By Sara Strong
The city of Luverne is still working to sell the Continental Western Group building it now owns.
Some businesses have toured it and have shown an interest, but a deal isn’t quite in the works.
Luverne Economic Development Director Dan Statema asked the LEDA to form a building committee as an offshoot of the main board. The committee will be made up of LEDA president Glen Gust and members Karis Gust and Mike Engesser.
The Building Committee will work with Statema in negotiations with a possible leaser or buyer of the former Tri-State Insurance building.
Statema said the building was most recently appraised at $1.1 million and has adequate technological infrastructure for most businesses.
At 30,000 square feet, though, it’s a major building that will take a lot to fill.
"It’s really a community endeavor to get a business in there," Statema said. "Anybody who can occupy a building that size will have a big impact on the community. They’ll have to be sold on the building and on the community."
Statema said the city may be willing to divide the building if different, smaller businesses were interested in the site.
The city is also purchasing the contents of the building for $40,000, which includes, chairs, general office pieces, cubicle dividers, wiring and break room contents.