OUR VIEW: Good things happening for Mitchell businesses

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW

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Perhaps the time isn’t right to leap onto the roof of our three-story building and shout all of the great things happening in Mitchell’s business community. After all, the recession isn’t yet officially over, and bad times could return. We hope not, but it’s true.

But as we sat at the annual Mitchell Chamber of Commerce Recognition Banquet Friday, it was hard not to think of the so many positives happening in our local business climate.

First off, Scott Supply of Mitchell was honored as the Family Business of the Year at the banquet. Anyone who hasn’t yet heard the Scott family’s long history with business is missing out on a great American story. In short, the Scotts have had the implement dealership for a century, benefitting the Mitchell and Mount Vernon areas throughout those many years.

Also at the banquet, founding members of the telecommunications giant Martin Group were honored with the Harold Hagen Award for Economic Development.

Keith Bartels and Harvey Kelley received the award, while founding member Doug Martin was honored posthumously. Another partner in the firm, Roger Musick, previously was presented with the award.

The founding of Martin Group spawned numerous jobs in Mitchell and put this city on the map when it comes to telecommunications excellence.

KMIT Radio’s Tim Smith, a longtime onair personality, sports announcer and general manager, received the Community Service Award. While that award was this year given to a single person, it should be noted that KMIT has grown substantially over the years, gaining a sister station and a new building on the west edge of town.

The Daily Republic’s coverage of the banquet was published Saturday. On the front page of that same edition was a report about how a city block was transformed by new businesses owned by Anne Dailey and Leonard and Layena Lambright.

Dailey owns Design Interiors and the Lambrights own Prairie Town Grocery. Their work — separate, but close in proximity — at renovating old buildings turned a drab and unused stretch of property into two vibrant, new businesses.

At the risk of unintentionally omitting a business, it’s easy to think of others.

County Fair is expanding and in the middle of a large project that will be completed later this year.

Numerous other businesses either have recently built or are soon moving, including Muth Electric, Goodwill, the Chiropractic Center, Central Electric, Stifel Nicolaus, Dice Financial and the Morgan Theeler Law Firm. Vern Eide Ford expanded to two new locations in Mitchell.

CherryBerry frozen yogurt is opening in the former KFC building, along with Verizon Wireless. BankWest soon will be opening a new location in north Mitchell.

Too, the city’s manufacturing firms are looking for workers and the two post-secondary institutions — Dakota Wesleyan and Mitchell Technical Institute — are in the midst of grand and historic expansions.

There were 178 building permits issued in 2011, the most in Mitchell since 2006.

The economic downturn may not be over, and perhaps trouble may arise again. Such thoughts are for another day.

Today, however, we can’t help but wax philosophic about the good things happening in the Mitchell business community.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials, business, local, mitchell