Owatonna’s Recent Economic Development Wins Recognized Finalists for Real Estate Journal Awards Announced
The City of Owatonna has been recognized as a finalist in several categories for the Minnesota REjournal 2025 Real Estate Awards. The awards program celebrates the achievements, successes and highlights from all sectors of the commercial real estate industry across Minnesota.
Owatonna is one of three finalists for the City/County of the Year Award. In addition, several recent projects in Owatonna have been selected as finalists for Project Awards as follows:
- Charles S. Crandall Center and Owatonna High School for Government/Community Facility – Greater Minnesota
- Ascend for Redevelopment – Greater Minnesota
- Climate by Design International and KAMP Automation for Industrial – Greater Minnesota
The City of Owatonna’s Community Development Manager Greg Kruschke was named one of four finalists for Property Manager of the Year – Male. Owatonna-based Mohs Contracting is one of eight finalists for the General Contractor of the Year – Commercial Award.
Criteria for the project awards highlight how a development or redevelopment project demonstrates innovation and helps overcome negative environmental impact and its positive impact on the community. “We are thrilled to see these Owatonna projects recognized for the value they bring to our area,” said Kris Busse, City Administrator. “The awards really shine a spotlight on the collaborative approach to economic development that we have in Owatonna.”
The Charles S. Crandall Center transitioned the former State Public School Auditorium into a multi-purpose flexible public space with technology that allows City Council and School Board meetings to be live-streamed; energy-efficient heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems; and ADA-compliant accessibility. The new Owatonna High School models how modern construction can be used to train and educate the future workforce using a full career pathways model. The Ascend project showcases Owatonna’s downtown revitalization with a six-story building with spaces for Olmsted Medical Center, Mineral Springs Brewery, 69 luxury apartments overlooking the Straight River and a new two-story West Bank building. The Climate By Design building is a 205,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing and office facility. KAMP Automation is a 50,000-square-foot facility.
Owatonna Partners for Economic Development (OPED) is a collaborative partnership between six agencies. OPED pursues proactive opportunities for redevelopment that provide long-term solutions. For additional information, visit owatonnadevelopment.com. Owatonna is known for being a regional center that consistently ranks among the most livable small towns in the country and serves as a shopping, tourism and healthcare magnet for southern Minnesota. For additional information about the City of Owatonna, please visit owatonna.gov or follow the City of Owatonna on Facebook.
