After just over 18 months of operation, Crossroad Farms is preparing for a major expansion that will add more than 40 jobs to the local economy.

Wednesday, October 10, 2001

After just over 18 months of operation, Crossroad Farms is preparing for a major expansion that will add more than 40 jobs to the local economy.

According to Kim Carlsen of parent company Carlsen Companies, Crossroad Farms has added a new line to its fully-cooked meat packaging operation. With the new line in place, the company has already added 11 new full-time employees with a beginning wage of $11.48 per hour. After a year, the wage increases by $1.

&uot;As soon as we can get approval for another USDA inspector, we can get moving on this,&uot; said Carlsen. &uot;When we can get more equipment installed, we can begin adding more people. I think the potential for even more jobs is great if things keep moving in the same direction they are now.&uot;

To accelerate the expansion, Carlsen approached the city for a five-year low-interest loan for $125,000 from the economic development revolving loan fund. The money will be used to help purchase the state-of-the-art packaging equipment necessary to accommodate a growing list of new clients, he said.

&uot;We’ve got a lot of large contracts coming on board,&uot; he told the city council Monday.

Crossroad Farms, located in the Jobs Industrial Park in southeast Albert Lea, packages meat for large retail grocery chains such as Farmer Jack, Spartan, Cub and Hy-Vee. They produce private labels as well as an in-house label.

&uot;I think this is an excellent investment,&uot; said Councilor George Marin, who introduced the resolution to approve the loan. The council passed the resolution unanimously.

Carlsen said his company’s expansion comes at a time when the community needs some good employment news, especially in the wake of the Farmland fire in July.

&uot;We’re hoping we can pick up a few of those Farmland workers as we add people during the year.

We’ve already got two from Farmland, and we’re looking for more in the near future,&uot; he said.

Mayor Bob Haukoos said he’s glad the city is in a position to offer some gap financing to a growing company.

&uot;We’ll gladly do anything we can do to help generate some new jobs, especially when they offer a good wage,&uot; he said. &uot;This is a very positive development for the city.&uot;