City of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Gateway to the St. Croix Valley

Economic Development

The City of St Croix Falls is a fast growing and progressive community that seeks sound development that ensures a strong, well planned community for today and future generations.

Incentives include land in our industrial park and a low interest Revolving Loan Fund for start up or expanding businesses.

The City has also recently invested for $2 million dollars in a downtown renovation project.

Overview

St. Croix Falls is unique and fortunate to be located in an area rich in natural and cultural resources. The distinctive beauty of the St. Croix River Valley, numerous recreational activities, and proximity to Wisconsin's oldest state park (Interstate Park), has given rise to a flourishing tourism industry. According to Interstate Park, the park had over 354,000 visitors in the year 2000. Because of the large influx of tourists into the community, the services and retail trade sectors have benefited significantly by capturing tourist dollars.

As St. Croix Falls plans for the future, it will become increasingly important to tie the park/river and downtown together. By doing this, it will help ensure that downtown remains healthy and competitive.

Location

The City, with a 2002 estimated population of 2,054, comprises an area of approximately 3.5 square miles and is located on the western border of Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles northeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The City is at the intersection of U.S. Highway No. 8 and State Highway No. 87 and is about 25 miles east of Interstate Highway No. 35 in Minnesota.

Larger Employers within the City

Firm Type of Business/Product Number of Employees1
St. Croix Regional Medical Center Medical Center 395
Wal-Mart Retail Discount Store 221
School District of St. Croix Falls Education 1322
St. Croix Valley Good Samaritan Home Nursing Home 131
Market Place Foods Retail Grocery 130
Thermal Plastic Design Precision Custom Injection molding 85
Straus Knitting Mills, Inc. Knit trim products 65
Industrial Tool and Plastics Custom plastic injection molders 47
Durex Products Aggregate wear parts and sizing screens 47
Dalles House Full service restaurant/lounge 42
Brandtjen & Kluge Inc. Custom printing presses 42
Nobles Manufacturing, Inc. Industrial washers/dryers 40

Source: Written and telephone survey, (September 2002), the 2002 Wisconsin State Business Directory and the 2002 Wisconsin Manufacturers Register.

1Includes fll-time and seasonal

2This represents the number of employees locatd in facilities in the City.

City Government

The City, which was incorporated in 1887 and became a city in 1958, is governed by a Mayor and 4-member Common Council, The Mayor does not vote except in the case of a tie. All Council Members are electred to serve two years. The appointed City Administrator, City Clerk and City Treasurer are responsible for administrative details and financial records.

Industrial

The St. Croix Falls industrial park is located on the north side of US highway 8, extending east-west along Pine Street and Aspen Drive. The industrial park is approximately 145 acres in size, and is currently comprised of 21 businesses. The buildings within the park are relatviely new and structurally sound. Logistically, the close proximity to the US highway 8 corridor has made the industrial park more appealing. The majority of employers in the park are small to medium in size, with Brandtjen and Kluge Inc. being the largest. The following table lists the different manufacturers within the park.

Manufacturers within St. Croix Falls Industrial Park

Business Business Type
Industrial Tool & Plastic Inc Plastic injection molded parts
Pack-it Bindery Trade book binding - graphic arts industry
Lunde Inc Machine shop and glass laminating manufacturer
Benchmark Tool & Manufacturing Screw machine shop
Northern Electricians Electrical contractor - commercial/industrial
Brandtjen and Kluge Inc Manufacture printing presses
Durex Inc Screen manufacturer for aggregate/mining
Staus Knitting Inc Manufacturer knit material
Nobles manufacturing Commerical parts dryers
Engineered finishing Applied finishes to products
Thermal Plastic Design Inc Injection molding, plastic components
US Spring and CDFI Spring Manufacturer
Viking Acoustical
W & S Trucking Trucking
Laser Tech Laser machining of ceramic circuit boards
Precision Urethane Fabricators Urethane hand castings
St. Croix Plastics Plastics
Arden Specialty Distributor of fasteners

The industrial growth in St. Croix Falls has been strong which can be partially attributed to the local government's pro-business direction. Currently there are 193 acres zoned for industral use. However, it should be noted that 48 of those acres are privately owned leaving approximately 17 acres remaining for future development.

Commercial - USHighway 8 Corridor

Over time there has been a steady in-fill affect along the USHighway 8 corridor. The businesses that have contributed to this process have a variety of different architectural styles, signs, uses and parking. However, over the past fiew years the corridor has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of growth. The growth has taken place on both sides of USHighway 8, with most of it occuring east of Golf Course Drive. Some of the larger employers to move into the area have been Wal-Mart, Holiday Inn Express and Market Place Foods. Other businesses moving in have included lending institutions, fast food restaurants, convenience and retail stores.

As commercial growth continues to occur on the USHighway 8 corridor, it will become ever more vital to provide for the increased traffic demand. This will require the local government to work in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Polk County Highway Department to ensure the proper design and placement of intersections and access points.

Commercial - Downtown

The Downtown commercial area, while older, is also in good shape. There is currently a $1.6 million National Scenic River Enhancement Project scheduled to take place starting in June of 2002. The enhancement project will take place on Washington Street from USHighway 8 to Maryland street. The purpose of the project is to revitalize the downtown, beautify the highway and provide a vital link between USHighway 8 and State Highway 87 with the St. Croix Scenic Riverway. The proposed enhancement will recreate the historic atmosphere of this old rivertown while providing a gateway to serve pedestrians and vehicles to the downtown and scenic overlook.

Some of the enhancements will include a five to eight foot wide pedestrian route and nine defined crosswalks. An 18-inch strip of brick pavers will provide a scenic boulevard between the sidewalk and the curb and gutter. There will also be the additions of antique lights, flower planters, cast iron and wood benches, traditional trash receptacles and bike racks. The bike racks will be installed to accomodate the users of the Gandy Dancer Trail and City bike routes. The highway landscaping and scenic oportunities will be attractive to passing motorist, pedestrians, and bicyclist and will greatly enhance the traveling experience.

The beautification of State Highway 87 will greatly impact the area. Interstate Park is directly connected to the State Highway 87 corridor and pedestrians frequently travel this corridor to enjoy the beautiy of the scenic overlook and to access the downtown businesses. By providing a gateway along State Highway 87, the city will encourage travelers to stop and enjoy the beauty of the area, as well as visit the 67 local businesses in the downtown.

The City of St. Croix Falls has several strengths and weaknesses with respect to attracting and retaining businesses and industries.

  • Strengths include:
  • A local government that is proactive in attracting new businesses into the area
  • The development of local industrial sites to accommodate prospective businesses
  • The creation of a TIF district in 1993.
  • Highway system that can accommodate most businesses.
  • Good school district.
  • Community that is family orientated.
  • Educated work force to draw from.
  • Weaknesses include:
  • Not located on a four lane interstate highway.
  • Limited for industrial and commercial expansion due to the geography of the area.

Economic Development and the Community Development Survey

Community Development Survey responses indicated that overall, most residents felt that there was a need for increased industry in the City. A majority of residents indicated that it was at least somewhat important to create more job opportunities in the City of St. Croix Falls. Residents were asked to indicate their current employment status and location of employment. Respondents indicated that 2.5% of residents were currently unemployed and seeking full-time employment. 2.4% of respondents indicated that they were currently cmployed on a part-time basis, but were seeking full time employment (see chart below).

The survey results also indicate that the majority of St. Croix Falls residents work inside of the community (44%) with a large percentage of residents commuting to jobs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and the community fo Stillwater, Minnesota. See chart below.

As the Twin Cities metropolitan area grows outward, the numbers of cummuters to the Twin Cities will grow. However, on limitation that will slow growth is the lack of four-lane access to the Twin Cities. Due to environmental and monetary issues as well as the geography of the area, there are no current plans by the Wisconsin or Minnesota Departments of Transportation for bridge expansion across the St. Croix River between St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls.

Labor Force

Based on results from the Community Development Survey (1999), the labor force participation rate in the City of St. Croix Falls is approximately 72.4%. According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the labor participation rates for Polk County and Wisconsin in 1999 were 76.6% and 72.3% respectively. Rgional growth over the past decade has contributed to an overall lower unemployment rate in the western region of Wisconsin.

The table below shows the empoloyment by category for the City fo St. Croix Falls and Polk County. comparatively speaking, most of the occupational categories betwen Polk County and St. Croix Falls are faily close. However, it is interesting to note that St. Croix Falls has a highwer percentage of people working in Managerial and Professional Occupations. This could be attributed to a number of different factors:

  • Two of the larger employers in St. Croix Falls are the St. Croix Regional Medical Center and the School District of St. Croix Falls. Both employ a large percentage of professional workers.
  • Because of proximity, a large percentage of residents commute to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area where there are a larger number of white-collar jobs.

Persons 16 Year and older by Occupation

Category St. Croix Falls Polk County
Total % of Total Total % of Total
Managerial and Professional Specialty Occupations:
Executive, Administrative and Managerial 109 14.1% 1193 7.7%
Profesional Specialty 115 14.9% 1541 9.9%
Technical, Sales and Administrative Support Occupations:
Technicians an relatd Support 21 2.7% 362 2.3%
Sales 117 15.2% 1372 8.9%
Administrative Support including Clerical 98 12.7% 1964 12.7%
Service Occupations:
Private Household 2 0.3% 46 0.3%
Protective Services 2 0.6% 103 0.7%
Services, except Protective and Household 90 11.7% 1872 12.1%
Farming Forest and Fishing Occupations 6 0.8% 1575 10.2%
Precision Production, Craft and Repair Occupations: 73 9.5% 2120 13.7%
Operators, Fabricators & Laborers Occupations:
Machine Operators, Assemblers and Inspectors 83 10.8% 1722 11.1%
Transportation and Material Moving 30 3.9% 786 5.1%
Handlers, Equipment Cleaners, Helpers and Laborers 24 3.1% 799 5.2%
Source: (1990 U.S. Census)

Education

The more education an individual obtains, the higher the wage he or she usually earns in a lifetime. Advanced education will increase employment opportunities as well. Although uncontrollable economic conditions can have a large impact on ones employment situation, the odds of being unemployed are reduced if an individual has continued education beyond high school. The graph below indicates educational attainment for St. Croix Falls adults, 25 years old and over. The percentages are 1,133 adults who fall into this category.

Unemployment Levels

(Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development)
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Polk County % 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.6 3.7
Region % 3.9 4.0 3.6 3.0 3.8
Wisconsin % 3.5 3.7 3.4 3.0 3.5

Recent Labor Statistics for Polk County (not seasonally adjusted)

(Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development)
Category April May June July August September
Labor Force 24,089 24,037 24,927 24,674 24,230 23,848
Unemployed 1,749 1,273 1,384 1,243 983 833
Unemployment Rate 7.3% 5.3% 5.6% 5.0% 4.1% 3.5%
Employed 22,340 22,764 23,543 23,431 23,247 23,015

Recent Labor Statistics for the State of Wisconsin (not seasonally adjusted)

(Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development)
Category April May June July August September
Labor Force 3,031,426 3,036,661 3,114,551 3,127,510 3,081,423 3,038,526
Unemployed 133,415 118,968 141,614 138,001 121,845 103,242
Unemployment Rate 4.4% 3.9% 4.5% 4.4% 4.0% 3.4%
Employed 2,898,011 2,917,693 2,972,937 2,989,509 2,959,578 2,935,014

Between 1996 and 2000, unemployment rates have remained consistently low due to a strong economy. Fluctuations in Polk County's unemployment rate have been consistent with the Regions while Wisconsin rate has remained lower.

Trade Centers

The economy has an affect on trade centers, or the places where people purchase goods and services. Every community in Wisconsin is a trade center, however, these centers are in a complicated hierarchy. Trade centers are classified into six types depending on the number of services provided. The types include hamlet, minimum conveniece, full convenience, partial shopping, co0mplete shopping, and primarly wholesale/retail centers. St. Croix Falls trade center can be found on map ED-1

In 1997 West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning had St. Croix Falls listed as a Full Cenvenience Trade Center. However, with the recent growth in the area, St. Croix Falls is now considered a partial Shopping Trade Center. It has all the required services for a Full Cenveniece Center, plus a Hospital and Nursing Home as well as five specialty services which can include antique stores, florist shop, sporting goods store, specialty clothing store, photo studio, gift and novelty shop, plumbing and heating supplies, camera shop, music store, paint, glass and wallpaper store, radio/TV store and book store.

Economic Development Programs Available

Community Development Block Grant-for Economic Development - Department of Commerce.

CDBG-ED programs were developed to assist businesses that will invest private funds and create jobs as they expand or relocate into the state. Since 1982, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce has made more than 324 CDBG-ED awards in excess of $113 million. Any Wisconsin city, village or town with a population of less than 50,000 which is not located in Milwaukiee County or Waukesha County. St. Croix Falls was awarded grant money for the revolving loan fund program. The money was used for business start up cost and will be available to finance additional economic development in the future.

Rural Economic Development Microloan (RML) - Department of Commerce.

This is a program designed to provide working capital or fixed asset financing for businesses. Since it's inception in 1990, the RML program has provided more than $1.4 million to over 110 Wisconsin businesses. The business must be located in a a town with a population of less than or equal to 6000 or be located in a county with population density of less than 150 persons per square mile.

Rural Economic Development (RED) Early Planning Program) - Department of Commerce.

The goal of RED Early Planning Program is to stimulate the start up and expansion of small business in rural and small communities within Wisconsin. The accomplish this goal, RED Early Planning Program provides financial assistance to rural entrepreneurs and small businesses so they may obtain the professional services necessary to determine the feasibility of the proposed start-up or expansion. Since it's inception in 1990, the RED program has provided more than $1.4 million to over 110 Wisconsin businesses. Elegible applicants for the RED program include for-profit or cooperatives that, when combined with affiliates, subsidiaries, or parent entities, have fewer than 100 employees. The business must also be located in a town with a population of less than or equal to 6000 or be located in a county with population density of less than 150 persons per square mile.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants Program - Wisconsin Rural Development

Rural Development has grants for financing and developing small and emerging private businesses with less than $1 million in revenues, and which will have fewer than 50 new employees. There is no maximum dollar limit for any one project. Funds can be used for technical assistance, revolving loan program, industrial buildings, and industrial park improvements. Applicants are public bodies, non-profit associates, and Indian Tribes. This program serves areas with populations less 50,000, and the applicants should also meet income and unemployment standards.