Communities heap praise on Target

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 14, 2002 by Alicia Henrikson

By Alicia Henrikson and Michael Hooper

The Capital-Journal

Attracting a Target distribution center isn't a quick and easy process, but communities that have landed such a facility say it is well worth the time and effort.

A facility is under construction in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and another opened in March near Kalamazoo, Mich. Local officials in both communities said attracting a Target distribution center was something they needed. And so far, both have found Target to be a good corporate citizen much like the people in Fridley, Minn., have found Target to be.

In Fridley, a Twin Cities suburb with a population of 28,000, Target distribution center employees are involved in the community, said Shannon Meyer, executive director of the Fridley Chamber of Commerce. The Target distribution center has been a member of the chamber since 1968.

"They are extremely active in promoting the community," Meyer said. "They are very good sponsors."

For example, she said, Target employees have traditionally supported a local festival, called Fridley 49er Days, which began Thursday and continues through Sunday.

She said Target is a good employer.

"Target has a wonderful benefits plan and they treat their employees very well," Meyer said.

Employment was something Kalamazoo's Charleston Township needed as five paper mills closed in the span of three months resulting in about 1,500 people losing their jobs. Target did its best to look at candidates who were unemployed and hire from that pool, said Jill Bland, vice president for business services for Southwest Michigan First in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Michigan Regional Distribution Center for Target began operations in March and has hired about 550 people. It is expected to hire 900 people within the first year, Bland said.

"Folks that I've heard have gotten hired out there have been very pleased and really enjoy working there," she said.

Bland said Target requires new employees to meet certain criteria. People go through a "pretty aggressive interview" and a physical test to make sure they can handle lifting, bending and moving packages for shifts that last eight to 10 hours.

"Everything is going great," Bland said. "They have really been a good community player."

Bland said the area hasn't experienced excess traffic as a result of the project.

"They stagger their trucks so they come in roughly every 10 minutes, so you really don't notice them coming in and out," she said.

Residents feared increased truck traffic in Albany, Ore., when a Target distribution center was built six years ago, said John Pascone, president of Albany Millersburg Economic Development Corp. The Albany center is about 1.5 million square feet, employs 500 people and runs about 60 to 100 trucks per day.

After the distribution center opened in 1996, residents didn't notice the truck traffic because the facility is located on the south side of town and the number of trucks per hour averages about three to four, Pascone said.

"They're good members of the community," he said. "We're lucky to have them."

Target announced plans to build a center in Cedar Falls in July 2001. The 1.3 million-square-foot facility is under construction and is expected to open in February 2003, said Mayor Jon Crews. It will hire about 900 people.

"They won't be the biggest employer in town because the university is, but they'll be second or third," he said. "It's going to be a major thing and we know that and that's why we worked with them and encouraged them to come here."

Bob Justis has been Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce president for about five months. He wasn't in the position when Target Corp. announced its plan to build a distribution center last year, but being a lifelong citizen of Cedar Falls he said the deal is exciting.

"It just lifted the spirit of the community," he said. "We're very excited about having it and can't help but think it will attract more businesses and people to our area, especially since the center will employ about 900 people."

"Everything is going great. They have really been a good community player."

JILL BLAND

vice president for business services for Southwest Michigan First in Kalamazoo, Mich.