Biz briefs: Dakota County foreclosures continue rapid decline

June 28--Foreclosures on residential and commercial properties continue to fall dramatically, according to figures from the Dakota County Community Development Agency.

Sheriff's sales for the first five months of this year totaled 302, the agency's foreclosure summary report said. That's down from 475 for the same period in 2013 and less than half the 710 through May 2012.

The report didn't break out how many of the foreclosures were homes and how many were commercial or industrial buildings.

Enlarged hypnosis center

ChangeWorks Hypnosis Center recently held a ribbon-cutting for its new, larger facilities at 7600 W. 147th St. in Apple Valley.

The new space also houses the Midwest Hypnotherapy Academy, a state-licensed school run by ChangeWorks, which teaches self-hypnosis.

The center offers hypnosis for a variety of problems, including weight loss, smoking cessation, Asperger's and high-functioning autism hypnosis for children. In addition to individual sessions, the center offers full and multiday events.

The center is operated by Jody Kimmell, a certified clinical and medical support hypnotherapist and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner, and Cindy Locher, a certified hypnotist and NLP practitioner

Eagan property sold

The real estate arm of Cloverleaf Cold Storage of Sioux City, Iowa, recently purchased an Eagan distribution center it has been leasing.

The company, which also has facilities in Lakeville and Fairmont, paid $8.95 million for the 335,134-square-foot building at 2864 Eagandale Blvd., according to documents filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The seller was Eagan Business Park LLC.

The purchase price represents a premium over the property's most recent taxable value of $8.3 million, according to Dakota County property records.

Insurance firm expands

Prokop Insurance recently opened an office at Lakeville Crossing Shopping Center.

Prokop Insurance Services has been serving the Twin Cities area since 1993 and also has offices in Crystal, Roseville and Minneapolis. The firm provides auto, homeowners, renters, life and commercial insurance.

Eagan trucking firm sold

Canada's largest trucking firm recently agreed to acquire Transport America Inc. of Eagan for about $310 million. The purchase by TransForce Inc. of Montreal is expected to close this month.

Founded in 1984, Transport America provides a wide array of short- and long-haul freight carriage, expedited and shipping services. The Eagan company's network includes 12 terminals nationwide with a workforce of about 2,000. It will continue to operate under the Transport America name.

Send your Dakota County business news to [email protected].

Susan Feyder -- 952-746-3282

___

(c)2014 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services