Envirolastech builds $1 million Minnesota facility

Envirolastech Inc., a startup company that converts recycled plastics and glass into building materials based in Rochester, Minnesota, announced it will spend $1 million to build a manufacturing facility in St. Charles, Minnesota, a report by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal says.

The 18,000-square-foot building will be in Chattanooga Innovation Park and is scheduled to be complete in April. According to the report, Envirolastech initially planned to build a $13 million facility with funds received through the website Crowdfunder, which lets companies seek equity financing from investors, but CEO Jeff Mintz said the $1 million allowed the company to start much sooner.

The Minnesota Department for Employment and Economic Development gave the project a $183,766 grant from the Job Creation Fund and the company will also invest $2 million in machinery and equipment and says the facility will employ 26 people with pay wages averaging at $15.47 per hour. The grant funds will be awarded after Envirolastech meets its hiring and investing commitments, the report says.