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711 E. Wells Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3301
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2006
CONTACT: Sarah Van Berkum, 773-3301
Company Expansion to Bring Jobs to North Sioux City
Johnson Feed, Inc. Plans to Open New S.D. Location
PIERRE, S.D. – Johnson Feed, Inc. is taking advantage of South Dakota’s optimal business environment and expanding its Canton, S.D. based company to North Sioux City, S.D. Johnson Feed, Inc. will create approximately 55 quality jobs for the community throughout the next three years.
“Johnson Feed has been a great South Dakota business for generations. We are excited to welcome another expansion of the company in our state. Family-owned businesses like this provide excellent jobs, and utilize our dedicated, prepared workforce,” said Jafar Karim, director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “This is another example of the progress South Dakota is making on state’s 2010 Initiative goals.”
"We are extremely happy to welcome Johnson Feed to our ever-expanding business community," said North Sioux City Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Kory Menken. "Solid, family-owned companies like Johnson Feed are the backbone of any community. We are proud Johnson Feed chose North Sioux City as the newest of its three locations in South Dakota."
Johnson Feed began in the 1920’s when Carl Johnson operated a dray service in the Fairview, S.D. area. He delivered coal and other supplies to area farmers by horse and wagon, and hauled farmers’ grain to elevators for marketing. The company evolved throughout the years to what Carl’s grandsons Mitch, Darcy and Todd Johnson own today. The company now provides trucking service to the major beef and pork producers of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Sioux City, Iowa, as well as a large furniture distribution center in Beresford, S.D. The North Sioux City facility will enable Johnson Feed, Inc. to expand the work it does on its own equipment, plus allow them to provide service to other truck and trailer owners.
Headquartered in Canton, S.D., Johnson Feed, Inc. has a second facility in Sioux Falls, S.D. It is now relocating its only facility located outside of the state in Sioux City, Iowa to North Sioux City, S.D. “When we outgrew our Sioux City, Iowa facility, we considered expansion into Iowa, Nebraska or South Dakota. We are excited about our decision to move to North Sioux City. We are confident that our location in this community will be good for business,” said Mitch Johnson, one of three brothers who own the company. “This is a family business. Our grandfather started the business in South Dakota, we grew up here, so it was important for us to maintain our presence in the state,” he added.
Through $320,000 of support from the state’s Revolving Economic Development and Initiative (REDI) Fund, Johnson Feed, Inc. will create opportunities for the North Sioux City community to diversify the local economy, increase capital investment and create quality jobs. The REDI Fund’s objective is to create “primary jobs” in South Dakota that provide goods and services which are primarily exported from the state, resulting in new wealth for the community.
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