN. You will find a collection bin inside the front entryway of our building (stop in to say, “hello”, and get your donation sticker). We will be collecting until Friday, April 4th at 3:30 p.m. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also leave donations outside our front door, if you arrive before or after our regular office hours.

Thank you for helping the team at APPRO & CERRON find our Sole-Mates!

 

Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award 2014

Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award 2014 – Awarded to Roz Peterson

Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties

Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties

Roz Peterson has been awarded an Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award and the entire team at CERRON Commercial Properties and APPRO Development couldn’t be more proud!

Roz is a passionate and talented sales and leasing agent for CERRON, with a focus on office and retail properties, in the South of the River region of Minnesota. Roz has a knack for building strong relationships with clients and delivering superior service that not only meets, but exceeds clients’ expectations. In addition to her success in commercial real estate and business ownership, Roz has also devoted herself to her community. She has been involved in many local organizations – the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeville Foundation and the Lakeville School Board, just to name a few.

We are very proud of Roz and her accomplishments and thrilled for her, as she is such a valued part of our team.

The 5th Annual Exceptional Businesswomen Recognition Banquet

Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County 2014Roz and nine (9) additional Exceptional Businesswomen received recognition at a Banquet at the Lost Spur Golf & Event Center in Eagan, on the morning of Tuesday, February 25th. In addition to a breakfast reception, each recipient received a plaque, and were part of a panel discussion, moderated by Catherine Byers Breet, owner of ARBEZ (an online job hunt coaching system).

Among our favorite words of wisdom, were the following quotes and comments from the some of the award recipients:

  • It is important to love what you do. I am surrounded by a great team and enjoy the people I work with. -Karen DeVaughn, Life Wellness Center, Lakeville & Eagan
  • Having cheerleaders and strong supporters in your career can make a world of difference. -Audrey Aronson Johnson, Johnson Companies, Lakeville
  • I am able to help people every day. I only wish that one day there wasn’t a need for what I do; when there is no need to fundraise for cancer because a cure has been found. -Kari Mitchell, Charity Events of Minnesota, Rosemount
  • Three things are necessary to be successful in life: 1. Order: bring order to your life, outsource/delegate so that you can focus on what matters; 2. Organize: surround yourself with the right people; having a great team around you can make all the difference; and, 3. Prioritize: make decisions on the actions you take, based on your values. -Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties, Lakeville
  • “Google me!” (her reputation speaks for itself, as she received countless unsolicited reviews, increasing her client base) and to have a positive attitude, work hard, and send thank you’s, regardless of the outcome. -Linda Radue, Burnsville Volkswagen, Burnsville
  • Have a vision statement upon which your team can rally around. Be proactive in looking for solutions in your business. “What is your paper?” (as a reduction in paper sales impacted many other product lines in their industry, they have found it necessary to create new opportunities in their industry). -Jennifer Smith, Innovative Office Solutions, Burnsville
  • Assess your interests and talents and then go put them to use. Get involved – If you see something needs to be done, go do it! -Karen Wentworth, HOBO Inc., Lakeville

The event was organized by ECM Publishers and the Dakota County Tribune and Sun Thisweek who did a great job, as well as the many event sponsors who helped to make the morning a great event!

If you would like to learn more about Roz Peterson from our team, you may visit her campaign website, or view her commercial property listings page HERE.

Again, from all of us at APPRO and CERRON – Congratulations Roz and All of the 2014 Exceptional Businesswomen Award Recipients!

Kris with Bag from Lillian's CERRON’s Kris Bockelman with handbag awarded by Lillian’s of Lakeville

Roz-Jack-Bruce-Exc-Biz-Wmn-Awd-2014 L to R: Jack Matasosky, Roz Peterson, & Bruce Rydeen

Panel of Women at Award Breakfast 02252014 Award Recipient Panel Assembled

Lakeville Women - Exc Biz Wmn Awards--2014 Lakeville Award Recipients

MN Warehousing Tax – Part 1

MN Warehousing Tax – Part 1

MN Warehousing Tax– Part 1 is the first of two reports we are planning to bring to our readers regarding the new warehouse tax on the books for MN businesses. If you are involved in third party warehousing as a part of your business, we are sure you have heard the MN Warehousing Tax is due to go into effect on April 1st. It is actually one of three business to business (B2B) taxes to go into effect in 2014. This specific warehousing tax would impact businesses which provide third party warehousing services, as well as those businesses who utilize these third party services.

According to the MN Department of Revenue, “Starting April 1, 2014, business-related warehousing and storage services will be taxable in Minnesota. This means state sales and use tax is due when a business buys warehouse or storage services for its tangible personal property.” There are exceptions to this rule, which are dependent upon business use[1].

Come April 1st, Minnesota would be one of few if not the only state with a warehousing tax of this kind, which could ultimately put the businesses in our state at a distinct disadvantage. Some companies are already feeling the impact of this tax. According to an article by Jessica Harper for Sun Thisweek Dakota County Tribune, in an interview with warehousing General Manager, Kathy Forester, in talking about the tax, she states, “With its customers seeking services elsewhere, Strategic lost 18 percent of its revenue between August 2013 and January 2014, which prompted the company to lay off 22 percent of its workforce[2].”

The Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on February 25th. At that time, the Minnesota State Budget will be reviewed. If there is a sufficient surplus, Governor Dayton may consider a repeal of one or more of these B2B taxes[3]. As it stands now, however, these taxes have been signed into law and only a new bill that strikes the provision of the current tax could repeal it. There are many groups working right now, toward the effort to repeal the MN Warehousing Tax.[4]

Stay tuned to learn more in the weeks to come, or feel free to contact our team with concerns about the impact on your current commercial space.

Upcoming Dates:

  • Mid-February – State Budget Forecast (Gov. Dayton will use this information to determine if these new taxes are necessary)
  • February 25th – New Legislative Session Begins
  • April 1st – New Warehouse Tax goes into effect

[1] MN Department of Revenue Warehouse Tax Summary

http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/businesses/sut/Pages/2013_WarehouseStorageServices.aspx

[2] Businesses impacted by the MN Warehouse Tax

http://hometownsource.com/2014/01/27/businesses-legislators-feel-heat-from-new-taxes/

[3] Businesses vow to repeal the warehouse tax and Gov. Dayton to support repeal if sufficient surplus exists

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/01/08/businesses-vow-to-seek-repeal-of-warehouse-tax

[4] Commercial Real Estate Group works to repeal the tax

http://www.startribune.com/business/242830181.html

 

Commercial Real Estate Lending – 2014 Outlook

Commercial Real Estate Lending – What the Experts have to say about the 2014 Outlook

Commercial lending review by Jack Matasosky

According to a recent article by the ABA Banking Journal, Commercial Real Estate is coming back! The article caught our attention because commercial lending’s strict standards have had a direct impact on our business. We can go through all the necessary steps to assist our clients with a new purchase or the construction of a new building, but it is the hoops our clients are required to jump through we have found to be a major stumbling block to the process of securing an ideal property solution.

According to Steve Cocheo, in his ABA Banking Journal article, “CRE’s Coming Back”, “Amid indications that commercial real estate credit activity has been picking up again at the nation’s banks, an inter-industry survey reports a strong preference for commercial banks as a source of CRE credit.”

Cocheo further cites a Deloitte Center for Financial Services report, “2014 Commercial Real Estate Outlook: Trimming the sails for growth; business transformation is key,” in which the firm stated:, “Bank lenders are easing their standards, leading to increased CRE lending volumes and a rebound in commercial mortgage-backed securities issuance. Transaction activity and pricing are healthy for prime properties.”

We consider this good news in the commercial real estate lending arena and are optimistic for 2014 to be the year we start to see the pendulum swing in the other direction regarding lending standards.

You may read the full article at the ABA Banking Journal HERE.

As you consider your commercial property needs, contact our expert team at APPRO and CERRON to provide you with the most up to date trends in commercial real estate or commercial construction.

Industrial Production Facility Construction Nears Completion: Mankato, MN

Imperial Plastics Industrial Production Facility Construction Nears Completion in Mankato, MN

The newest industrial production facility construction by APPRO Development, Inc. is nearing completion. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) has been issued on the Imperial Plastics Mankato project (click link to see more project photos). Owner furnished equipment installation (e.g. process piping, racking and cranes) is well under way and the final interior finishes are being installed which include: carpet, paint, and ceramic tile, to name a few.

It does not seem all that long ago that APPRO Development, along with representatives from near and far, came to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for Imperial Plastics as they kicked off construction of this 124,000 SF (approximate) manufacturing/production facility. Although, it was a whole lot sunnier and warmer back in August than it is now as we near the end of January 2014, the time has gone by rather quickly and we find ourselves nearing the time to turn over the keys. APPRO Development is targeting the end of February to turn the building over to the owner.

Do you have an existing building in the Mankato area and wondered, “what can I do with an existing warehouse building?” You may need some design ideas or a free market analyis. Or, possibly a new building is in your future, as you address your company needs. It is never too early to contact our professional team. Our no obligation initial consultation may provide just the answers you have been looking for. These were the first steps in working with this client and we would be happy to help you find a solution for your business, too. Contact our knowledgeable, friendly team today.

Manufacturing Trends to be Thankful For in MN

Manufacturing Trends

2014 Predictions in the Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturing Trends to be Thankful For is an article we read this morning in the online publication of Industry Week. All of us, in MN or the Midwest for that matter, who are either in the manufacturing industry or have close ties to the manufacturing industry, are eager to see what the days of 2014 will bring. According to this article, “Favorable Forecast: Five Manufacturing Trends to Be Thankful For” by John Mills as published in Industry Week (online), 2014 might just prove to be year for which to be thankful!

According to the article, the following are the top five trends to watch this year:

  1. Improvements in 3-D printers
  2. Business returning from China
  3. More ‘real-time’ enterprises
  4. The rise of the project economy
  5. More access to data

As Mills states, “no one has perfect foresight” and it certainly would be nice if we did! However, in the meantime, by measuring trends and current data available, we are optimistic for our colleagues in the manufacturing industry. We hope 2014 results in the optimistic forecast, as it benefits not only MN, ND, WI, IA, SD, MT in the Midwest, but our great nation as well!

APPRO Development is a general contractor specializing in property solutions for manufacturers across the Midwest for more than 27 years. APPRO assists business owners find optimal property solutions that may result in renovations, expansions, additions or new commercial buildings to meet the ever changing needs of the manufacturing industry in Lakeville (55044), Apple Valley(55124), Burnsville(55337), Eagan(55123), Hastings(55033), and all of Dakota, Scott, Rice, Carver, Ramsey and Hennepin counties as well as Mankato and surrounding communities of Blue Earth in Minnesota. If your commercial or industrial space needs are changing as the result of a great 2014, contact our team today to help you minimize impacts to your manufacturing schedule, meet your budget requirements, and assist you in making 2014 a great year!

Solar Energy – A Good Idea?

Solar Energy – The Pros and Cons of Alternate Materials in Commercial Construction

Image Source: Wikimedia, 2014 – Solar Panel Installation

A Solar Energy incentive program (Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program) for both residential and commercial buildings recently came to our attention. Upon being asked our opinion of the program, a lively discussion ensued in the offices of APPRO and CERRON surrounding the use of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable energy resources.

APPRO & CERRON both work diligently to provide the best product at the best price for each of our customers – whether building new or remodeling existing. We work a lot in our neighborhood here in the Airlake Industrial Park which is comprised of many small businesses focused on the industrial and manufacturing industries.

Over the past few years, APPRO has brought forward energy efficient design ideas and alternate material types and equipment that enhance energy savings in response to public sentiment for more environmentally friendly buildings. We have found the LEED certification process cumbersome and not as cost effective as we may be lead to believe initially. We have strived to find a balance between energy savings that provide payback to you as a building owner and ways that reduce the initial start-up costs of construction.

In our experience, as we competitively bid out new projects, we have found that some “green” or LEED certified materials make a lot of sense to incorporate in to a project to cut costs (e.g. insulation). While the use of other materials might only make sense to fulfill a PR objective or to enhance marketability, the incorporation of those materials may not make sense from a business perspective.

As a Minnesota based design-build general contractor, APPRO is aware of the solar incentives available and are more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of working this into your next building project. We create property solutions for you and with you – how may we help you today?

MN Snow Day – Fun Friday!

MN Snow Day – Fun Friday Facts

MN Snow Day - Do Not Try this at Home Kids… DO NOT try this at home! (Picture Source: A Christmas Story, 1983)

Well, Gov. Dayton has officially declared Monday a “Snow Day” for all schools in the state of Minnesota. So, even though our state’s snow day is due to extremely cold temperatures predicted, around here at the offices of APPRO and CERRON, we wanted to share some of our own snow day fun links:

Top 11 Super Cool Snow Sculptures

12 Face Freezin’ Snow Creations

So, whether you are in the office burning the midnight oil or working from home this coming MN Snow Day, the entire Team at APPRO and CERRON wish you a very Happy, Warm & Safe Snow Day, as we start off the New Year!

P.S. Our offices will be open for business – we are a hearty bunch of Minnesotans after all!!