Ford Motor Company officially announced their decision to build a distribution plant in Menomonie on Thursday.

Kent O’Hara, North American Planning Manager for parts, supplies and logistics for Ford, speaking over the phone, said one of the main reasons for settling on Menomonie was that it was closest to the center of the area they wanted to serve with the distribution center.

&uot;We have a very scientific approach to our search method, which depends a lot on finding the optimal location which can service best the dealer demand,&uot; O’Hara said. &uot;Albert Lea was right on the edge of the radius of that optimal location area.&uot;

O’Hara said tax rates had an effect, but not a large one. &uot;All those factors like tax rates and workers compensation are part of a complete scenario on the overall cost and operating environment. But no single one of those had a larger importance than others did.&uot;

O’Hara said the packages offered by both states had respective benefits and advantages.

He said there were three basic advantages Menomonie had over Albert Lea. First, an already-strong business economy with a Wal-Mart distribution warehouse, 3M, and other strong companies. Second, the location was much more central to their distribution needs; the center will serve 400 dealers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Michigan and Iowa.

O’Hara also said the site in Menomonie was in better building shape for the company, and Ford wanted to be able to build quickly. He added that the Albert Lea site was also very strong in this area.

The Ford representative was vague in pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the Albert Lea community and the presentation by the city.

He said that the &uot;quality-of-life issues are always important&uot; to Ford, but said the aforementioned issues were much more important.

O’Hara complimented the city of Albert Lea and the presentation given.

&uot;They really rolled out the red carpet for us,&uot; he said. &uot;It was an extremely difficult decision for us.&uot;