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Hutchinson economic director announces cannabis testing lab, hotel demolition and housing projects as workforce shortfall looms
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Summary
Miles Seppelt, Hutchinson’s economic development director, said Cannabis Chem Lab will locate at the Enterprise Center (8–9 jobs initially, up to 24 later), the Jorgensen Hotel demolition is expected in late April with major street closures, and housing projects and workforce data underscore a tight local labor market.
Miles Seppelt, Hutchinson’s economic development director, used the latest episode of Hutchinson Economic Development to highlight several near-term projects and the city’s persistent workforce shortfall.
Seppelt said Cannabis Chem Lab, a laboratory that tests cannabis products for quality and safety, will locate at the Enterprise Center. "It'd be 8 or 9 jobs initially, could expand up to 24 within a couple years," Seppelt said, adding the positions will include microbiologists, chemists and lab technicians.
He also announced scheduled demolition of the Jorgensen Hotel. Seppelt said a high-reach demolition excavator is expected the week of the 27th and that demolition could take "a month or a month and a half at the most." He warned of substantial traffic impacts: Washington Avenue, the alley behind the Jorgensen and the parking aisle and first lane on Highway 15 in front of the building will be closed during work.
On housing, Seppelt provided updates on two apartment projects. The Landing, an 81-unit complex on the north end of Franklin, will have contractors digging a stormwater retention pond and repairing a frost-heaved storm sewer on Lehi Street in May; Seppelt said windows, roofing and HVAC work are in place and siding work will begin soon. At the Burns Manor site, the North Maple Apartments will build two of three planned buildings immediately, representing about 88 apartments expected to be ready within roughly a year.
Seppelt framed these development projects against a tightening labor market. Summarizing a survey of 29 local manufacturers, he said 15 are hiring, 12 are not and 2 did not respond. "As of today, we have 76 jobs that are open that we cannot get filled," Seppelt said, adding the city will need "another 210 or more workers" over the coming year.
He presented longer-term figures to underscore the trend: "In that quarter century in McLeod County, we gained a total of 1 net new worker," Seppelt said, and he said Hutchinson’s workforce rose by about 99 workers between 2008 and 2025. Seppelt linked the numbers to constraints across sectors: "manufacturing, health care, the building trades" are all affected when the local labor force does not grow.
Seppelt also recapped an April 7 housing forum in Glencoe that highlighted a broad housing shortage affecting recruitment, and he said the EDA will devote a future episode to a deeper look at housing supply and barriers. He closed by encouraging listeners to call with questions and noting the program’s next episode will examine housing in more detail.
Next steps: demolition preparations for the Jorgensen Hotel are imminent, Enterprise Center tenant onboarding will proceed over coming months, and the EDA plans additional outreach and a focused episode on housing causes and solutions.
