Homebuilders continue to be busy in several Dakota County communities.
Lakeville has recorded 274 building permits through the end of September, according to the latest Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. The total was the second-largest in the metro area, just behind Woodbury, which recorded 275. Lakeville's total for the same period a year ago was 171.
Other permit numbers for this year's nine-month period showed Apple Valley with 43, Burnsville with four, Eagan with 85, Farmington with 106, Hastings with 19, Inver Grove Heights with 54, Mendota Heights with four and Rosemount with 62.
Burnsville food company sold
United Natural Foods Inc., a Providence, R.I. distributor of organic and specialty foods to grocers, recently bought Burnsville-based Trudeau Foods. Terms of the sale by a Chicago private equity firm were not disclosed.
Trudeau serves 600 grocers and wholesalers in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Burnsville business will operate as a subsidiary of United Natural Foods.
Theme for chamber program
"This is Not Your Grandfather's Retail Economy" is the subject of a luncheon program Wednesday hosted by the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, will speak on the topic, which will address the multiplier effect of consumer spending and how it affects local economies, including creating jobs.
Chamber President Ed Kearney noted that it's an especially timely topic given large new retail developments like the Paragon Outlet Partners outlet mall under construction in Eagan. He also noted that Apple Valley has a high concentration of large national retail chains.
