Orangetheory Fitness, a chain of fitness studios that offers classes in high-intensity interval training, recently opened a studio at 15624 Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley.

Orangetheory workouts use equipment such as treadmills, indoor rowing machines and weights. Participants wear heart-rate monitors and are able to see changes in their heart rate displayed during workout sessions. The chain's name refers to the color of a target heart rate zone. It has about 165 locations worldwide. Other local studios are in Plymouth, Maple Grove and Minneapolis.

The fitness studio is one of three businesses new to the area, near the SuperTarget on Pilot Knob. The others are Brightmont Academy, which offers tutoring services for sixth- to 12th-graders, and Runner's Gate, a retailer of running shoes and apparel that was on 160th Street and Cedar Avenue.

Workshop for budding businesses

The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) and Dakota Scott Workforce Investment Board are hosting a free breakfast workshop to help entrepreneurs and small firms learn how to finance their businesses.

"Open To Business Dakota County: New Tools for Lenders, Entrepreneurs & Small Business" will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley. The registration deadline is Monday. To register, call 651-675-4432 or sign up online at http://opentobusiness2014.eventbrite.com.

In 2013, the CDA and 11 Dakota County cities partnered with the nonprofit organization Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers to launch Open to Business in Dakota County. The program provides business advisory services and access to capital to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Foreclosures keep falling

Dakota County recorded its third consecutive annual decline in foreclosures on residential and commercial properties in 2013, according to figures from the Dakota County Community Development Agency.

Sheriff's sales for the year totaled 925, the agency's foreclosure summary report said. That's down from 1,525 for 2012 and substantially less than 1,985 for 2011 and 2,147 for 2010.

Figures for January also show an ongoing decline. There were 72 sheriff's sales this January compared with 142 for the same month in 2013.

The report didn't break out how many of the foreclosures were homes or how many were commercial or industrial buildings.

Susan Feyder • 952-746-3282