Albert Lea is well-prepared for business development in a competitive job market, according to a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development official.

Executive Director of Business Development Jeff Rossate said the city’s infrastructure, highway system around the community and capacity in its wastewater treatment plant make the city attractive to businesses.

Rossate made the comment Wednesday at the annual Greater Jobs meeting at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in front of city, county, school and other local leaders.

He praised Albert Lea for its response to the Farmland Foods fire in 2001.

“This community has done a really good job,” Rossate said.

Rossate said cities can improve their business environment by having an expansive knowledge of a product and becoming more technologically savvy.

Rossate said utilities are an important sticking point for manufacturers, including the cost, accessibility and quality.

He said communities achieve measurable results in obtaining business by assessing assets, challenges and trends, and building a consensus around a vision of the community’s feature.

According to Rossate, Albert Lea — along with other communities — needs to prioritize issues that it can and can’t control for business opportunities and limitations.

He said execution is key to maintaining and obtaining new businesses, including going through the process of how to close a deal to bring in a business or businesses.

He said Riverland Community College needs to be highlighted as an asset to the community, and  suggested possibly placing a development closer to one of the interstates.

Randy Kehr, executive director of Albert Lea-Freeborn Chamber of Commerce said the event was important so the community could see what it’s doing well and what it can improve on.

He said the Chamber of Commerce is planning on continuing to work on marketing Albert Lea through technology.

Ryan Nolander, executive director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, said Rossate’s presentation confirmed what they already knew, but said it was good for community leaders to hear the message.