MEDC looks back on 50 years

Kati O’Hare

Daily Press Writer

MONTROSE — What started with 32 Montrose businessmen 50 years ago is now a 155-member corporation, which over the years created four industrial parks and hundreds of jobs.

The Montrose Economic Development Corporation celebrated its 50th anniversary Tuesday night at the Montrose Pavilion during its annual meeting. At the meeting, MEDC Executive Director Sandy Head took a look back into the group’s history.

“When you leave tonight, I hope you will have a better understanding of what we do, how we do it, how you can help, and why it is important to all of us,” she said.

Three founders of the corporation, which when started were called Montrose Industrial Development and in 1992 changed to MEDC, were at the meeting to celebrate the anniversary.

“It (MEDC) has been worth all the time and effort people have put in,” founder Perry Flanigan said.

Flanigan was in the automobile business in 1957 and said the economy was good in Montrose at the time, but there needed to be more.

“Montrose has always had a good economy,” he said, adding there has always been good businesses and there still is.

MEDC would like to think they had some part in that.

It started in 1957 when 95 acres of land was acquired by MEDC. The property became the first industrial park the group formed.

The area now hosts the Western Area Power Administration, Trienco, Montrose Athletic Club, TEI Rock Drills and Schwan’s.

Many of the businesses MEDC helped establish in Montrose are global companies. TEI Rock Drills ships construction drill attachments to Mexico, France and Italy, said Head. Other businesses, such as Ross Reels, which is located in the Black Canyon Industrial Park, is known worldwide selling its products to Iceland, Norway and Russia.

“This organization has done a tremendous job in the community,” said Curtis Robinson, a former board member of MEDC from 1978 to 1992.

Head said one of MEDC’s goals is to strengthen Montrose County’s economic base through development of primary jobs.

In 1971, the corporation saw Russell Stover Candies as a company that could help achieve that goal. The group worked with the community to secure the purchase of the land after a state grant was denied. Head said banks worked together to arrange finances and the city of Montrose took title of the land to lease to the new company.

The opening of Russell Stover’s plant provided the area with 300 jobs. Now it employes around 600.

“There was no such thing as a second income until Russell Stovers,” said Lonnie Oldham, a former MEDC member from 1984 to 1997. “It created an income for people without formal training, leading the way for other businesses. It made that expendable income.”

Head said the company not only provides jobs, but it continues to support the community through monetary contributions. The candy maker has given more than $400,000 over the years - $240,000 in the last five - to community projects, she said.

The 1980s and ‘90s were a busy time for Montrose.

“If you look at the companies that relocated or expanded in Montrose you will find that 60 percent of them came during that period of time,” Head said.

In 1984, Best Sign Company became the first tenant at the Black Canyon Industrial Park. Over the next decade the park added: Ross Reels in 1985; General Industrial Diamond in 1988, which later added 3-M company in 2006; Galiso and GENHAM in 1988.

Then, in 1992, the city stopped its economic development efforts and began funding MEDC.

In 1994, the Airport Industrial Park went up and Gordon Plastics and Scott Fly Rod were the first on board. Later in 2004, Polystrand moved in, and in 2005, Pepsi Company came.

MEDC works not only to bring business in, but to also retain them.

“It is critical to nurture companies once they have invested in our community,” Head said. “We need Montrose to be an economically feasible place to do business.”

One example is when Delta Montrose Electrical association helped move power lines that almost prevented Pepsi from locating to the area.

The last park, established in 1996, is the Aerospace Research Park. Scaled Technology Works and Western Skyways moved into the park in 2001, followed by JetAway Aviation in 2004 and Western Skyways Turbine in 2005.

“This is a tough business,” Robinson said. “There are far more disappointment than home runs. Montrose has hit a few home runs, and it is better off because of it.”

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com