Column: Residents are interviewed by business prospects

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 9, 2007

By Randy Erdma, Positively Albert Lea

As a salesman, I support my family by finding customers for my products and helping them buy the things they need at a fair price. As your mayor, I am always selling Albert Lea. Our community has some areas that need work and we on the Albert Lea City Council and many local volunteer groups are working very hard to improve them.

Often, however, we tend to overlook the many advantages that we can offer to commercial, industrial, and residential prospects. On the short list we can include:

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1. Our beautiful lakes and our commitment to further improving them.

2. Our historic downtown, which is one of the largest in the state, with a certified local government and a historic preservation ordinance.

3. Excellent freeway location making us a crossroads city.

4. Our willingness to restore and reuse our historic buildings such as The Lofts at Lea Center and our fabulous Freeborn Bank Building.

5. The most successful JOBZ &8212; Job Opportunity Building Zone &8212;industrial effort in the state of Minnesota.

6. Our commitment to bike and pedestrian trails as well as over 30 beautiful parks.

7. Many fully serviced industrial parks and more on the way.

8. Housing options ranging from the very affordable to the high end.

9. A friendly community that is always willing to step up to the plate when one of our citizens needs our help. It seems that there is at least one fundraiser taking place every weekend.

10. A safe and nurturing community to raise our families.

These are just a few of our many positive attributes. This list could go on for several pages. We will only succeed and prosper as a community if we maintain a positive attitude, continue to work on our shortcomings, and market our positive assets to the world. We have a lot to be proud of and everyone has a part to play.

Think of our marketing effort this way. Almost every week, someone from outside the community is checking us out. They are looking for a place to live and raise their family, a place to locate a commercial business, a place to relocate or expand an industrial business, or even a place to retire.

Our community is being interviewed every day. We, as citizens, are being interviewed. During the interview process, you are obligated to tell the truth, but you present your assets in the most positive light you can.

Our community is emerging from a quarter century of economic challenges and lethargy. Our new &8220;can do&8221; spirit is being recognized and is paying dividends. Prospects from throughout the Midwest are beginning to recognize that Albert Lea has a great future and they want to be part of it.

Please help me and our community in this process by presenting our town in a positive light and help us win the job during this interview process.

Randy Erdman is the mayor of Albert Lea.