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| Xccent, Inc. breaks ground for new plant in Wyoming |
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| Thursday, 08 October 2009 | |
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Xccent, Inc. has officially broken ground on its 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and corporate office in Wyoming. Officials taking part in the shovel work last Thursday included, left to right: Wyoming City Administrator Craig Mattson, Councilman Roger Elmore, Councilman Joe Zerwas, Mayor Sheldon Anderson, Xccent’s CEO John Mathiesen and his wife, Pat, Wyoming Councilwoman Linda Yeager, and Xccent’s Dan Reisetter, vice president of sales and marketing, and Marilyn Dunne, chief financial officer. (Photo By Cliff Buchan) Cliff BuchanNews Editor Finally some good news on the economic front. After reports on troubled banks and failed businesses in the area, there is good news coming from Wyoming. Xccent, Inc., a company now based in Osceola, WI, but with roots in Scandia, has commenced work on its $4.5 million, 100,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant south of the Fairview Lakes Medical Center campus. With a host of company figures, project officials and elected officials on hand last Thursday, the formal ground breaking ceremony was completed. Company president and chief executive officer John Mathiesen said it was a plan three years in the making. “The construction of the new manufacturing and corporate headquarters positions Xccent well to increase our services to customers in key markets,” Mathiesen said. “We are excited about the move to Minnesota and to be a part of the city of Wyoming community.” Company officials said the new facility will have 90,000 square feet of space utilized in manufacturing with the remaining 10,000 square feet to house company offices. The company expects that it will begin occupying the new building as early as March of 2010. Plans also call for Xccent to complete the move and transition of production lines from its Osceola facility by the end of 2010. R.J. Ryan Construction of Minneapolis is the general contractor on the Wyoming project. Local Reaction Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson said Xccent’s move to Wyoming and the prospects of more than 150 new jobs is very positive news for the community and the area. The company will bring an initial 70 jobs to Wyoming with projections of another 75 jobs in the second year. The Xccent workforce could expand to approximately 200 jobs long-term, said Chris Eng, Chisago County HRA-EDA director. If the long-range employment totals are achieved, Eng said the Xccent operation would produce employment compensation of $8.3 million a year. “I’m excited to have Xccent in the city of Wyoming,” Anderson said. “In these tough economic times to be building a 100,000 square foot building and putting people to work is fantastic for the community.” Anderson saluted the efforts of Eng and the county HRA and Gov Pawlenty and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for their efforts to help bring Xccent back to Minnesota. Xccent will benefit from a $150,000 grant from DEED to assist with construction costs as part of the state incentive program to attract businesses to the state. The no-interest loan is to be repaid over 20 years. The grant was facilitated through DEED’s Job Opportunity Building Zones tax-subsidy program. Under the JOBZ program, by maintaining job levels and hourly compensation rates, Xccent will receive tax breaks for five years, including a corporate tax rate that is based on the value of the 12-acre land site and not on the building improvements that will take place on the site. Under the DEED program, the city of Wyoming is allowed to retain 20 percent of the grant which flows into a revolving loan fund. The pool of dollars can be used to assist other businesses. Those loans are issued for five years at three-percent interest. “This is a win-win for business development in Wyoming,” Anderson said. Along with the county and state help, Anderson’s said the city’s willingness to move forward with the opening of 257th Street west of US-61 and Wyoming Elementary School was a proactive step by the city. Land west of the elementary school and south of the hospital campus will also be developed as the new campus for North Lakes Academy charter school which will move from Forest Lake to Wyoming in 2010. The successful charter school has plans for a K-12 school at its new location. About Xccent Xccent’s roots date back to 1976 when the company was started in Scandia as Nickelson Plastics, Inc. In 1998, the company moved its Scandia operations to Osceola where it received a low-interest economic development loan from the state of Wisconsin. The company is operating in an 83,000 square foot leased facility. Its lease will expire at the end of 2010. Xccent, Inc. has developed a number of coatings and products sold into a wide range of applications from the industrial, medical, residential decking, commercial playground and park equipment industries. The company’s experience in coating, design and fabrication technology led to an innovative and rapidly growing product line. Xccent’s primary focus has been on the commercial playground and medical/industrial business units. The company has donated playground equipment to the city of Wyoming and last year entered into an agreement with ISD 831 for the redevelopment of the former Sharewood Forest playground site between Forest Lake and Forest View elementary schools. The playground is now a showcase for Xccent playground equipment and a proving ground of sorts for new Xccent products that are being development. Xccent donated all equipment and installation on the playground while the school district covered site preparation costs. Social Bookmarking ...       |
Finally some good news on the economic front. After reports on troubled
banks and failed businesses in the area, there is good news coming from
Wyoming. | < Prev | Next > |
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