Governor's Office of Economic Development
Release Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2001
For More Information Contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-5032

Pierre - Sioux Falls has been selected as the home for Graco's newest acquisition, ASM Company, Inc., Governor Bill Janklow announced today, May 8, 2001. The move will bring ASM's customer service, warehouse and manufacturing operations to Sioux Falls.

Graco purchased California-based ASM last March and has been conducting a search for the best place to relocate the company. "In the end, the company decided the best place was Sioux Falls, SD," Janklow said. "Graco is already familiar with South Dakota's business climate and work ethic, so the expansion was just a natural result of Graco's past success in South Dakota."

Janklow said Graco will expand its existing facility to accommodate the new company. "Construction is expected to be completed by October and the new plant will be operational by December," Janklow added.

Dan Little, vice president of manufacturing technology for Graco, said the ASM operation, together with the existing Graco facility, will manufacture spray guns, tips and tip extensions for the professional painting contractor. "The fact that our Sioux Falls workforce is already trained and producing similar products influenced our decision to relocate the ASM operation to Sioux Falls," he said.

The company has been a vital part of the Sioux Falls economy for nearly a decade, according to Dan Scott, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. "Graco is one of the anchor points of the Sioux Empire Development Parks," he said. "This expansion illustrates the strength of our economy and is a dramatic demonstration of our contention that Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the best place in America to expand or locate a business."

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