I feel like the city of Austin could have so much going for it. Vision 2020 has the opportunity to provide amazing opportunities and benefits for all those in our community.

We are blessed to have a Fortune 500 company’s headquarters and because of that, ample job opportunities to keep unemployment rates down. Yet, in talking to all those transfers coming to work for Hormel, virtually none desire to live in Austin. If they live in Austin it’s because of their job commitment (long hours, wanting to go home for lunch). Those that live here don’t spend their hard earned disposable income here. On the weekends they’re off to Rochester where there’s ample retail shopping waiting for them.

Even Albert Lea puts us to shame as they don’t have a nice mall, but it isn’t an empty place with a parking lot whose pot holes are the size of cars (and future home of a grocery store rather than a reinvigorated mall…). They also have a Home Depot. Austin? No such luck. I was terribly disappointed and saddened that Vision 2020 is doing NOTHING to address the non-existent retail environment in this town. With the money coming into the community from Hormel’s great founders, why not offer businesses free land, free structure (like Target for example), tax free incentives for the first decade. Anything to encourage a Menards, Home Depot, Lowes, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Michaels, Bed Bath and Beyond, or other decent retail stores to drive spending within our community and keep dollars earned in Austin, in Austin.

When you talk to people in positions of power in the city or with Hormel, it’s almost like a crime is being committed by daring to bring the topic up. Support Austin through establishing REAL retail opportunities driving spending up in our community and fostering growth through more jobs and choices and a sense of community.

Replace the embarassment felt by so many of us when friends and family come to visit with something we can be proud of. We have the talent in this town, we have the money from Hormel’s great founders, now whose going to speak up and help get results!

Chris Lewis,

Austin