News > CEO’s Message – August 2026

CEO’s Message – August 2026

Facility Focus: 900 Kraft Drive Update

On August 19, we celebrated one year in our new Operations Center and Headquarters in Melrose. We have appreciated much about our new space designed to serve our members, including a larger warehouse that improves daily operations and collaborative workspaces filled with natural light. We even had the space needed to host our Member Appreciation Pancake Feed on-site earlier this month! 

While we’ve settled into our new space, we’ve also been working to ready our former headquarters at 900 Kraft Drive for a new purpose. 

The previous facility is structurally sound—Stearns Electric simply outgrew the space it provided. The Cooperative’s Board of Directors voted to retain ownership of the former building, determining we would either lease it to one tenant or split the building, depending upon our tenant’s interest. Our former headquarters ultimately was divided into two different spaces: the front office area and the back warehouse. 

In April, we announced a childcare provider as tenant for the front portion of the building. Merry Moose Childcare and Preschool is scheduled to open this fall, serving a critical community need. 

Approximately $250,000 in renovations are needed to meet state requirements for the daycare facility. Costs will be covered through a combination of community foundation support, grants and local business partners. Classroom furnishings and equipment will be provided by the childcare operator. 

In June, the City of Melrose was awarded a $100,000 grant through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Child Care Economic Development Grant program. The Co-op worked closely with the City of Melrose on this grant to assist with the facility improvements needed to transform the former office space into a daycare facility. 

Structural renovations are underway to the site, and daycare-specific renovations will begin soon. You can view construction photos at stearnselectric.org/melrose-facility. 

The Cooperative also signed a short-term lease with a local Melrose business for two-thirds of the warehouse. We are also working to finalize a lease for the remaining warehouse space and hope to have the entire building occupied soon. 

On behalf of your Board of Directors and the Cooperative staff, we are excited to welcome the new tenants into our previous headquarters building. Our former warehouse space is the perfect place to serve the storage needs for our current tenant. Plus, the transition of the former office space to a daycare in the front of the building reflects our commitment to using the former facility for a meaningful community purpose. 

Sincerely,

Matt O’Shea
Chief Executive Officer