Morrison Area Development Corporation
Latest News
What is the MADC?
What happens when a restaurant
owner, a retired plant manager, a lawyer, an auto dealer, a real
estate appraiser, a local pastor, a retired store owner, a city
manger, a power company employee, a few bankers, a few
manufacturing executives along with folks working in agriculture,
waste disposal and transportation walk into the same room? While
this may sound like the start to a good joke, there is nothing
funny about the work of the Morrison Area Development Corporation
when it comes to Morrison’s future. The Individuals who make up
the MADC board of directors come from all walks of life, but they
possess one vision and purpose which is to coordinate economic
growth and economic development in all areas of the City. The
ultimate goal of the MADC is to maintain and enhance the quality
of life enjoyed by all Morrison residents.
Perhaps the most
visible work of the MADC involves its management of the Morrison
Industrial Park which is presently home to three businesses.
Climco Coils, Morrison Blacktop, and Altronics Coils all call the
Industrial Park “home.” There are two more lots presently
available to prospective businesses desiring a place to build. The
MADC also networks with local, state and federal entities to
coordinate and advocate for things that benefit industry in
Morrison. One example of this activity at the present time is the
work being done in hopes of someday soon having a fulltime
economic development director for our community. This has been
identified as a real key to successful economic development in
other similar communities, and the MADC has made this project one
of its primary missions. The MADC hopes that by partnering with
the city and other likeminded groups the goal of establishing an
economic development director will soon be accomplished. If you
would like to learn more about the MADC including contact
information and the names of its board of directors, then feel
free to visit them on the web at
www.morrison-area-development.com
.
April 6, 2006
MADC Pledges $10,000 to
Chamber of Commerce Project
The Morrison Area Development
Corporation has committed $10,000 to the development of a visible,
accessible, and attractive home for the Morrison Chamber of
Commerce. The MADC is the third and latest partner in a project
that already involves the City of Morrison and the Morrison
Chamber of Commerce. MADC board member John Prange, who works
with the USDA, noted at the MADC’s most recent board meeting,
“It’s really exciting when groups can work together for the good
of the community and this is exactly what is happening with this
project.”
Retired GE plant manager and
current board member Everett Pannier said, “This is the type of
momentum we have been working toward for a long time.”
Chamber of Commerce member
Pete Harkness who owns a local auto dealership and is fairly new
to the Morrison noted, “A common vision and a spirit of
cooperation are keys to both attracting businesses to a community
as well as helping existing businesses flourish.”
The proposed project involves
the exterior and interior renovation of the building on the site
of the city’s new “pocket park” at the west end of Main Street
across for the Post Office. All MADC board members present were
excited to see the vision for that location starting to take
shape. In addition to a beautifully landscaped “pocket park” the
plan for the site includes a kiosk filled with information about
the community of Morrison as well as the renovated building to
serve as a home for a more visible and active Chamber of
Commerce. The building renovation also creates the possibility of
office space and a meeting area for future staff expansion such as
full time Chamber of Commerce staff or even an economic
development director for our community.
