DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben joined other state and local officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Lake Elmo today to celebrate the opening of a Valley Cartage Group Inc. headquarters and logistics center that will ultimately bring 96 jobs to the city.
Earlier this year, the company decided to move its headquarters from Hudson, Wis., to a 26,000-square-foot building in the Eagle Point Business Park in Lake Elmo. Valley Cartage will move 46 jobs from Wisconsin to the new Lake Elmo facility and add 50 new jobs at the site.
“Valley Cartage is a highly successful company that has been providing trucking services in the Midwest for nearly 80 years,” said Gov. Mark Dayton. “We are very pleased that Valley Cartage has chosen to bring its headquarters here to Minnesota and grateful for the jobs it will create in this community.”
DEED awarded Valley Cartage a forgivable loan from the Minnesota Investment Fund of $500,000, and the company may apply for training funds from DEED’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership. A local property tax abatement and energy credits were also part of the economic development package, which is contingent on job and wage goals being met.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valley Cartage Group to Lake Elmo for their latest expansion,” added Commissioner Sieben. “This positive move will enable the company to strengthen its footprint in the Midwest and will add new, high-quality jobs in the region.”
State leadership, including Gov. Dayton and Commissioner Sieben, worked with local leaders to encourage Valley Cartage officials to move the headquarters to Lake Elmo.
“Our expansion to Lake Elmo is a significant milestone for Valley Cartage,” said CEO and President Todd Gilbert. “We are helping to re-shape our industry, and the Lake Elmo office will play a key role. Without the support of the governor, DEED and many local officials, this project would not have happened.”
The company will continue operations at its Hudson site and will maintain a presence at other facilities in La Crosse, Wis., Fargo, N.D., Duluth, Mankato and St. Cloud. The company has about 240 employees.
The company began in 1935 when Norman Gilbert launched Gilbert Truck Line, hauling a team of horses from Hudson to Trempealeau, Wis., for $1.50. The company has remained in the family and today is owned and operated by Norman’s son, Jerry Gilbert, and grandson, Todd Gilbert.
DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN.
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