Valley Cartage recently celebrated the opening of its new $3.1 million, 26,000-square-foot headquarters and logistic center off Interstate 94 in Lake Elmo, MN.
The company will continue to operate its former headquarters in the St. Croix Business Park in Hudson, WI, but opened the new facility because the fleet needed room to grow, according to a news report posted by the Hudson Patch.
“Valley Cartage is a highly successful company that has been providing trucking services in the Midwest for nearly 80 years,” Gov. Mark Dayton stated in a news release. “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.”
The state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded Valley Cartage a $500,000 forgivable loan from the Minnesota Investment Fund, 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 $940,000 economic development package, which is contingent on job and wage goals being met.
“Our expansion to Lake Elmo is a significant milestone for Valley Cartage,” said president & CEO 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, WI, Fargo, ND, Duluth, Mankato and St. Cloud. The company has about 240 employees.
Valley Cartage traces its roots to 1935 when, Norman Gilbert launched Gilbert Truck Line. The company has remained in the family and today is owned and operated by Norman’s son, Jerry Gilbert, and grandson, Todd Gilbert.
