and strengthen training capacity. The city is also advancing planning work for a fifth fire station to support service coverage as growth continues. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POWERED BY A STATE-LEADING INDUSTRIAL PARK Lakeville’s industrial park is one of the most significant economic assets in Minnesota, and it continues to be a major driver of employment and business investment. Economic Development Manager Kati Bachmayer notes that manufacturing represents a meaningful share of local employment, and the city takes pride in supporting that sector through relationship-building, visibility, and active business retention efforts. The industrial park includes a diverse mix of users, including food manufacturing, custom cabinet producers, and large-scale logistics operations. Bachmayer highlights major employers such as an Amazon fulfillment facility spanning approximately 750,000 square feet, as well as Sweet Harvest Foods, a honey manufacturer producing tens of millions of pounds annually. Sweet Harvest’s growth is also illustrative of Lakeville’s business environment. After initially operating within a multi-tenant space, the company built a dedicated facility that has become one of the city’s largest industrial buildings, reinforcing Lakeville’s capacity to support businesses as they scale. Goodroad emphasizes that Lakeville has done significant work to prepare land for development rather than waiting for businesses to request it. The city’s approach includes spreading public improvement costs—such as roads, water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure—across benefiting properties rather than forcing one project to absorb the full burden. In practical terms, the city often carries early infrastructure costs and defers assessment until development occurs, creating a more feasible path for business investment and allowing projects to move faster once interest materializes. Lakeville also uses traditional Minnesota tools such as tax increment financing and tax abatement when appropriate and continues to develop localized incentives to support smaller business expansions, equipment needs, and broader economic objectives. State-level partnerships through Minnesota DEED can also support projects demonstrating strong employment growth, and Lakeville has benefited from those programs in previous major developments. Workforce readiness is increasingly tied to economic development, and Lakeville has built strong partnerships to support that connection. Goodroad notes close collaboration with the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, which the city views as a critical partner in both business support and local initiatives. One example is a city-led manufacturer appreciation 129 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 LAKEVILLE, MN
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