HARTFORD, S.D. (KELO) – Hartford is a growing community and the city’s development foundation hopes a new industrial park can help continue that trend.

Sitting right in front of the Hartford water tower is land that’s full of potential and it’s called the North Oaks Industrial Park.

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“It came to fruition probably about a year ago, it was in the works for probably about two years,” Amy Meert Farr, Executive Director for the Hartford Area Development Foundation, said.

And now, the anchor tenant, Pro Framing Inc and Pro Safety, is almost ready to move in.

“It was originally south of the interstate but came into the city of Hartford. They will be adding some extra employees because they added a division, which is the Pro Safety,” Meert Farr said.

The growth of the park doesn’t stop there, though.

“R&L Construction was recently located, or still located, in Tea but is relocating here to Hartford with their operations with two buildings behind you,” Meert Farr said. “We have another 1.43 acres to the west here that was purchased and a development will be happening there in the near future as well. But we do have about 30 acres or so still available for sale.”

Meert Farr says the hope is that the North Oaks Industrial Park can bring in more jobs and more residents to the Hartford area.

“One thing the Hartford Area Development Foundation has done a really good job of is listening to the community, working with our different partners, to make sure that we bring the right businesses to Hartford,” Meert Farr said. “We are not just going to take a business and say we want it here and put it here. We want the right business that will bring additional jobs, the right residents, the right business as a group effort.”

Meert Farr says the North Oaks Industrial Park was made possible through multiple partnerships, including a $600 thousand loan from the Rural Electric Economic Development Inc. or REED fund.