By Sara QuamLuverne could go on record as the first city to draw a foreign-based business using Job Opportunity Building Zones.Allan Brown is the founder and owner of eSecure Peripherals based out of St. Hubert, Quebec, Canada. He said, "We were initially looking at Vermont for the weather and location. But we came to Luverne and thought, ‘This is a nice little town.’"Coming from just outside of Montreal (population 2.5 million) to Luverne is a big leap, but Brown said he’s comfortable with it.He and his wife, Elaine, have grown children, so they felt free to be able to move.Both enjoy outdoor activities such as snow shoeing and cross-country skiing, and Allan plans to continue his target shooting hobby here. "The weather in Luverne is similar to Canada, and that was a plus," Brown said. "We are clenching our teeth a little bit, but at the same time, we need to expand in the U.S."The company will have two to three employees in Luverne to start, but will eventually have up to 20.Brown first heard of Luverne through his biggest client, Midwest Provisions in Sioux Falls, whose Information Technology Director, Bruce Baartman, told Brown of JOB Zones.The city is still working on a proposal to help eSecure expand here beyond the JOB Zones, but Brown said he’s already got an apartment, so the deal is close to final.JOBZ incentives have been open for almost a year to businesses wanting to locate in Luverne. Some of the benefits JOBZ offers are tax incentives such as corporate franchise tax, income tax, sales tax, capital gains tax, and property tax exemptions. Each company wanting to use JOBZ must apply for the exemptions.What is eSecure?Brown founded eSecure in 1998 and started selling in the United States in 2000.He said, "About 98 percent of our market is in the U.S."The company designs and manufactures vending machine interfaces and their accompanying software.The most common use for eSecure is vending machines and food services. People who work for a large factory or hospital with a cafeteria, for example, can use the cards to deduct meal charges from their paychecks."The system just makes it easier for people," Brown said.The card and systems can also track what people buy in order to keep adequate supply inventories. Some businesses use eSecure to prevent employee theft when using supplies. Other uses include controlling access to items, protecting items, dispensing items in convenient locations, generating reports and audits, alerting companies when minimum levels are reached to avoid low stocks and tracking purchases of users by demographics.The "cards" aren’t the typical magnetic cards. They are called iButtons that have a 10-year duty cycle and are described as "virtually indestructible." They are individually programmable.Brown will call the new Luverne location eSecure America, LLC.Economic Development Director Jill Wolf said, "They are offering an awesome benefit package to employees and will be a nice addition to the community as people."Wolf took the Browns to her family’s hog operation during their visit to Luverne. "Elaine saw her first piglet and thought it was pretty cute," Wolf said.Brown is interested in the former Exsito building on West Hatting Street but is also considering the Country Store in downtown Luverne.eSecure wouldn’t need much of the Country Store space, but City Administrator Greg LaFond said that the much-discussed community daycare could occupy part of that building alongside eSecure. Elaine Brown is pursuing a degree in psychology and is interested in working with local volunteer groups.Brown said, "Luverne is close to a lot of things. It’s in the middle of a triangle of three college towns, so there’s a skilled labor force."Employees in Luverne will consist of office staff, technicians and engineers. The company is considered a clean industry and doesn’t require any special utilities from the city.
