East Bethel MN

keep them within the Anoka County area, specifically East Bethel. So, making it feasible for machine tool shops or industrial manufacturers and the like, to call this home, improves the quality of life for our residents.” The city is also actively collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on traffic- related improvements along Highway 65. These efforts include the construction of grade-separated interchanges and the removal of stop lights that contribute to traffic accidents. “We know that businesses are not going to want to essentially sit in a parking lot out on the highway when they need to get their goods and services to market. So those investments are critical,” Look underscores. Broadband connectivity is another area of focus, with state and federal grants aiding the expansion of high- speed internet in underserved areas, in partnership with telecommunications company Midco. “What’s the connectivity? -That’s one of the number one questions we receive for housing development,” Look acknowledges. “As people are working from home more often these days, that’s a top priority for them.” BUSINESS EXPANSION AND ATTRACTION Designing Earth Contracting, a long-standing business in East Bethel, has expanded by completing a state-of-the-art 19,000-square-foot facility, which Berg notes is visible from the highway 65 corridor. 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 EAST BETHEL , MN