Staying put: Blain's Farm & Fleet to build new store in Morton
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 17:08
- Written by Paul Gordon
After considering relocating, Blain's Farm & Fleet instead has decided to build a new, larger store in Morton, where it has become a central Illinois institution.
The Janesville, Wis.-based company said Tuesday it will build a 127,000 square-foot store on property it acquired at the intersection of Courtland Avenue and North Morton Avenue, across the street from WalMart.
The new store will replace the existing 89,000 square-foot store 180 S. Detroit Ave., where it has been located since 1974.
"Frankly, we have known for some time that we've outgrown our old location. The facility is no longer representative of what we have grown to become as a retailer nor support the image we want to project to the shopping public," said Robert Blain, president and CEO of Blain's Farm & Fleet, in a news release.
"During our search for a site that will support the long-term growth of our operation, we seriously considered locating in other communities. Many were quite receptive and eager to lure us away with some very attractive municipal development inceptives. Given that each site we evaluated had its own pluses and minuses, our decision to remain in Morton came down to two things.
"One was our corporate culture. Our founders made the decision almost 40 years ago that Morton was the right place to put down roots and invest their hard-earned money. Over the years, Morton and the surrounding communities have been very good to us and it is our wish to continue to support our founders' decision. The second was our ability to work with the village administration to address not only the developmental needs of our site but their broader view of addressing the needs of the surrounding area in order to support the orderly, future growth that will promote economic health for the community as a whole," Blain said.
He said meetings with village officials began last June to discuss options and challenges. "Then and throughout our dealing with the village, we found President Norm Durflinger and Trustee Steve Newhouse, as well as Public Works Superintendent Craig Loudermilk, Planning and Zoning Officer Roger Spangler, along with Village Attorney Tom Davies, to be firm yet practical minded in representing the interests of the Village. All the while, they worked to strike a balance of pro-business support that makes financial sense for both parties and at the same time serves to promote the economic health and vitality of the Village that we are making this major financial investment in. It is a true partnership that is a long-term win-win for everyone," Blain said.
According to the terms of Blain's Farm & Fleet's business development agreement with Village of Morton, the village will purchase the existing Blain's Farm & Fleet facility on a 15-year, no interest loan for two million dollars. Jennifer Daly, CEO of the Morton Economic Development Council, said the village then plans to sell the Detroit Avenue property, including the building, and already has received interest from potential buyers. She said she could not identify them.
Construction of the new Blain's Farm & Fleet will generate in excess of $100,000 in Village fees and it is estimated sales tax revenues will increase 40 percent a year. The Blain's news release called that a "conservative estimate."
Property taxes paid to the village by Blain's are expected to be about $70,000 higher from the new location.
The release said Blain's expected to add 20 jobs to the current 87 at the store.
The release said as many as 20 different building trades and more than 270 tradespeople will touch the project during construction. No bids have been let yet but Blain said the company hopes "to work with as many qualified, locally based contractors as possible."
No starting date of construction has been set but Blain said plans are to open the new store in July 2014.
Daly said the village knew from the start of negotiations with Farm & Fleet that there would be competition from surrounding communities. She didn't say, nor did Blain say, which communities were competing.
"Sure, we were worried. But we were also confident and I think both sides were very fair during the negotiations. It is a real win for both sides," she said.
It was important, Daly added, that the village had the philosophy that it is important to give local businesses a person or entity that they can do go with concerns or plans. "It's important to have that connection and we do that for our businesses. That helps," she said.
"Keeping Farm & Fleet in Morton is a big deal for many reasons, not the least of which it would be hard to imagine Morton without Farm & Fleet. Also, a brand new store will be beneficial to the community, to the residents and to our taxing bodies because of the taxes and revenues it will generate. It's important to note that the property on Courtland will have outlots and Farm & Fleet plans to develop those, as well," she said. "That location is a good location because it already has retail traffic."
