Executive Summary Wisconsin (WEDC) created a Certified Sites program to identify and certify for development the most desirable and marketable industrial site in the State. However, the majority of sites with in Wisconsin – including those in Barron County – are unlikely to achieve the Certified in Wisconsin designation due to a number of factors. Whether it be the minimum size requirements, amenity thresholds, location criteria, or cost (due diligence, preparation, and/or fees) many communities/site owners are unable to have a Certified in Wisconsin Site. The Barron County Shovel-Ready Sites program differentiates itself from the Certified in Wisconsin program in key ways such as: 

No site minimum or maximum size



No underlying site criteria



Emphasis on disclosure or knowledge of site capacities rather than minimum standards



Verification by municipalities engineering/consulting firm



Lower cost of data assembly and program fee

The program as outlined makes the designation for many sites achievable, while providing verification that the site is able to expedite a development project. The other need that the program will fulfill is increase the quality of site documentation throughout Barron County. The criteria are based on known information that project owners and site selectors seek when considering locations. The criteria also work to align as closely as possible with criteria required by the WEDC certification process. Over time, the program will improve the quality of site documentation for sites within Barron County which will make responses to leads more competitive. The Barron County Certified Shovel-Ready project will increase marketability of sites throughout the County by providing a basic set of criteria sought by project owners supported by marketing efforts to raise awareness of the County’s best development sites and site tools like Locate In Wisconsin. This project will also provide a method of certification for sites that are less than twenty five (25) acres in size or for those sites owners who are unable to afford the WEDC certification process at this time.

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Barron County Shovel Ready Sites Program

Barron County is located in Northwest Wisconsin approximately 90 miles northeast of the Twin Cities. Barron County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) is the county economic development organization which was formed in the early 1990’s and has worked to:  Grow the economy of Barron County through regional marketing, business attraction and specific programs to assist start ups and continued growth of stage 2 companies.  Create K-12/Employer apprenticeship/internship and other worker training programs to assure a steady supply of skilled workers  Create a shared regional economic development strategy which seeks to discourage duplication of services and engages stakeholders throughout the Heart of the North region. Barron County partners with both private industry and other organizations with an interest in economic development including workforce development, education, local economic development, regional planning, local government and chambers of commerce. The Wisconsin (WEDC) Certified Sites program was established on the premise to identify and certify for development the most desirable and marketable industrial sites in the State. This is evidenced by the underlying criteria for the sites to be certified, as well as the high bar set for site amenities and capacities. It is no small achievement to go through the extensive review process and receive the 3 rd party certification. However, the majority of sites in Wisconsin – including the Barron County region – are unlikely to achieve the Certified in Wisconsin designation due to a number of factors. Whether it be the minimum size requirements, amenity thresholds, location criteria, or cost (due diligence, preparation, and/or fees) many communities/site owners are unable to have a Certified in Wisconsin site. The Barron County Shovel Ready Sites Program will allow an alternative designation that is attainable while also providing a level of assurance that the site is suitable and ready for development. Accompanying is an outline of the planned Barron County Shovel Ready Sites Program. It differentiates itself from the Certified in Wisconsin program in key ways such as:    

No site minimum or maximum size No underlying site criteria (geographic location, proximity or density requirements) Emphasis on disclosure or knowledge of site capacities rather than minimum standards Lower cost of data assembly and program fee

The program as outlined makes the designation for many sites achievable, while providing verification that the site is able to expedite a development project. By allowing the community to utilize an existing relationship with its engineering/consulting firm it provides a cost effective but independent verification method. It also provides some assurance that site preparation and development by the community will take into account the program’s criteria.

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The other need that the program will fulfill is increase the quality of site documentation throughout Barron County. The Barron County Shovel Ready Sites Program incorporates educational information about best practice site documentation to emphasize the need for documentation that meets the needs of project owners in a timely basis. The program also provides a process to market the sites once they are certified as a Barron County Shovel Ready Site by listing all sites on the WEDC In Wisconsin Website. The table below lists the proposed criteria to be met by the site owner to achieve the Barron County certification. The criteria will be regularly reviewed by a program committee and adjusted as experience demands yet maintaining the integrity of the certification. The criteria are based on known information that project owners and site selectors seek when considering locations. The criteria were created to align as closely as possible with criteria required by the WEDC certification process.

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Criteria

Benchmark/Threshold

Site location

In Barron County

Site size

No minimum or maximum

Site ownership

Can be public or private

Site suitable development.

for

industrial Fits with surroundings, may have buildings suitable for industrial development located on it.

Municipal Infrastructure

Site must be serviced by road, water and sewer or community willing to install these improvements within a reasonable time frame – or allow private utilities.

Energy Utility Infrastructure

The preferred site will be serviced by electrical and natural gas providers. Alternate energy sources (LP gas) may be also identified. If site is currently not served by major utilities a description of distance, cost and a timeframe to make service available should be provided.

Transportation Infrastructure

Site must have adequate access suitable for development.

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Documentation Submittal 1. Maps of Region, County, and Municipality showing site location. 1. Site Map/Survey showing dimensions and total size. 2. Aerial photo. 1. Documentation showing site ownership and terms of sale including price. 1. Map showing site amenities (roads/rail) as well as surrounding land uses. 2. Pictures of site, buildings, if any, and surrounding land uses. 1. Site map showing municipal infrastructure, noting any road restrictions and size of water/sewer services. If not in place a letter from municipality with details on installation of improvements including any advance planning and timeframe to complete. 1. Documentation – including site map showing electrical and natural gas providers and capacity of service to site. If not in place a correspondence from utility outlining options including cost and timeline for build out. If natural gas not available –alternate options (i.e. propane) 1. Documentation/site map showing highway access (show adjacent as well

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Site must be serviced by voice/data provider

1.

Zoning

Industrial Zoning or equivalent.

1. 2.

Floodplain

Cannot be located in or adjacent to a floodplain.

1.

Topography

Cannot have significant topography issues limiting development. Cannot have wetland issues

1.

Wetlands

Utility Easements

Environmental, Archeological

Other site restrictions

Cannot have utility easements that would prevent development. Historical, Cannot have known impediments.

Cannot have restrictions which would limit development.

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as nearest 4-lane highway), rail access (if any or nearest location), and airport availability (nearest location for cargo and passenger service). Documentation showing provider(s) and service capabilities and speeds. Site map showing site zoning. Letter from municipality/county verifying zoning. FEMA Flood insurance maps showing site and adjacent land not located in floodplain. Topo map of site.

1. Map showing presumed or delineated wetland areas on site or adjacent to site. 2. Site map showing all utility easements on and adjacent to site. 1. Documentation from Fish & Wildlife Service, State Historical Society indicating no known issues. 2. Documentation providing background on previous uses of site. 1. Documentation of any restrictions (i.e. height ordinance related to nearby airport).

The Barron County Shovel Ready Site program will be administered by Barron County Economic Development Corporation. They will administer the process as set forth below and will make final determination to certify a site as a Barron County Shovel Ready Site: 1. Barron County EDC assists in verification criteria and process. 2. Barron County EDC works with municipality (or other site owner) and municipality’s regular contracted engineering firm to assemble information as required. Any costs associated with assembling the information is the responsibility of the site owner. 3. Barron County EDC lists site on Locate In Wisconsin and uploads to EDC website assembled information to support site. 4. Barron County EDC prepares marketing profile for the Shovel Ready Site in both print and digital formats for use by the site owner 5. Barron County issues Shovel Ready Site designation to community with authorization to display Barron County Shovel Ready at site and in marketing materials. Barron County adds site to Shovel Ready Site list on website with link to Locate In Wisconsin listing. Sites also recognized at Barron County annual meeting. 6. Barron County implements marketing campaign to bring attention to the program and those sites that have received the regional certification. The Barron County Shovel Ready Certification program will have several benefits for developer and site selectors. These include: A. Provides feeder system for WEDC Certified Sites program by providing intermediate step for site owners who may later choose to receive the higher threshold certification B. Over time the program will improve the quality of site documentation for sites within the Barron County which will make regional responses to leads more competitive. The improvement will take place through awareness generated by the program and best practice information shared during the promotion of the program. C. Will increase marketability of Barron County sites by providing a basic set of criteria sought by project owners supported by marketing effort to raise awareness of Barron County’s best development sites and site tools like Locate In Wisconsin. D. Advertising resources spend to make project owners and site selectors aware of the Barron County Shovel Ready sites will also help promote other regional and WEDC programs via links within the Barron County website.

Please contact David Armstrong, Executive Director of Barron County EDC with any questions. Phone 715-637-6871, email [email protected].

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Site Locations – Barron County

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Transportation Infrastructure

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Terms of Sale & Utility Infrastructure

1. Proposed use must conform to City and State Codes and Zoning Restrictions. 2. The selling price of land shall be $20,000 per acre on currently developed lots. The following credits shall apply to reduce the selling price. For each fulltime equivalent (40 hours per week) job created a credit of $5,000.00. For each $100,000.00 of assessed value real estate valuation a credit of $5000.00. For each $100,000.00 of new taxable personal property, whether new or used, this is added to the City tax rolls, a credit of $5,000.00. “New taxable personal property” shall mean all taxable personal property brought to the City, and not merely to the land being purchased. By way of illustration, new taxable personal property will not include any property moved from any location in the City to the land being purchased hereunder. The credits may not exceed the sales price. Unless otherwise agreed, the credits applied to reduce the selling price of the land shall be based on the status of the operation of the business three (3) years from the date of the sale of land. An audit will be conducted by the City at the third anniversary date to determine the final selling price. 3. Sewage effluent shall not exceed quantity limits and quality standards as set by the City Utility Department. 4. Outdoor storage shall not be permitted unless fenced six (6) feet in height. 5. Air and water pollution and odors shall be minimal and within EPA standards. 6. Industrial Park land shall not be purchased for speculation. If plant construction has not started within twelve (12) months of the date of sale, the land shall revert back to the City of Barron, free of encumbrance. 7. The Mayor, with assistance from the City Attorney, is authorized to negotiate the sale of Industrial Park land and to enter into Sale Agreements. These agreements may contain additional or different provisions than as stated above, however; in any event, the Sale Agreements shall be subject to final approval by the Common Council before the City shall be bound to performance.

The electric, provided by Barron Electric, is set up the Industrial Park lots. Natural gas is available on one side of the street. We Energies are the natural gas provider.

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All Sites

10

206-8045-07-000

11

Other Restrictions

12

Floodplain

13

Site Ownership Documentation

14

Site Size

15

Surroundings

16

Topography

17

Wetlands

18

206-8045-08-000

19

Floodplain

20

Other Restrictions

21

Site Ownership Documentation

22

Site Size

23

Surroundings

24

Topography

25

Wetlands

26

206-8045-09-000

27

Floodplain

28

Other Restrictions

29

Site Ownership Documentation

30

Site Size

31

Surroundings

32

Topography

33

Wetlands

34

206-8045-11-000

35

Floodplain

36

Other Restrictions

37

Site Ownership Documentation

38

Site Size

39

Surroundings

40

Topography

41

Wetlands

42

206-8045-12-000

43

Floodplain

44

Other Restrictions

45

Site Ownership Documentation

46

Site Size

47

Surroundings

48

Topography

49

Wetlands

50

206-8045-12-010

51

Floodplain

52

Other Restrictions

53

Site Ownership Documentation

54

Site Size

55

Surroundings

56

Topography

57

Wetlands

58

Terms of Sale & Utility Infrastructure

The purchase price for industrial sites is negotiable. Adjustments to the purchase price are made for job creation and investment. The final total cost per acre depends on the number of jobs and the overall investment. The selling price of land shall be $20,000.00 per acre on currently developed lots. The following credits shall apply to reduce the selling price. For each full time equivalent (40 hours per week) job created, a credit of $5,000.00. For each $100,000.00 of assessed value real estate valuation, a credit of $5,000.00 will be established. Electric and Gas service for the North Industrial Park includes Xcel Energy and WE energies. Electric and Gas service for the South Industrial Park includes Barron Electric or Xcel Energy, and We energies.

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All Sites

60

211-8022-18-000

61

Floodplain

62

Other Restrictions

63

Site Ownership Documentation

64

Site Size

65

Surroundings

66

Topography

67

Wetlands

68

211-8022-22-000

69

Floodplain

70

Other Restrictions

71

Site Ownership Documentation

72

Site Size

73

Surroundings

74

Topography

75

Wetlands

76

211-8120-20-000

77

Floodplain

78

Other Restrictions

79

Site Ownership Documentation

80

Site Size

81

Surroundings

82

Topography

83

Wetlands

84

Terms of Sale and Utility Infrastructure

There are currently no terms of sale or incentives for the City of Cumberland. Cumberland Municipal Utility provides electric for all sites, while WE Energies can provide natural gas. Century Link and Charter Communications are available to provide telecommunications to each site.

85

All Sites

86

212-8068-18-000

87

Floodplain

88

Other Restrictions

89

Site Ownership Documentation

90

Site Size

91

Surroundings

92

Topography

93

Wetlands

94

212-8068-29-000

95

Floodplain

96

Other Restrictions

97

Site Ownership Documentation

98

Site Size

99

Surroundings

100

Surroundings

101

Topography

102

Wetlands

103

212-8068-46-000

104

Floodplain

105

Other Restrictions

106

Site Ownership Documentation

107

Site Size

108

Surroundings

109

Topography

110

Wetlands

111

212-8068-62-000

112

Floodplain

113

Other Restrictions

114

Site Ownership Documentation

115

Site Size

116

Surroundings

117

Topography

118

Wetlands

119

212-8068-63-000

120

Floodplain

121

Other Restrictions

122

Site Ownership Documentation

123

Site Size

124

Surroundings

125

Topography

126

Wetlands

127

212-8179-02-000

128

Floodplain

129

Other Restrictions

130

Site Ownership Documentation

131

Site Size

132

Surroundings

133

Topography

134

Wetlands

135

212-8179-11-010

* Technically owned by Cumberland Municipal Utility, but can be developed.

136

Floodplain

137

Other Restrictions

138

Site Ownership Documentation

139

Site Size

140

Surroundings

141

Topography

142

Wetlands

143

Terms of Sale & Utility Infrastructure All prospective purchasers of real estate within the Industrial Park shall submit an Offer to Purchase containing provisions as follows: A. The proposed use must conform to city and state building and zoning codes and restrictions. B. (l) Technology Park: For land contained in the Technology Park the selling price shall be $40,000 per acre. The following credits shall apply to reduce the $40,000 per acre selling price: (i) For each job maintained by the industry at all of its locations within the corporate limits, a credit of $3,000; and (ii) For each $100,000 of assessed valuation at the site, a credit of $4,000. B. (2) South lndustrial Park and Rice Lake Business Park: For land contained in the South lndustrial Park and Rice Lake Business Park, the selling price shall be $20,000 per acre. The following credits shall apply to reduce the $20,000 per acre selling price: (i) For each job maintained by the industry at all of its locations within the corporate limits, a credit of $3,000; and (ii) For each $100,000 of assessed valuation at the site, a credit of $4,000. C. After all credits are applied; the minimum selling price shall be $8,000 per acre. The credits as set forth herein, and as applied to reduce the sale price of the land, shall be based on the status of the operation of the business three (3) years from date of sale. An audit shall be conducted by buyer and seller on the third anniversary date of sale to determine the final sale price. D. On closing, the buyer shall pay to the City $8,000 per acre. The difference between $8,000 per acre and the nominal selling price per acre shall be carried on a promissory note to the City which shall accrue interest at the rate of 0%. Rice Lake Utilities provides electric, sewer, and water for all sites. WE Energies are available to provide natural gas. Century Link, Charter Communications, and Mosaic Telecom are all available to provide telecommunications to each site.

144

All Sites

145

276-5002-52-060

146

Floodplain

147

Other Restrictions

148

Site Ownership Documentation

149

Site Size

150

Surroundings

151

Topography

152

Wetlands

153

276-5002-52-070

154

Floodplain

155

Other Restrictions

156

Site Ownership Documentation

157

Site Size

158

Surroundings

159

Topography

160

Wetlands

161

276-5002-52-080

162

Floodplain

163

Other Restrictions

164

Site Ownership Documentation

165

Site Size

166

Surroundings

167

Topography

168

Wetlands

169

276-5002-53-010

170

Floodplain

171

Other Restrictions

172

Site Ownership Documentation

173

Site Size

174

Surroundings

175

Topography

176

Wetlands

177

276-8001-01-505

178

Floodplain

179

Other Restrictions

180

Site Ownership Documentation

181

Site Size

182

Surroundings

183

Topography

184

Wetlands

185

276-8001-01-550

186

Floodplain

187

Other Restrictions

188

Site Ownership Documentation

189

Site Size

190

Surroundings

191

Topography

192

Wetlands

193

276-8001-01-600

194

Floodplain

195

Other Restrictions

196

Site Ownership Documentation

197

Site Size

198

Surroundings

199

Topography

200

Wetlands

201

276-8001-01-655

202

Floodplain

203

Other Restrictions

204

Site Ownership Documentation

205

Site Size

206

Surroundings

207

Topography

208

Wetlands

209

276-8001-30-000

210

Floodplain

211

Other Restrictions

212

Site Ownership Documentation

213

Site Size

214

Surroundings

215

Topography

216

Wetlands

217

276-8001-32-010

218

Floodplain

219

Other Restrictions

220

Site Ownership Documentation

221

Site Size

222

Surroundings

223

Topography

224

Wetlands

225

276-8001-57-010

226

Floodplain

227

Other Restrictions

228

Site Ownership Documentation

229

Site Size

230

Surroundings

231

Topography

232

Wetlands

233

No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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Terms of Sale & Utility Infrastructure

The Village of Almena was unable to give terms of sale, aside from the comment that sales and incentives were all negotiable. The gas and energy providers for this site are We Energies, and Xcel Energy.

259

101-8001-17-011

260

Floodplain

261

Other Restrictions

262

Site Ownership Documentation

263

Site Size

264

Surroundings

265

Topography

266

Wetlands

267

No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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No available properties at this time (September 2014)

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Terms of Sale & Utility Infrastructure

Available lots will sell for the approximate cost of lots within the Village, ranging from $3,400.00 to $6,000.00. Utilities are provided by Xcel Energy, while Mosaic Telecom provides telecommunications.

272

All Sites

273

171-1000-11-000

274

Floodplain

275

Other Restrictions

276

Site Ownership Documentation

277

Site Size

278

Surroundings

279

Topography

280

Wetlands

281

171-5001-15-000

282

Floodplain

283

Other Restrictions

284

Site Ownership Documentation

285

Site Size

286

Surroundings

287

Topography

288

Wetlands

289

171-5001-20-000

290

Floodplain

291

Other Restrictions

292

Site Ownership Documentation

293

Site Size

294

Surroundings

295

Topography

296

Wetlands

297

No available properties at this time (September 2014)

298