Minnesota's Business Developments

by Rhonda Mix - rhonda.mix@state.mn.us
February 2010

North

J&D Acquisitions LLC recently acquired Larson Boat Co. in Little Falls and secured a $7.4 million financing package to keep the boat manufacturer open and create jobs. The package, which includes $1.85 million in loans from the Initiative Foundation, Community Development of Morrison County, North Central Economic Development Association Inc., the city of Little Falls, the Little Falls Economic Development Authority, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, will save about 170 jobs at the Little Falls plant. In the next two years, the company plans to hire 150 to 175 additional people as it works toward increasing production under Larson, FinCraft, and Seaswirl brands.

Central

Country Manor plans to begin construction on a $14 million expansion to its facility in Sartell this spring. The 40,000-square-foot, two-story addition will be used to meet the growing need for short-term rehabilitation. The expansion will include 60 private rooms, a beauty salon, massage room, and a physical therapy facility with a hydrotherapy pool. The pool — a HydroWorx2000 — will be one of only four in the state. The multifunctional pool has a floor that moves up and down for easy access by patients, and it also functions as a treadmill. An underwater camera will capture movements. The expansion is slated for completion in 2011.

Rice Building Systems has moved to a much bigger facility across the street from its former location in Sauk Rapids. The new 22,000-square-foot building is more than four times as big as its prior location and was built with the environment in mind. Large windows and skylights let in natural light, saving on electricity and improving the work area for workers. The carpet in the building was made of recycled materials, and the sinks and toilets use 20 to 25 percent less water.

Twin Cities Metro Area

Two Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels have opened in the Twin Cities metro area — one in New Brighton and one in St. Louis Park. The 124-suite New Brighton facility is located at County Road 96 and Interstate Highway 35W. The St. Louis Park location, which is located at the intersection of Interstate Highway 394 and state Route 100, has 125 suites. Both locations feature an indoor swimming pool, an exercise center, meeting space, 24-hour onsite convenience store, complimentary grocery-shopping services, a 24-hour business center, and complimentary wired and wireless high speed Internet.

A $62 million multiphase expansion is under way at the campus of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul. The hospital indicates that the expansion is the result of outgrowing its current space and the desire to improve its services to meet patients’ needs. An expansion of the pediatric unit on the hospital’s campus is slated for completion by the end of 2010.

Eden Prairie-based Visi Inc., a Web hosting and Internet service provider, is expanding its data center in St. Paul from its current 11,000 square feet to about 18,000 square feet. The project, which is slated for completion in the next couple of months, is the result of increased demand from new customers.

Southern

SAGE Electrochromics Inc. plans to build a $110 million manufacturing facility adjacent to its headquarters in Faribault. The project will add 160 permanent, skilled, green manufacturing and technology jobs and more than 200 construction jobs to southern Minnesota. SAGE produces energy-saving electronically tintable glass used in building windows and skylights. SAGE officials chose Faribault for their new 250,000-square-foot, high-volume plant after a national site search. Groundbreaking is scheduled for summer 2010.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program (MJSP) announced a $300,000 grant to support training for 354 employees of Capital Safety Group. The two-year training collaboration includes Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). Capital Safety Group, located in Red Wing, is the world’s leading manufacturer of fall protection and rescue and retrieval equipment. Capital Safety Group and DCTC will collaborate to develop entry- and advanced-level training and retraining for shop floor managers, engineers, call center employees, and managers. Training to accommodate all shifts will be offered in four- or eight-hour sessions and include courses in green manufacturing, wind energy basics, wind energy safety/OSHA, and project management 3-D design.