Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 6

134 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 In addition to their vast natural and recreation opportunities, Cottage Grove is home to a thriving business community with a vibrant business park. The 600-acre park is home to many manufacturing and warehouse businesses including 3M, Renewal by Andersen, Up North Plastics, and Warner Electric. There is also plenty of room to grow. “As a suburb of the Twin Cities metro area, we can really take advantage of basically anybody who is looking for a larger site,” says Christine Costello, Cottage Grove Economic Development Director. “We can have a site as small as two acres up to 100 acres. So that really allows us to diversify the businesses that we can have here in the community.” Part of the reason Cottage Grove has been successful in attracting business is due to the relationships they form with each company. Costello notes, “A lot of these businesses doubled in size in the last few years in our business park because they tell us we are amazing to work with. We understand business and don’t look at issues as unresolvable, but at how we can fix problems that may arise. We hear a lot of positive things about our community as it relates to relationships and how our employees and our team at City Hall will work hand-in-hand with businesses and developers.” Cottage Grove’s sense of community, business opportunities, and recreational amenities have made it an ideal city for people to want set down roots. The city has seen unprecedented growth over the past few years and it’s not looking like it will settle down any time soon. “Our growth is literally going off the charts right now,” Bailey exclaims. “We are now one of the fastest growing communities, literally, in the State of Minnesota. We expect to grow pretty significantly in the next 10 years. We have so many interested buyers. Land owners are willing to sell and developers want to come be a part of Cottage Grove.” Cottage Grove City Council Members have set a