Article by Cris Gastner
Envirolastech Inc., a recycled materials manufacturer building its new plant in St. Charles, MN, has been awarded a grant designation from the Job Creation Fund Program through the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development. The company is scheduled to add 26 jobs over the next 2 years after opening its new 3 million dollar manufacturing plant in the City of St. Charles. CEDA Senior Vice President Cris Gastner worked with company executives to complete the application. If Envirolastech attains the job creation and construction projections, the company is set to receive a grant award totaling $183,766.
“Envirolastech is bringing needed employment investment to a community that was devastated when North Star Foods closed after a fire in 2009,” said Shawntera Hardy, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “The company, with its innovative products, has much promise and is well positioned for growth in the green-building sector.”
If all goes according to plan, the company will invest just over $1 million in construction of its new building and fill it with over $2 million in equipment that will be used to manufacture construction products such as waterproof decking, siding, and paver blocks out of used glass and plastic.
Envirolastech won the clean technology category in the Minnesota Cup competition in 2012. Minnesota Cup is the largest statewide startup competition in the country. Each year the MN Cup competition awards over $400 thousand in prize money to start-up companies in MN.