Fourth of July in Lakeville, MN

4th of july in Lakeville MN picture of flag-fireworksFourth of July in Lakeville, MN

Fourth of July week is here! At APPRO and CERRON, we are lucky to work in the great community of Lakeville, MN. Lakeville’s Panorama of Progress (“Pan-O-Prog”) is celebrating its 47th year this year July 4th through the 14th. There is a lot going on this year so don’t miss out on any of the fun activities. The enjoyable week starts off with a spectacular free fireworks display the night of the 4th. Included in the fun night is live music by the band CASTAWAYS, temporary tattoos, clowns, and concessions. Don’t miss out on any of the festive events!

Other great events include:

  • A fishing tournament, Saturday, July 6th at 6:00 a.m. at Casperson Park
  • Baby Crawl-a-thon, Tuesday, July 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the Heritage Center
  • Miss Lakeville Scholarship Pageant, Wednesday, July 10th 6:00 p.m. at Lakeville South High School
  • Beer brats and bingo, Thursday, July 11th 5:00 p.m. Lakeville arts center
  • Fun Fair Friday, July 11th-13th from 12:00 noon – 10:00 p.m. Lakeville area arts center parking lot
  • Classic car cruise, Friday, July 12th 6:30 pm downtown
  • Grand parade, Saturday, July 13th 5:30 pm downtown
  • Babe’s tent dance, 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night.

Hope to see you there!

(Additional information on festivities can be found at Pan-O-Prog.)

APPRO and CERRON will be closed Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

APPRO Development, Inc. has been providing property solutions to our local Lakeville community for more than 25 years! Contact us if you need help finding the perfect property solution in MN or ND.

Minnesota 2013 Legislative Impacts

Minnesota 2013 Legislative Impacts

Levies, and taxes, and mandates…oh my! Levies, and taxes, and mandates…oh my! The 2013 Tax Omnibus Bill, passed by the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Dayton includes a variety of taxes which you should be aware of – both for yourself and for your Minnesota business, as you travel down the yellow brick road.

, via Wikimedia Commons

As a MN real estate salesperson and business owner, I attended last week’s “Legislative Wrap-Up Session” hosted by the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce with the intent of gaining insight into the recent legislation passed in our state and at the federal level. The first half of the presentation’s panel of speakers included: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, Rep. Pat Garofolo, Rep. Will Morgan, and Sen. Dave Thompson. From this event, I took away the following key points you should know:

  • State of MN Tax Changes Passed includes warehousing and storage services, a new 4th income tax tier, and a rental car tax increase to name just a few.
  • Additional changes for businesses from the Federal Tax Conformity Bill (HF6) were passed and signed and can be found in the following link: 2013 Legislative Summary – Holberg (as shared by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, June 13, 2013)
  • Additional updates relating to municipal revenue & taxation, transportation, housing, and general legislation was summarized in the following link: LAKEVILLE LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY (by the City of Lakeville, June 13, 2013)

As you venture out in search of the great Oz, be aware of the recent changes and keep your eyes open for upcoming discussions (e.g. minimum wage increase). Be sure to stay in touch with our local representatives to voice your concerns on the issues impacting your business.

CERRON Commercial Properties has been working hard to exceed the goals and expectations of their clients. Contact us today to discuss your current property solutions needs.

Airlake Industrial Park – A Blast from the Past!

Airlake Industrial Park in Dakota County, Minnesota, is a part of who we are – for APPRO Development, it is part of our history, it is where we work, where we build, and where we have served many of our clients for more than a quarter of a century! While we were recently going through our archived photos and redesigning our website, we came across a copy of a presentation that was given at the 2004 Manufacturers’ Appreciation Event, hosted by the City of Lakeville, MN. We thought others might enjoy seeing their buildings in this blast from the past!

 

At APPRO Development, Inc. and CERRON Commercial Properties, LLC, we are proud of our history and our contributions to the fellow business owners in the Airlake Industrial Park of Lakeville, MN. As our company’s mission statement proclaims, “we have a passion for understanding what is important to your business, with an expert staff that is driven to provide comprehensive property solutions, to exceed your goals and expectations!” If you have a commercial property question, feel free to Contact Us anytime, we are always available to chat with you.
Enjoy the flashback!

APPRO and CERRON Website Undergoing Changes – New Website Coming Soon

APPRO & CERRON - Commercial Real Estate Solutions Company In addition to building commercial buildings, this year, we are re-building our website, too!

At APPRO and CERRON, we are very excited to be working on a new building project!

We are making some changes to our website and as a result, we will not be making any changes or posting any new blogs for the next two weeks. We are certain our new site will better meet the needs of our clients, as it will be fully responsive to mobile devices, will be more easily searched, and will contain the most up to date commercial building and real estate information available.

In the meantime, we invite you to take a look at our current site which is still fully operational or read some of our archived blog posts as you eagerly anticipate the unveiling of our “new” site.

As always, if you have any questions for us, please contact us – we are here to help.

Creating Property Solutions For You…With You!

The Team at APPRO Development, Inc. and CERRON Commercial Properties, LLC

Proposed New Industrial Facility in Mankato, MN

APPRO Development, Inc. is fortunate to be working with Imperial Plastics on a project proposing to eventually bring more than 100 new jobs to Mankato, Minnesota.

Watch the latest City of Mankato Council Meeting regarding this newly proposed industrial facility project by APPRO Development, Inc. (Source: Gustafson, Ryan, “Company Looking for Help from City Council to Build”, Posted: Jan 14, 2013 9:19 PM CST, Updated: Jan 14, 2013 9:57 PM CST, KEYC, Mankato, MN)

KEYC – Mankato News, Weather, Sports –

Please click on the image below if you would like more specific information on this project.

Imperial Plastics - Mankato Exterior Elevation

If you would like more information on commercial construction in Minnesota or North Dakota, please contact APPRO Development, Inc. at (952) 469-2171 or contact us online.

Commercial Building Remodeling in South Metro MN

APPRO Development, Inc. is well known in the South Metro / South of the River area of Minnesota, as a reputable commercial general contractor with a focus on land development and constructing commercial buildings. We have found over the years, people are sometimes unaware APPRO also is an excellent resource for remodeling existing buildings. Our design and architecture team partnering with our project management team, apply the same expertise on a project from the ground up as we do on a remodel or renovation project.

For many different reasons, an owner decides to stay in the same building, verses than making a move. APPRO can walk an owner through the process to determine available options and to navigate the sometimes daunting process of city approvals, or financing options. We take the same care to provide expert advice on a remodel or renovation project as we do on a new building project when we competitively bid out the project, and provide a detailed proposal to the building owner.

We have been working with Imperial Plastics in the Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville, which just happens to be around the corner from our home office. This office remodel project has resulted in a state of the art space with striking finishes, creating an inviting space to both visit and work.

Remodel Project by APPRO Development - Imperial Plastics Project

If you are considering making some changes to your building, I invite you to take a look at some more of our current projects to see what we are currently working on in both Minnesota and North Dakota. You may also want to check out our past projects to spark some ideas. Or, maybe you need a new, but existing space to move your business – please consider our sister company, CERRON Commercial Properties, who specializes in existing property sales and leasing.

Finally, if you are still looking for more ideas, feel free to contact our office – we can be reached at 952-469-2171 or by email at office@APPRODEVELOPMENT.com. We would consider it an honor to help you with your next project.

Happy New Year!

Redesigning MN: If We Engage People in Shaping Programs, We’ll All Be Better Off

Redesigning MN

By Jack Matasosky

For more than a year, I have been a part of a group of Lakeville leaders – business owners, clergy, nonprofit leaders, elected officials and others – working with 360 Communities to think differently about how our community meets its most public needs. Above all, we’re focused on finding new ways to deliver early childhood education so that our community’s programs and services are reaching more children and getting better outcomes.

We’re redesigning the early childhood education ecosystem in Lakeville to make it work better within the dollars available, even as the demand for service continues to grow, and that’s no easy feat.

But our community is rising to the challenge of thinking differently about our early childhood programs. It’s an exciting adventure to be a part of.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a meeting that brought together representatives from a broad cross-section of Lakeville early childhood programs collectively identify how we could reach more people with our existing programs. The meeting, convened by 360 Communities in partnership with InCommons, an initiative of the Bush Foundation, was the beginning of a six-month process to get our community focused on improving early childhood education and focusing on outcomes. Film crews for Redesigning MN were on-hand to capture our community-driven conversation as a local-level example of the conversations that need to take place to redesign our public services.

Our community-driven effort has continued to move forward in the weeks since this event. We’re thinking about how to make sure every child in need has access to the early childhood education programs that can help them thrive in school, and how to ensure that every Lakeville parent knows about these opportunities offered by our existing network of community supports. And we’re thinking about how we can improve the programs offered to ensure that every Lakeville child enters Kindergarten on track for success.

As a long-time resident of Lakeville, it’s invigorating to see our community coming together – people from the business and faith communities, educators, parents, and other residents – to create better opportunities for our youngest residents. I know that we’re all committed to creating a better future for Lakeville, and thoughtful conversations like the event convened by 360 Communities and InCommons are equipping us to find that shared vision and craft a collective approach to redesigning our early childhood education programs.

At the end of the day, change needs to be driven by the families that need help. We can’t fit people into programs. We need to engage them in these opportunities – and we’ll all be better off for it.

That’s what we’re trying to do in Lakeville, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Sound the Alarms – Firehouse Grille Coming Soon!

APPRO Development & CERRON Commercial Properties are very excited to be working on a new project which will bring innovative ownership and fresh ideas to an existing (former restaurant) building in the City of Elko New Market.

Elko New Market is located just four miles south of Lakeville and two miles west of I-35, with a growing population, in one of Minnesota’s fastest growing counties (Scott County, Minnesota).

The Firehouse Grille, located at 7875 Old Towne Road, has been purchased by new ownership and is currently under renovation by APPRO Development, Inc., as the design build, general contractor. The new owners have been pouring over every detail of this building from the ceiling to the bar to the floor and have chosen some unique materials…

[gallery]

You will have to wait and see how they have used these materials in the design-build process when you stop on out for a bite to eat!

As a result of all of this work, the Firehouse Grille will surely be Scott County’s best new culinary refuge and preferred stomping grounds for area firefighters and community members alike.

So, go ahead – pack up your hoses, silence the sirens, park the trucks, hang up the gear, and slide on down to the new Firehouse Grill in Elko New Market! Opening early 2013!

APPRO & CERRON have been providing property solutions to meet the unique needs of each of their clients for more than 25 years in the South Metro area of Minnesota and across North Dakota and Montana. Give us a call today to discuss your unique needs – it would be our honor to help you find the perfect solution for you and your business. Feel free to contact us at any time.

ON A MISSION

By Pat Simpkins, Project Manager, APPRO Development, Inc. (A Commercial, Design Build Company located in Lakeville, MN)

Mission to live and work by the Golden Rule

This Christmas, my biggest present will be the presence of my middle daughter, back from nearly six months of mission work in Australia’s Outback and in Uganda. She and her older sister are both currently in full time work as interdenominational Christian missionaries, both based off the west coast of Australia. They are leaders in a much larger group of people that trains together for three months, then goes out to different places in the world where they believe the Gospel message is most needed and where there are other physical needs for which they can help. The work pays nothing, living conditions are often lousy and the work often-times physically and/or psychologically challenging. It is the most rewarding work either daughter can think of doing during this time in their lives, however, as their smiles and countenance show.

I believe a sense of mission is needed in everyone’s lives. Many people in the business community have a passion for their customers, in delivering a good or service that is of such high quality and value that it can’t help but impress. Customers come back, not wanting to sacrifice any part of the great experience they just received, often insisting on that person being their contact for all upcoming work they intend to do with the company. A loyalty is built, upon which many years of upcoming work can be derived, and which usually results in a mutually profitable arrangement for both parties for that extended time.

One example I can think of is a friend of mine in the stock trading business who has always tended to pick stocks very well. He has stated on many occasions that what drives him is doing everything he can to maximize his clients’ portfolios over the long run while minimizing the risks in doing so. Since each investor is different, he goes to great lengths to get to know their investing philosophies, to ensure he is the right fit for them, and to know how much risk-taking in buying and selling stocks he should take with their portfolios. While no trader is a winner in every stock transaction, our stocks have done very well under his guidance. His business has boomed, as new clients have realized how successful he has been for others.

It seems the most successful people in business are successful because they are driven to customer satisfaction, even customer delight. This takes dedication, thoughtfulness, an ability to put oneself in another’s shoes mentally or emotionally, and good overall communication. Like my missionary daughters, sometimes prayer is also involved. The golden rule of treating others as one would like to be treated also always applies. These values are at the center of APPRO & CERRON’s business philosophy of going the extra mile to serve our clients well.

So, how about it? Are you ready to dedicate yourself in your daily business dealings to do whatever you can to take care of your customer’s needs? Even when there’s no immediate payoff, and sometimes involves some personal sacrifice? Why not consider it as your New Year’s resolution for 2013? It may not pay off immediately for you. But I promise that, over time, you will cultivate your own loyal customer base wherever you go, for as long as you press onward for “the mission.”

At APPRO and CERRON, we have been blessed with long time friends, subcontractors and clients who join us in our passion for creating property solutions by striving every day to understand what drives our clients’ businesses, so we know best how to find property solutions for them and meet their business needs. This dedication has earned APPRO and CERRON repeat and expanded business opportunities with many loyal clients in the process. I want to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas at this special time of year. Don’t miss the chance to spend quality time with family and friends whenever possible, to make the most of it. Please remember, too, to let APPRO Development and CERRON Properties take care of your property needs in 2013. You’ll be glad you did!

For those interested in being a part of my oldest daughter’s upcoming mission work in Asia, feel free to give me a call.

Pat Simpkins

Cool Places to Visit in Minnesota!

Minnesota – Cool Places to Visit!

As the Minnesota State Fair opens their doors this week, we are reminded that the summer season is quickly coming to an end. Many folks are squeezing in one more trip, or having some fun before the brisk winds of fall start to blow – ushering in the cooler season.

If you are new to Minnesota or are a long time resident looking for something new to do around town, here is a list of our Top Ten Cool Places to Visit in Minnesota:

1. Take a trip to Duluth, MN – On your way up, be sure to stop at Tobies in Hinckley which is about half way between the Twin Cities and Duluth, for a famous Caramel Roll and a cup of Joe. Once in Duluth, be sure to try skipping some rocks along the shores of Lake Superior. Stop by the Glensheen Mansion, take a trolley ride to the shops around town or rent a 2-4 person bicycle to tour around Canal Park. Grab an ice-cream cone from Bridgeman’s on the Lakewalk located next to the Fitger’s Courtyard, overlooking Lake Superior.

2. You could head further north and explore the North Shore – Head north along Hwy 61. Stop at Gooseberry Falls to go hiking or visit Split Rock Lighthouse (which just celebrated its 100th year anniversary). Stop in Tofte and spend a night at the Bluefin Bay. Then, head on up to Lutsen and take a ride on the Alpine Slide.

3. Visit Lanesboro, MN – rent a bike, stay at one of the many B&B’s around town, and maybe even plant a smooch on your honey (it is said to be one of the most romantic towns in the our great state!)

4. Get back to nature at its best by camping in the Boundary Waters – Start at Ely, MN and be sure to visit the International Wolf Center and then grab a camping pack, a large bag of yummy GORP (a high energy mix of granola, raisins, peanuts – & M&M’s) and grab a canoe – then, get hiking, get portaging, hug a tree, hug a bear, but for heaven’s sake, leave the iPods and Blackberrys at home!

5. Pack your bags and head to the Brainerd Nisswa Lakes Area. Go fishing or if you prefer, maybe just tell a fish story. When in Nisswa, you can partake in some good old fashioned turtle racing or try for that hole in one on any one of the abundant area golf courses.

6. Visit the Iron Range, MN – Climb aboard a mining truck, trace your roots at the Genealogy Center, tour an underground mine at the incredible Soudan Mine, or try an exciting ATV adventure and view the northern landscape in a whole new way!

7. Calling all Shop-a-holics – We really should be called the Land of 10,000 Shops!! Visit the Mall of America, Grand Avenue Shops in St. Paul, MN, check out 50th and France, find bargains at the Outlet Shops at Albertville or Medford, or stop to check out the shops in our own backyard by visiting the Pink Door Boutique, or check out Turnstyle Consignment store for something a little different.

8. Stick around the Twin Cities, MN, and be a tourist – visit Museums, history center, restaurants, lakes, Renaissance Festival, golf, Minnesota Zoo, Valley Fair, water park, and many, many more places to have some summer fun!

9. And, speaking of “sticking” around – see how many things you can find “on a stick” at the great Minnesota get-together…the Minnesota State Fair which is running from Thursday, August 26 – Monday, September 3, 2010.

10. And, last but certainly not least, our all time favorite place – is our home – Lakeville, Minnesota. Enjoy picking up some flowers and veggies at our local Farmer’s Market, play some Frisbee in one of our many parks, take a cruise on one of our lakes. You could explore a night on the town by taking in a show at the Lakeville Arts Center or visit the upcoming Lakeville Arts Festival. If you want to learn more about the history of our town, you could visit the Visit Lakeville Website for lots of interesting information.

There you have it – our suggestions for fun places to visit around the Land of 10,000 Lakes! We are certain there are many, many more exciting and fascinating locations – but, really – home is always the best place to come back to and for us that is Lakeville, Minnesota!

We have found over the years that Lakeville is a great place to own a business, build a building or lease or buy a great new space – which, by the way, is exactly what we have been doing and helping others to do for more than 23 years! At APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties, we love where we work and what we do! Give us a call – we would love to share more about what makes the Southern Twin Cities, Minnesota a great place to work and play!