Article written by Cathy Enerson
Eyota welcomes Zetcorp Inc., a wholesale distribution company that specializes in custom packaging for items such as sausages, and other specialty meat packaging items.
Owners, Kurt and Jennifer Zetah have made a significant investment in the City of Eyota, they recently broke ground on a 1.2 million dollar, 13,000 sq. ft. facility for warehousing and custom packaging.
Kurt Zetah, originally from Brainerd, Minnesota, has 24 years of diverse domestic and international business experience. Jennifer Zetah, originally from Rochester, Minnesota, has strong marketing and sales experience and 14 years of combined business-to-business and business-to-customer experience. The owners are hands on at the facility and plan to employ seven (7) people, thou that number could swell to 13, at the new site, adding a significant number of new jobs and tax base to the City of Eyota, states Cathy Enerson Economic Development and Community Development Specialist. Kurt and Jennifer have moved from Michigan back to their home state of Minnesota. Jennifer is excited to be back home in the Rochester / Eyota area. Jennifer worked closely on the site selection, hiring their contractor, AB Systems, and with the City of Eyota. The Zetah’s experienced a smooth government process while working with Eyota’s government agencies. The new facility is located in People’s Electric Cooperative territory, with help from the City’s Economic Development Director, the Zetah’s brought their plans to People’s Electric cooperative’s staff to identify current and future cost savings. Zetcorp purchased two lots in the NW Investment Commercial District, for a total of 1.6 acres and will be located across from Prestige Auto.
Another recent addition to NW Investments includes B & C Plumbing, owned locally by Brian Halverson and Chad Schroeder, both highly experienced heating and plumbing contractors. Their construction project provides the City with 25 jobs, and a nearly half a million dollar investment in land and buildings. The EDA Director points out that in rural development adding 30 new jobs to a community the size of Eyota, population 2040, is equivalent to 1,500 new jobs to a City with a population the size of Rochester.
While driving around Eyota, you will find a number of other improvement projects throughout the community, which at times appears to be large piles of dirt! Eyota’s Mayor Tyrel Clark explains what looks like eruptions within the City of Eyota is progress. 2015 Eyota projects include: street and infrastructure improvements in the historic downtown, a new roundabout at the intersection of Hwy 14 and Hwy 42, the completion of Safe Routes to Schools, a $355,000 grant project that provides residents with 2 miles of walkability in the areas located within walking distance to the schools, the completion of the public walking trail along Hwy 42, a $70,000 grant project, the new athletic field which includes a turf surfaced football field, the addition to the elementary school, and recent renovations at Arbor Gardens Senior Living Center, which added Memory Care, providing residents with more opportunities to age in place.