The current research center, located near the St. Paul campus at UMORE Park in Rosemount, needs to be moved to make way for new development. University officials are considering building a new state-of-the-art facility in greater Minnesota and were in Willmar on Tuesday to meet with potential partners, including Willmar Poultry and Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Bev Durgan, director of the University of Minnesota Experiment Station and dean and director of the University of Minnesota Extension, gave a short presentation to the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners about the exploratory planning process, which she said is in the early stages.

“There are no promises here,” Durgan said about the possibility of building the new facility in Willmar, which she called the “hub” of the turkey industry.

But, she said, since the University needs to move out of its metro home, it makes sense to consider relocating the research center close to where the poultry business takes place.

Source: WestCentralTribuneOnline