Growth

The ORB Firms

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Our purpose is to provide our clients with the necessary information to make informed decisions. That purpose is realized through our efforts to help clients develop and achieve their facility goals through an efficient, professional and disciplined process.

 

ORB Management was contracted to facilitate the design and construction phases of the Alexandria Police Department. The project was completed in 2011.

 

Founded in 2002, ORB Management Corporation’s decision to become real estate and project advisors was based on the fact that traditional project delivery methods were not always in the best interest of the Client’s long-term business/facility goals and were becoming obsolete.  Tom Wacholz & Kim Barse – two life-long friends and former neighbors – set out to do something different by combining the best practices available in the industry with emerging technologies, strategic professional resources and a far deeper understanding of the client’s needs.  The combination of Tom’s knowledge and experience in the industry; Kim’s business, finance and marketing background; and their mutual values and life priorities laid the foundation for the company.  ORB’s process, community involvement and continued focus on the client’s experience are what have allowed us to be successful for nearly 2 decades.

 

ORB Management served as the Construction Manager for the Elden’s Fresh Foods remodel completed in 2012.

 

ORB Commercial Real Estate Group (ORB CREG) was initiated in 2015 and is an affiliate of ORB Management Corporation. Together they bring a well-rounded and unique balance of expertise to the marketplace. To truly be an expert in this field, it takes a special focus on understanding the needs of a client’s business, and assisting them in developing property and investing in real estate. In addition to business, land and building sales and purchases, ORB CREG also helps their clients negotiate leases and tenant improvements.

 

ORB Commercial Real Estate Group negotiated the land transaction and ORB Management served as the Development Consultant for this project.

 

Helping you with all aspects of commercial development, investment and real estate!

To read about ORB Management’s most recent projects, click here!

Fergus Falls Family Aquatic Center

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The Fergus Falls Family Aquatic Center proposal was presented to the Fergus Falls City Council this month. A committee was formed and began meeting in February with their aquatic feasibility study being submitted in November. The goal of the study was to bring adequate information to the City Council for them to make an educated decision regarding aquatic expansion in Fergus Falls. The group carried out a community survey, identified potential sites for the aquatic center, researched existing aquatic facilities, studied area demographics, and formulated revenue and expense projections, as well as staffing projections.

Rendering of the aquatic centerThe goal is to have a lap pool and splash pool, lazy river, waterslide, plunge area and bathhouse. The community seems to be very excited for the expansion project. 78 percent of survey respondents felt it was very important for Fergus Falls. 91 percent said they would support fundraising.

This has been an exciting venture to watch Fergus Falls unveil! There has been debate that with an abundant number of lakes in the area, a waterpark is not needed. Many families are speaking out and excited to have the opportunity to enjoy the amenity in their backyard. The proposed northern location would reach many neighborhoods. It will certainly offer a safe and supervised place for children to enjoy!

 

Click on the link below to read the Final Report.

http://www.ci.fergus-falls.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7BC83A9759-035D-4EAB-A39F-EA24B2F5336D%7D/uploads/17_1130_Final_Report.pdf

Chamber Check-In

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This week ORB traveled across town to visit the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. The summer proved to be another busy time for our bustling community! We figured we would check in and see what the Chamber had to say about it.

Alexandria is widely known for their majestic lakes and summer visitor traffic and we welcome them with open arms! Visitor traffic has been very strong this year with 13,876 visitors to the Chamber office so far. Much of that traffic populates downtown or comes off of the Central Lakes Trail. Our retail sector loves that! But the visitors don’t stop coming when the lakes freeze over. Alexandria offers some of the region’s best ice fishing, as well as snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails. We look forward to that as we settle into our winter months just like the folks at Lake Wobegon.

The area has so much to offer for both community members and those visiting. “Our state-of-the-art high school, top ranking technical college and hospital, vibrant downtown, and active arts community are what make us stand out above some of the other communities similar to us,” says Tara Bitzan, Executive Director with Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Alexandria, along with Douglas County, has been growing and we expect the growth to continue.

We have a strong workforce of about 26,595 workers, with more than 19,250 of those individuals traveling from outside the county, according to the Alexandria Area Economic Commission. This workforce also makes up a large percentage of our Alexandria consumer market. We are able to sustain businesses that a community of 13,500 normally would not be able to. Now, this is something to get excited about! It means we do not have to travel to larger cities to purchase goods and services.

One of the biggest struggles the community is facing is the lack of adequate and qualified work force for all the unfilled positions that businesses currently have. The construction and manufacturing companies, in particular, have been hit by this. It was not long ago, unemployment was high and the labor pool was vast. So why the difficulty now? There is no doubt the lack of both childcare and low/moderate income housing have hindered the arrival of workers. Knute Nelson and the Alexandria YMCA have partnered to combat the issue of childcare. They will be opening a daycare and able to welcome 60 kids to the program. This is just one way the community is coming together to overcome our struggles. These are not unique issues to Alexandria and exist in cities across the state, but together we will continue to make this community a great place to Live, Work and Play!

Feel free to reach out with comments or stop by our new location at 406 3rd Ave E, Suite 1.

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce  

206 Broadway St.

320.763.3161