Summit shines on growth, future opportunities

Business leaders, developers and community partners got together at the Owatonna Country Club last Wednesday to explore the city’s growth and future opportunities at the 2025 Owatonna Development Summit.

Co-hosted by the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC) and Minnesota REjournal, the day highlighted how Owatonna is driving progress through streamlined city processes, major infrastructure investments and partnerships with education, utilities and industry.

Four panels highlighted the four key themes: Owatonna Advantage, Revitalizing Downtown, Industrial Growth, and Growing and Attracting Talent.

Mayor Matt Jessop introduced the first panel with comments about “Where the Extra Mile Takes You,” a tagline developed through the city’s 2023 rebranding. Downtown Owatonna was not special, he said. There were great businesses but “nothing to brag about.” The high school was cobbled together with buildings constructed in 1920 and later.

Today, he said, the new high school is “absolutely fabulous, not just the facility but its programs and classes.” Downtown now has trees, planters, and parking.

Partnerships

The first panel, moderated by Deanna Kuennen, community and economic development director for the City of Farmington, included OACC President/CEO Brad Meier; Mike Keller, executive vice president, CFO, secretary and treasurer of Federated Insurance; Roger Warehime, general manager of Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU); new Owatonna Public Schools superintendent Tamara Champa; and Troy Klecker, community development director for the City of Owatonna.

“It’s amazing how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets credit,” Kuennen said, adding, “That’s the way it happens in Owatonna.”

Keller explained Federated Insurance gave $20 million donation for construction of the new school, the biggest donation of its kind in the U.S. that year. Federated, he said, was founded in 1904, and its history has been interwoven with Owatonna's since the beginning.

The company made the donation, he said, because it was the right thing to do, but also to recruit the best of the best to work there.

“When we get them, we want to keep them,” Keller said.

Partnerships between the company and the Chamber helped draw a hotel, apartments and restaurants to the downtown.

“We want to be the catalyst,” he said, “not the driver.”

Meier said growth can be accomplished by working together through the Owatonna Partners for Economic Development. The partnership involves the city, county, Chamber and industries. They meet weekly and talk about how to attract businesses and tackling issues such as housing.

Klecker explained the city realizes the need for private investment. The city's role is to take an idea and help make it a doable project.

“We will help along the way, step by step to see it through to the end,” he said.

Champa said the “the opportunities here are just phenomenal.” Forty percent of Owatonna students, she said, are engaged in the workforce.

Downtown success

The second panel, moderated by Sean Williams, executive director of Owatonna Area Business Development Center (OABDC), included Bill Cronin, brew master at Mineral Springs Brewery; Lisa Cochran, Main Street director; Mac Hamilton, CEO of Hamiliton Real Estate Group; and Jessop.

Hamilton said he discovered Owatonna eight years ago because of a meeting like the 2025 summit.

“I was just wowed by how special this community is. I need to be doing something here,” he said.

His first development, he said, was Southpointe Apartments by Hy-Vee. Then, he developed apartments downtown.

Cochran said that through the Economic Development Authority (EDA), the city has a forgivable loan program where a business can get $10,000 for specific improvements such as facades and inside work. If the business remains for five years, the loan does not have to be paid back. Also, she said, the buildings need to be kept as close as possible to their original appearance.

Cochran said Downtown Thursday events on the first Thursday during the summer months have been a success story. At first, she was nervous about having food trucks downtown with local restaurants. But restaurant owners were supportive, because of the crowds the events would draw and the visibility.

One concern, panelists said, is the lack of stores open on Sundays.

Cronin said that Mineral Springs Brewery is one of the few places open on Sundays, and they stay busy. He said that they are family-friendly on Sunday, with bingo and candy for the kids.

“We are open seven days a week, and we see it,” he said.

Cochran said there is hope a retail incubator project located in a former school district building at 115 E. Rose St. will help, as four shops outside the building will be open Thursday-Sunday. The project is expected to open in May 2026.

Back to Owatonna

Industrial Growth was discussed with moderator Greg Krushcke, community development manager for the City of Owatonna; Christian Fenstermacher, director of engineering and field operations at OPU; and Natalie Siderius, southeast Minnesota Business Development manager for DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development).

Siderius said DEED tries to connect people with the resources they need. OPU also works closely with businesses considering a move to Owatonna.

Former Owatonna Superintendent of Schools Jeff Elstad moderated the final panel on workforce development.

“We are all responsible for all kids all the time,” said Elstad. “You can have the greatest building but need great people.”

Jim Kingsley, vice president of operations for the Wenger Corporation, said Owatonna High School students can be certified to work for the company before they are 18. When they graduate, he said, some are employed full-time.

Brian Coleman, career navigator coordinator, said employers want this type of program. It has been approved for all OHS career paths.

Matt Bissonette, academic dean at Riverland Community College, said RCC programs are available to students even if a specific program is not taught on all campuses. Students also can study liberal arts and science and can get their associate in arts degree in Owatonna.