by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Edmonton Trailer, a new company in Sartell, has been chosen for the first-ever Minnesota Governor’s Foreign Direct Investment Award.
Three other companies were also given the award.
The award recognizes significant investment in Minnesota by foreign-based companies. Edmonton Trailer opened in Sartell in November 2014. Based in Edmonton, Canada, the company manufactures specialty massive trailers, some weighing as much as 100 tons. The trailers are built in Edmonton, and much of the finishing-touch work is done in Sartell.
The facility is located on former Verso paper mill property in a repurposed large storage building just south of the Sartell bridge. The company employs about 20 people but plans to hire 40 or more in the next two years, said Sartell Planning and Development Director Anita Rasmussen.
“It’s a great company,” Rasmussen said after hearing of the prestigious award. “We’re thrilled they chose Sartell as the place to expand their business. We are very excited for them.”
Other recipients of the Foreign Direct Investment Award are Heraeus Medical Components, White Bear Lake; Peerless Chain, Winona; and Smiths Medical, St. Paul.
“We are pleased to recognize these companies that share our belief that Minnesota is the premier North American business destination for innovative industries and manufacturing,” said Laurence Reszetar, director of foreign direct investment at the Minnesota Trade Office. “We thank them for their partnership with the State of Minnesota and its workers and look forward to continued success in the years to come.”
The awards were bestowed during an International Trade Awards ceremony at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul.
Five Minnesota companies were also honored for developing business in foreign markets, for increasing jobs in Minnesota to support international sales and for developing novel approaches on how to compete globally.
The companies honored are Barrett Ag Services, Brainerd; Dombrovski Craft Meats, Foley; Industrial and Environmental Concepts, Lakeville; Tonka Water, Plymouth; and Winona State University, Winona.
“I congratulate these exceptional companies for their successes in international trade,” said Gov. Dayton. “Minnesota’s stature in the global marketplace is a testament to the impeccable quality of our products and services, the hard work and innovation of our business leaders, and the talent of our state’s world-class workforce.”
Dirk Woestenenk, an official with Edmonton Trailer, holds an award bestowed on the Canadian-based company by Gov. Mark Dayton during a ceremony at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul. Edmonton Trailer, which has a branch facility in Sartell, was honored, with three other companies, with the first-ever Governors’ Foreign Direct Investment Award. From left to right are Bill Kemp of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.; Minnesota Lt.-Gov. Tina Smith; Woestenenk; Brad Brzesinski of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development; Sartell Planner and Development Director Anita Rasmussen; and Jamshed Merchant, the consulate general of Canada.
This is just one of a huge variety of heavy-duty trailers made by Edmonton Trailer, which has a branch facility in Sartell.
