Innovations here in Columbus, along with the other great ones that we have.” Columbus is also home to several long-standing enterprises, including Roberts Manufacturing, Lyco Manufacturing, Fluid Quip Technologies, Enerpac, and American Packaging Company. Kornmann is proud of the city’s track record in retaining these companies, many of which have international business ties.“For a city of 5,500 people, it is really impressive, the employers that we have,” he says.“We have a cluster of businesses broadly in the agriculture industry and manufacturing. We’ve had sustained business growth over time with some critical companies that are really outstanding.” A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND TOURIST DESTINATION More than just a great place to live and work, Columbus is also a community rich in events and attractions. Mayor Hammer highlights several popular community happenings, including the Fourth of July, and a beloved Oktoberfest celebration brought by the local Odd Fellows organization. Recently, the city held a successful food truck event at the same time as the city-wide garage sale.“The amount of people that came out for that was incredible,” he recounts. “Food truck events are becoming a huge thing. We also have the area arts, and high school football, baseball tournaments and softball tournaments that bring a lot of people into our community and help our local establishments.” Fireman’s Park, a venue on the National Register of Historic Places, is another draw for visitors. “It’s a beautiful park. The primary building is a very large historic pavilion, and that venue hosts a lot of events, including weddings,” portrays Kornmann. “People love having events there. Fireman’s Park is really one of our core attractions that brings people from out of town.” Columbus’s historic downtown is also in the early stages of revitalization. “We have two different projects going on right now,” Kornmann says, mentioning both a second-level housing project and a commercial building restoration.“There’s more and more interest in revitalizing our downtown, which goes back to the middle 1800’s. We still have some of those great buildings, and there’s a great opportunity for downtown Columbus to turn into a highly desirable destination.” Amundson again draws attention to the proximity of major highways as key to bringing people into the community, where they can then experience all of the unique restaurants and amenities on offer. Adding to Columbus’s appeal is its Amtrak station, which features the Empire Builder line, an east coast to west coast train service, along with the Borealis line, a commuter train connecting Chicago 116 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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