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EDA president ready to brand
Source: erstarnews.com, April 14, 2011
"Touchette particularly saw the need for a strong city brand or image when he became involved in trying to bring a VA clinic to Elk River. The clinic ultimately ended up in Ramsey. 'We worked very hard for over a year to get that here, and we were not prepared to demonstrate why it should be here,' Touchette said. 'We had to build that.'
"He said they had to educate the VA about Elk River and overcome some negative outlooks. Having an already-established and ongoing brand or image of the city would have helped, he believes.
"When people think of a good place to live, work and grow their family and business, he wants them to think of Elk River.
"He said the most important reason the city needs to do a branding initiative now is because the world and how people communicate has changed dramatically in the last few years. 'Every message, no matter how small it is, can get out there in a large way,' he said. 'We want to make sure that the message that gets out there in a large way is Elk River, not one circumstance or situation or problem that may have already been solved.
“'… There are lots of opportunities here. We just need to shout it from the rooftops.'”
Download PDF of ER Star News EDA President ready to brand (Ron is on page two)
Touchette re-elected EDA president for 2011
Source: erstarnews.com, January 11, 2011
"Ron Touchette has been re-elected president of the Elk River Economic Development Authority (EDA) for 2011. Ron Touchette Touchette is the broker-CEO of Rock Solid Companies, a real estate management and brokerage firm. He was elected EDA president in a vote by EDA commissioners at the first meeting of the year on Jan. 10.
"Other EDA officers also re-elected for 2011 are: Dan Tveite, vice president; Paul Motin, secretary; Pat Dwyer, treasurer; Matt Westgaard, assistant treasurer.
"Other EDA appointments for 2011 include: EDA commissioners Dan Tveite and Paul Motin were reappointed to the EDA Finance Committee; Touchette was reappointed to serve as the EDA representative on the Elk River Energy City Commission."
Download PDF of ER Star News Touchette re-elected EDA president for 2011
ABC Newspapers interviews ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette about the latest developments in the VA Clinic location decision
Source: abcnewspapers.com, September 22, 2010
"Touchette said the 24,000 square foot building they are proposing, which is located across from Elk River Walmart and The Home Depot, is an ‘exceptional’ site.
Aside from having a large building, the infrastructure is all in place for the clinic in Elk River, he said, adding there are also nearby shops, lunch spots and even dry cleaning for area veterans to utilize while making the trip to the clinic.
"‘Elk River also has so many support services and community organization that can be utilized by the veterans,’ Touchette said.
"Aside from that, Touchette said it was his understanding that a protest had been sent in, but he did not know from who and said it was not the Zane Commons Group.
"However, Touchette said even though they did not protest, it doesn’t mean they agreed with the bidding process or the end choice, it’s just that they decided having a clinic for the veterans - either in Elk River or Ramsey - was more important.
"‘Our decision was that the need for the center was more important than protesting,’ he said."
ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette weighs in on the future of Brookdale Mall
Source: mnsun.com, August 19, 2010
"Though the real estate market has had its shares of challenges in the past, area brokers, like local commercial real estate broker Ron Touchette with Rock Solid Realty, who specializes in troubled assets, said there are plenty of possibilities for Brookdale Mall and the market is improving.
"‘The vast majority of 2010 deals have found owner-occupants able to shine and grow,’ Touchette said. "It's a challenging market yes, but really good things are happening.'
"He said people shouldn't get lost looking at the mall as one big building, but see what the space offers and how you can maximize its advantages.
"'You got 64 acres in town with great infrastructure around the site,' Touchette said. 'A lot of brokers in the market are looking at that area for real opportunities for the right thing.’
"You want to find something that meets the needs for people who live, work and pass through the area, he said.’"
Download PDF of ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette Weighs in on the Future of Brookdale Mall
ROCK SOLID Companies aids Hopkins bar owner in transition out of the bar business
Source: mnsun.com, July 29, 2010
"The restaurant's owner, Ken Plunkett, recently had a heart attack and decided he wanted to get out of the business, according to Ron Touchette, owner and CEO of Rock Solid Commercial, which is leasing the space.
"‘He decided it was best to shut it down,’ Touchette said. ‘He's been doing it a long time. It was time to hang it up.’ … He added that restaurants generally had a shelf life of about 10 years, and Decoy's was reaching that point.
"Rock Solid Commercial is looking to get another business in the site, he said, and is willing to lease or sell the space - whatever makes the most sense."
Download PDF of ROCK SOLID Companies Aids Hopkins Bar owner in Transition Out of the Bar Business
ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette unanimously voted in As President of the Elk River Economic Development Authority
Source: rejournals.com, May 4, 2010
"Ron Touchette is the new president of the Elk River Economic Development Authority in Elk River, Minn. Touchette will serve the authority as its president through 2010.
"Touchette is no stranger to the economic development authority, having served on it since June of 2008. He is also the broker and chief executive officer of the Rock Solid Companies, a commercial real estate brokerage based in Maple Grove, Minn.
"Touchette received a unanimous vote for the position of president at the authority’s April 12 meeting. He follows former president Pat Dwyer, who remains a member of the Elk River Economic Development Authority."
ROCK SOLID Companies asked to provide more info about proposal to develop the new Northwest Metro VA Clinic in Elk River
Source: StarTribune.com, March 25, 2010
"While befuddled veterans and local officials wonder how a new northwest-metro VA clinic can open this year as promised, after the sudden departure of the contractor responsible for choosing a site, two developers confirmed Thursday that they have been contacted by the Department of Veterans Affairs about bids. One is from Ramsey, the other from Elk River.
"Jim Deal, who proposed building a clinic near the half-vacant Ramsey Town Center along Hwy. 10, said a firm representing his company was questioned Tuesday ‘about the bid and some of the things we've done.’
"Ron Touchette, a developer hoping to build the clinic near the Wal-Mart and Home Depot stores in Elk River, received what may have been an ‘identical’ call, ‘a request for clarification’ a couple of weeks ago, he said."
Members of Zane Street Common Group bidding for the new VA Clinic to be located in Elk River include ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette
Source: Elk River Star News, February 4, 2010
"So far, Touchette said he’s made numerous presentations before the VA, but does not know when a decision will be made or who else is in the running.
"Touchette said he believes Elk River is the greatest fit for the clinic and the guidelines the VA has, which includes proximity to the veteran population. It’s also the intangibles that Touchette said makes Elk River the best choice.
"‘The support the community gives to the residents and visitors is tremendous,’ he said. ‘We have a long service of supporting veterans ... Elk River is known for its community spirit.’"
ROCK SOLID Companies is appointed court receiver for Otsego Waterfront East
Source:
Elk River Star News, January 29, 2010
"A receiver, Touchette explains, is someone a judge appoints to act as a manager and a type of guardian for the property. So Touchette, who specializes in troubled asset management, takes care of the properties while the lender and the borrower work out their differences.
"‘I don’t have responsibility toward the lender or the borrower, only to the court,’ Touchette says. ‘My one job is to be an advocate for the property, and I have to act in the best interest of the property.’
"That means taking care of current tenants and to address any issues with the building, such as heat or air conditioning problems.
"The receiver can also market the two buildings, lease space and enter into contracts beyond the term of receivership upon approval of the courts, according to Touchette.
"All parties are copied as to what he sends the judge and if no one objects within 10 days, the transaction is approved."
Download PDF of ROCK SOLID Companies Is Appointed Court Receiver for Otsego Waterfront East
Business is brisk for specialists in distressed properties: Agent Ron Touchette and others in the field are trying to keep up with the glut of troubled commercial assets.
Source: StarTribune.com, August 28, 2009
"The upside of his work, Touchette said, is that falling prices are making properties more affordable. He relishes being able to help another small business find a home.
"Touchette said he handles a lot of office condo properties for banks and courts. Offices condos, which function much like residential condos, were popular during the construction boom. They've been hit particularly hard in the recession, he said. With prices down, they've become affordable for many small business owners who currently lease and want their own space."
Download PDF of Business Is Brisk For Specialists in Distressed Properties
ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette sends a message of hope on behalf of the Elk River YMCA
Source: ymcampls.blogspot, January 27, 2009
"Dressed in shorts in hopes of bringing back summer, the YMCA community board chairman directed the board to go out and be ambassadors of the Y. He delivered a message of hope, and said it’s time to go out and distribute a message of hope.
"‘We need to make sure that our community knows that the Y is here, has programming for the entire family, and will not turn anybody away just because they have fallen on hard times,’ he said. Touchette admitted his goal of bringing summer back wasn’t reached, as the mercury continued to drop, but he says summer-like conditions exist within the walls of the YMCA.
"Especially for the 5,000-plus people that the facility is serving. The Y Partners campaign pulled in pledges totaling $54,180 that will be available for scholarships to potential members of the Elk River YMCA. Every single dollar raised in Elk River will stay in Elk River. The campaign was led by Kim Reichel of the YMCA Community Board."
ROCK SOLID Companies' CEO Ron Touchette successfully campaigns for an Elk River YMCA
Source: Elk River Star News, September 19, 2006
"Ron Touchette, vice-chair of the community board, said what supporters have accomplished is not just a new building for the community, ‘but far more importantly a yes vote for all of the kids, families, seniors and everyone in between that make up our community.’
"‘The benefit to our community is not even calculable today,’ Touchette said last week. ‘This is a step forward that will allow all residents to use it, from the well-off to the not-so-well-off.’
"Touchette described the future YMCA as a place for the family unit to go, something he said that many find they now have to go outside of Elk River to do."
Download PDF of ROCK SOLID CEO Ron Touchette Successfully Campaigns for an Elk River YMCA
