MCDC: CDS building sale moving forward; light steel manufacturing eyed for Red Oak

Montgomery County Development Corporation Executive Director Ben Lundgren says the former CDS building on the west side of Red Oak is now under agreement with a buyer, with demolition work beginning as the project moves toward redevelopment.

Lundgren told KCSI the roughly 50,000-square-foot commercial building, owned by Acorn Development, is expected to become the home of a light steel manufacturing operation. While he did not name the buyer yet, Lundgren said the entrepreneur is from the Glenwood area and has experience in commercial building work across the Midwest. The early intent, Lundgren said, is a startup operation that could begin with around 10 jobs, give or take, with potential to expand over time.

Because community members may notice trucks and activity at the site, Lundgren said he wanted to share a general update now, with more details to come in the next couple of months. He also said he hopes to bring the buyer on the radio in the next month or two, ahead of what could become a public hiring push.

Lundgren also discussed the Southwest Iowa housing conversations tied to the “Lakin Initiative” efforts across dozens of communities, including a recent roundtable hosted by Dr. Margaret Brady and Vision Shenandoah. Lundgren said he came away encouraged by models that could help rural communities add housing, including developers looking at building multiple homes at a time in smaller towns, and other options designed to promote owner-occupied housing.

For more information, Lundgren encouraged residents to find MCDC online by searching “Montgomery County Development Corporation,” or by visiting its social media pages