For Hub City Times

SPENCER — Some small community business parks struggle to attract tenants and business expansion projects, but the village of Spencer’s Business and Industrial Park continues to develop. In 2014 three businesses came to the Business and Industrial Park on Spencer’s southwest side. One was a local expansion, and two were new businesses to the community. This year there have been two local business expansions.

“We were excited to work with these excellent companies and help make their projects a reality in Spencer. They provide great services, employ local people, and are super businesses to have in our community,” said Pauline Fromme, president of the village of Spencer.

“Our village has worked hard to develop a business and industrial park that offers very affordable prices for land that is shovel-ready with utilities and streets to provide the infrastructure needed by expanding businesses,” she added. “We’ve done everything we can to make expanding in Spencer as easy and affordable as possible for companies looking to expand their operations.”

Gosse Chiropractic

When Dr. Clint Gosse went off to chiropractic college, he hoped to one day return to his hometown to practice. His dreams came true when he opened his practice in 2007, almost as soon as he had obtained his degree and license.

Gosse had operated out of a leased space along Highway 13 since then, and his plans for a new office came to fruition in 2014 when he completed his office construction project in the Spencer Business and Industrial Park.

“The village was great to work with during our expansion process. They really helped make the process as smooth as possible, and they seemed to be as excited about our project as we have been,” commented Gosse.

Gosse’s office includes an extra office leased to Cloud 9 Massage Therapy, an independent business. “The cost of the property was definitely an advantage,” added Gosse, “and we like the location of the park as well.”

Guzinski Trucking

Brian Guzinski had been looking for land for his trucking business for about four years while leasing a less than ideal location. Since he called Marshfield home, he wanted to stay close.

After years of searching, he found information for the Spencer Business and Industrial Park. “The land was ready for our project, and the price of $1,300 per acre was reasonable. We needed to put up a space to securely store our equipment as well as have room to maintain and repair it,” Guzinski said.

Guzinski Trucking built its 32-by-72-foot building and occupied it late in 2014.

Country Wireless

The manager of Country Wireless, Jeremy Carolfi, was looking for a secondary location that had access to fiber optics, reasonable land costs, and property that was ready for immediate construction prior to coming to Spencer.

“We consider this project phase one of our expansion here in Spencer,” Carolfi said. “Our 10-year-old business is ready to grow, and as we make improvements to our technology and equipment and attract more customers, we needed a great location where we can grow, and Spencer fit what we were looking for.”

Country Wireless has locations in both Marshfield and Spencer.

Bear Creek Canvas

Longtime Spencer business Bear Creek Canvas had grown to fill its existing facility along Pacific Street in Spencer. Bear Creek decided in 2016 to expand its facility with a 40-by-66-foot addition to accommodate its increasing business.

The expansion project began in spring 2016, and construction is now complete. The business is in the process of outfitting its larger facility and filling the additional space.

“We have a great team here in Spencer, and after researching our options, it made sense to expand our existing building to accommodate our growing business,” said Al Tesch of Bear Creek Canvas.

Bear Creek Canvas manufactures covers and canopies for pop-up campers from many manufacturers, including standard and custom models.

Quality Performance Products

Randy Kuehmichael, owner of Quality Performance Products, had manufactured custom cam shafts for years and had outgrown his original space in Spencer. He recently worked with the village to purchase a lot in the Spencer Business and Industrial Park for a new 5,400-square-foot facility, which should be completed during the first quarter of 2017.

Quality Performance Products manufactures custom cams for truck and tractor pullers and also repairs and regrinds cams for over-the-road trucking companies, does restoration work, and repairs farm equipment.

Further development

The Spencer Business and Industrial Park currently has more than 20 acres available for development. Other entities there include Allar Services, Anderson Electric, Cut Loose, General Farm Supply, Lang Fiber Products, Life Tributes Funeral Home, M&S Sales and Service, and the Spencer Swamp Stompers.

For more information about the Spencer Business and Industrial Park, contact Paul Hensch, village administrator, at 715-659-5453 or [email protected]