Rural areas in line for tax-free lots

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 5, 2003

Representatives from Freeborn County towns and townships met Thursday with the organizers for the county’s tax-free zone application.

Albert Lea Township Board member Larry Lestrud came to the meeting because he was a little &uot;green&uot; on the program.

He came away with the knowledge that there are three possible sites in the township that are being considered.

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&uot;We’ve lost a lot of jobs in this area,&uot; Lestrud said about the county. &uot;There’s no doubt about it that this program would help.&uot;

The tax-free zones, called &uot;Job Opportunity Building Zones&uot; (JOBZ), are the result of legislation passed this year. The zones give developing companies or expanding operations tax breaks for up to 12 years.

Each zone will have 5,000 acres designated for the program. Freeborn County is teaming up with 11 other counties along the Iowa border and some counties north of Interstate 90 to make a group application as the I-90 corridor group.

According to Ed Tschida, who is collecting information for Albert Lea and Freeborn County’s application, the county already has nearly 400 acres picked out for use. However, he said, there is almost no possibility that the 418 acres could all be used in the city of Albert Lea.

&uot;In the past 40 years something like 100 acres have been developed here,&uot; Tschida said. &uot;So it’s not likely we’ll use all those acres.&uot;

Tschida was almost certain that the I-90 corridor group’s application will be accepted.

Two men representing the Alden Development Corporation asked if some land might be eligible if it wasn’t available right now. Tschida said that small modifications could be made to the application if there are problems.

He added, though, that the sooner the land is used, the better. Once the applications are chosen on Jan. 1, 2004, the clock starts ticking off time that all lots in the program have to get business in without taxes.

To take part, school districts, city councils or township boards must pass a resolution accepting the state program.

Tschida added that if smaller towns were interested in certain land, the people working on the application should be reached so they can make the proper changes to the application before it is due on Oct. 1.

Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, said he expects the I-90 corridor to get a zone.

&uot;I think we stand a good chance,&uot; he said.

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox @albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)