By Joshua Schuetz
KickAss Beef Jerky, a company with products spanning beef jerky, a vodka line, Bloody Mary mix, and seltzers, is set to expand its footprint in the City of Goodview. The Goodview EDA purchased 1.5 acres of land at the intersection of Highway 61 and 54th Avenue from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This marked the first time the EDA acquired land, making it a groundbreaking move for the city’s economic development.
CEDA team member and Goodview EDA Coordinator Dusty Liston, played a key role in facilitating the expansion. Liston guided KickAss Jerky through the process, stating, “I was basically recruiting them and telling them what we do, I walked them through the purchasing process and helped them negotiate a price and helped them get meetings with the EDA, and I helped with the creation of a TIF district, which they requested and they got approved.”
KickAss Jerky’s decision to expand was driven by their success and the desire to offer more to their customers. Liston said, “They wanted to expand and they bought our EDA land.” The company’s CEO, Jeremy Littel, has a significant following on TikTok, and played a pivotal role in propelling KickAss Jerky’s success.
The move is a win for the entire county, as the community rallied together to help KickAss Jerky stay local. Liston emphasized, “They’re a great local company and they didn’t want to leave Goodview, so it was great to see the community rally together to help them stay local.”
The planned facility is more than just a warehouse; it’s a destination location that will feature a distribution center, retail space, and a diverse range of products, including jerky, mix, cheese curds, and snacks. Liston highlighted, “It’s the first time the Goodview EDA created a TIF district as well, so it’s a first for the EDA two times over.”