AURORA — The city of Aurora celebrated the groundbreaking of its new industrial park Thursday.
Backers said the park will create new industrial space in the region and help to attract potential new manufacturing businesses.
In a news release, Aurora Mayor Doug Gregor says the park will provide economic growth opportunities in a community where there’s been a decline since the closure of LTV Steel Mining Co. in 2001.
Aurora has one of the lowest per capita income levels in the region, and Gregor says the park could lead to an expansion of the tax base and increases in the city’s population.
The Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation supported the project with a $9 million Site Ready grant.
The funds will help to pay for the infrastructure and utilities to serve approximately 80 acres.
The agency will also provide the city’s economic development authority a $6 million business loan to construct a spec building for future tenants.
The groundbreaking ceremony was at noon on Thursday, July 25, at the site of the future park, northeast of the intersection of Highway 135 and County Road 11 in Aurora.
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