By Sara StrongA Kawasaki dealer could come to Luverne, and occupy the former Bargain Center.Rick and Lori Reed are from the Sioux City, Iowa, area and are close to getting a $24,000 loan from the Luverne Economic Development Authority for building improvements.The loan would not go toward inventory or other operating capital or expenses.The former Bargain Center (previously Kenny’s Super Foods) is next to the Luverne Country Store on Warren Street. Before the LEDA approves the loan, it has asked for more specific financial and business information from the Reeds. City Administrator Greg LaFond said staff will make sure the Reeds are as invested financially as the city."We’re all in favor of getting them here, but we need more information," Mayor Glen Gust said.Plans call for the Kawasaki business to be a dealership and parts store, along with service.They expect to have three to four people working there initially if they open as planned in February.Nebriefings loanLEDA decided to give Netbriefings until January to continue working out a payment schedule with the city. The LEDA loaned Netbriefings $250,000 in 2001, and its payments should have started in November.The company, headquartered in the Twin Cities, has had a rocky few years and laid off its two Luverne employees soon after it started an office here. Original projections called for Netbriefings to have 35 employees by the fifth year.Under the original terms of the agreement, payments to the city would be about $5,000.Economic Development Director Dan Statema said, "There’s some hope that they’ll come out of it, and get some employees, but the main concern right now is our funding."He said he would like to negotiate a large, upfront payment and smaller monthly payments so the company can work toward getting an office and employees in Luverne, and still pay off its loan.In other business, LEDA learned that 1 Roundwind Road, the location of the former Continental Western building, is partially occupied by a few people working for Identity Sports. The former Identity Sports office space on East Main Street will be occupied by a cellular phone company.
