CRE Guide: Community Spotlight - Hartford

 

The Business Journal by Kathy Bergstrom, Special to The Business Journal Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 6:00am CDT

 

After cutting costs and streamlining operations during the recession, Hartford's industrial businesses were ready to expand in 2011, local officials say.

"Gangbusters," is how Patrice Hoeschele, chief executive officer of Hartford Area Development Corp., describes industrial development activity this year in the Washington County community.

Among the largest projects is a 90,000-square-foot addition under construction for Signicast Investment Castings in the Dodge Industrial Park. Company officials said the addition to its existing 500,000-square-foot facility should be complete in late spring or early summer when construction of another 100,000-square-foot addition will begin.

Cost of both additions is estimated at $50 million.

The company did look at other locations for growth, but "we've been very successful here, and we think that recipe can continue with personnel, the community, etc." said Todd McDonald, vice president of sales for Signicast. The work ethic and availability of labor in Hartford along with synergy with the company's existing facility were factors in the decision, he said.

Menasha Packaging Co. this summer completed a 60,000-square-foot addition to its existing 209,000-square-foot building in a $4.2 million expansion.

The city attracted four new businesses that moved into existing buildings over the last year. They are: Teslic Express Inc., TNT Stack Equipment, Accelerated Repair & Manufacturing and USA Hydraulics.

Hartford Finishing recently expanded by acquiring the former Mantz Automation building at 1023 State St.

Mantz Automation added 25,000 square feet to its building at 1630 Innovation Way in the Dodge Industrial Park.

The city's existing industrial buildings are almost completely full, but the development group has about 100 acres of industrial land available for development in the Dodge Industrial Park, Hoeschele said.

Hartford industries didn't escape the recession and responded with cost cutting and streamlining in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, many local businesses reported having the highest profits ever, she said.

Many responded to that growth this year by expanding facilities, hiring more employees or investing in new equipment.

While industrial development booms, Hartford also has attracted new retail development.

Construction is complete on The Shoppes at Hartford, a 24,000-square-foot multi-tenant building on Liberty Avenue west of the Wal-Mart store. The center can be expanded by about 5,000 square feet.

The center is completely leased, with tenants Dollar Tree, Maurices, Hibbett Sports, Great Clips, World Finance, Cash Store and GameStop.

Todd Waller of Madison, who developed the project with Steve Doran, said the expansion of the retail center will move forward when another tenant is secured.

Other new retailers in Hartford include AutoZone, which opened a 6,500-square-foot store on Highway 60 and Sell Drive on the city's east side in late August. Stores for Advance Auto Parts and Sherwin-Williams also are under construction on Highway 60.

"I don't think we had the commercial boom that maybe some other communities had, not being on the freeway," said Justin Drew, the city's director of planning and zoning. But "I think our population has increased to the point that retailers are showing greater interest."