As the House author of the JOBZ legislation last session, I am proud to hear of the recent announcement that Luverne has used its JOBZ status to land the expansion site of a South Dakota company. Total Card, Inc., a privately-held credit card processing and service company has been looking to expand in Sioux Falls or Luverne, and has chosen Luverne.This is great news for the Luverne Community. Total Card is looking conservatively to bring 150 jobs to Luverne to begin with, with 240 eventually employed there and the potential of up to 350 employees. Operations are expected to begin in early or mid-summer.This was a truly impressive effort of many people. I want to thank Mayor Glen Gust, the City of Luverne employees, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and local economic developer Dan Statema. The hard work of all of these individuals and government agencies paid off with these new jobs for the community of Luverne.According to Matt Kramer, the DEED Commissioner, Total Card made an offer which Luverne will accept, to buy the former Tri-State Insurance building that has been vacant for several years. Luverne will utilize the JOBZ legislation I authored last year, and put JOBZ acreage under the building to give them 12 years of JOBZ benefits.DEED will offer $500,000 in federal funds to help equip the building's telecommunications needs. The Luverne Economic Development Authoritywill offer $24,000 grant for job training, and will provide other low interest loans for furnishings and roof repair. Further, the city will provide re-location assistance for three key management staff whom the company will require to live in Luverne, and will provide reduced-rate home lots for about 20 other employees. State Rep. Doug Magnus (R-Slayton)
