BROWNSDALE – In making the final loan payment to the Development Corp.

Thursday, March 16, 2000

BROWNSDALE – In making the final loan payment to the Development Corp. of Austin, Maynard Akkerman voiced thanks for the life given to his company.

Although not the first time a local business has been helped by DCA, the partnerships created between DCA and the Mower County business community were celebrated at the corporation’s annual meeting held Wednesday at Akkerman Manufacturing in Brownsdale.

More importantly, the end result of financial help DCA was able to give Akkerman was on display for business leaders present.

"The value we have been able to provide in the way of networking and providing small business a means for growth can be seen here," Craig Johnson, chairman of DCA’s board of directors, said.

The primary product manufactured by Akkerman is pipejacking equipment, used for pushing steel, concrete or fiberglass pipes underground.

In 1952, Don Akkerman began a construction firm, which expanded in 1963 to incorporate the first pipejacking unit. His son, Maynard, took over the manufacturing portion of the business in 1987. The company currently employs 46 and has had a growth of 12 percent.

The modern technology of pipejacking originated in Japan and Germany and was necessary for Akkerman to continue to operate successfully as a company. However, several million dollars was needed to get the technology off the ground.

"We wanted to add a new line of equipment for underground tunneling. We needed to add this technology or the business would fade away," Akkerman said. "Now business is doing well and we’re in a position to propel our services forward for years to come."

Two forms of equipment are made at the Brownsdale facility: both manned pipejacking and unmanned micro-tunneling. The equipment allows for the insertion of pipes near airports, highways and near residential housing with better cost and safety and with minimal disturbance. The bonus is the near-perfect accuracy provided by Akkerman products, using a laser-guided scope to determine grade and level. The equipment has been used across the nation for projects in Mexico, California and Chicago’s Midway Airport.

Akkerman is just one area company that has been helped with the type of support DCA provides. Johnson, who along with Terry Fox and Joe Fuhrman was re-elected to DCA’s board of directors, informed those gathered about another successful company helped by DCA.

"Nine years ago, Cooperative Response Center began discussion regarding the construction of a telecommunication center to provide a base for rural electric cooperatives," Johnson said. "They will be expanding their facilities and adding additional employees. It’s just one example of what DCA does; we grow companies that will have connections in the area."

DCA President George Brophy relayed a story of a Harvard researcher, working in the area entrepreneurship, who identified three institutions – one in Kentucky and Duluth, in addition to DCA – that have helped to more to create jobs than comparable enterprises in all the big cities in the United States.

"We operate on a double bottom line. Hopefully, we get the money back, but also, we have a goal to bring more jobs to the county," Brophy said. "With Akkerman’s success, while we don’t do a great deal everyday, we have done some things right."

With the final loan payment, the financial obligation Akkerman had with DCA can to an end.

"While it is not a large amount, we are eternally grateful for this," Akkerman said. "George Brophy and DCA has been so important behind the scenes as an adviser and as a mentor, trying to help us for the greater benefit of the area."