Why Not Ohio? Wind turbine plant will bring 100+ jobs to city

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Why Not Ohio? Wind turbine plant will bring 100+ jobs to city

Wind turbine plant will bring 100+ jobs to city
Local News
By Steven Sukkau

A new manufacturing business will be bringing as many as 200 jobs to Winkler, Canada.

Local businessmen Laurence Braun and John Schmidt have partnered in a business venture that will manufacture and assemble parts for vertical axis wind turbines and ship them around the world. (A formal announcement of the project was made in Winkler this afternoon.)



The two men said Tuesday that VBINE Energy of Moosomin, Sask. will start manufacturing operations in Winkler next year in a $2 million, 32,000 sq. ft. plant to be built on a 7.5 acre site just north of the Cargill Road - Eastview Drive intersection in Winkler's industrial park.


The plant will employ an estimated 100 people by the end of 2011 and that number could double in the future.

Winkler was one of a number of locations considered for the VBINE plant - others were Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, and Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario - and the VBINE board voted unanimously for Winkler.

Braun and Schmidt said factors for VBINE's decision to locate in Winkler included the city's work ethic, available labour force, co-operation within the business community and proximity to the U.S. market.

Braun said he was approached by VBINE about potential investors but after talking with CEO Barry Ireland, Braun said he had a vision for bringing the business to Winkler. He said that when Ireland visited the city, he was impressed with the community and business leaders.

Schmidt and Braun said construction on the 32,000 sq. ft. building will begin in January.