Industrial Boom in Owatonna Marks Four Years of Economic Surge
Owatonna heralds a new era with KAMP Automation's expansion, amidst a fourth year of robust industrial and community investment.
Since 2020, Owatonna’s landscape has evolved, mirroring its economy with each new construction site and expanded factory. Leading the charge is KAMP Automation, whose recent 50,000-square-foot expansion exemplifies the city's formidable industrial growth. This year, echoing the achievements of predecessors like the Costco Depot, Rise Modular, and High Bar Brands, Owatonna is on track to surpass the $100 million mark in investments, a testament to the city's magnetic pull in the industrial sector.
The narrative of our city's metamorphosis is rich with figures that speak to this industrial revolution; $96 million injected into the city's core sectors, with a dominant 67% directed at industrial and commercial ventures, and 16% enhancing existing structures. Developments like the new apartment project by Lowe's and Kohl's, and the strategic allocation of efforts into the construction of a new high school manifest the communal aspect of these investments—as much as they serve the economy, they also address the beating heart of the community.
Injoining the business spotlight to municipal developments and those community chords, the story of Owatonna’s growth is not just about buildings and businesses—it's about people and the jobs they inhabit, the schools they attend, and the homes they live in. Together, these investments weave a narrative of resilience and aspiration, one where every milestone achieved is a collective stride towards a more prosperous future.
Ann Porter
Ann Porter is a generative journalist and reporter with a focus on local business and politics.