By Observer staff

A major pet supplies store is coming to La Grande, which will provide the items community members need to keep their four-legged friends happy.

The City of La Grande announced in a press release that Petsense, a national retail chain that offers pet products and services, will open for business this summer.

The city’s Economic Development office has been working with this company since spring 2017, when it was identified as a good fit for the area. The Buxton Company, which has contracted with the city to provide viable economic development opportunities to pursue, determined the pet chain had serious potential in La Grande.

In January 2017, the Urban Renewal Agency entered into a contract with the Buxton Company to provide a list of 20 businesses that are interested in expanding in Oregon, according to the release. Buxton works with more than 3,000 retail clients and more than 700 local governments. Using a proprietary software data system, the company analyzes characteristics specific to a community and then identifies retail businesses that do well in communities with similar characteristics.

Among the 20 businesses analyzed by Buxton were Petsense and Big 5 Sporting Goods, which opened last year.

Additionally, Buxton makes the initial contact with the company and prepares customized marketing packages for each business. The La Grande Urban Renewal Agency is in the second year of this contract.

Petsense will be located at the La Grande Town Center shopping center on Island Avenue.

According to the petsense.com website, the pet retail outlet does not sell pets. The stores do, however, promote animal adoption through the local community’s shelters and rescues. There currently are more than 150 Petsense locations across the country.