Cooperatives help advance major manufacturing investment in North Branch

North Branch city officials, local and state leaders, community partners and company representatives from LP Building Solutions gathered earlier this summer for a groundbreaking celebration for the newest — and largest — plant in the manufacturer’s network.

The 350,000-square-foot LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding manufacturing facility is slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2028 and is expected to create 125 jobs once operating at full capacity.  

“This investment reflects the strong momentum behind the LP SmartSide ExpertFinish portfolio and our confidence in its future,” said LP CEO Jason Ringblom. “The North Branch facility expands our manufacturing network, strengthens our ability to serve customers, and reinforces our long-term commitment to Minnesota.”

The cooperative connection

Among the community partners attending the groundbreaking were representatives from East Central Energy (ECE), the local cooperative that will provide both electric and fiber connectivity to the facility, and its wholesale power provider Great River Energy.  

Both groups became active participants in the project long before the first shovel hit the ground. As cooperatives, ECE and Great River Energy have a vested interest in the success of the communities they serve. One way they achieve this is by providing economic development expertise and connecting businesses with the resources they need to grow.

About a year ago, Great River Energy’s economic development services team joined ECE in supporting the City of North Branch Economic Development Authority’s response to site selection questions from LP.  

From there, Great River Energy also provided technical support for the project’s interconnection and transmission engineering; testified in favor of the project during a public hearing related to a request for $10 million from Minnesota's Forward Fund; and participated in planning/engineering meetings with the city and LP to help finalize project details.

A growing Minnesota presence

The facility is being constructed on a 120-acre site near key new construction, repair and remodeling markets. Siding will be manufactured and primed at LP siding mills before being shipped to North Branch where team members will apply prefinished colors to create ready-to-install exterior siding products that eliminate the need for painting after installation.

The new facility is an investment that builds on LP’s long history in Minnesota where the company has operated since opening its Two Harbors-based siding mill in 1985. Once complete, North Branch will become LP’s 12th siding facility and 22nd manufacturing facility across two continents.

“The addition of the 120-acre LP SmartSide ExpertFinish manufacturing facility is a welcome development for the North Branch community,” said North Branch Mayor Kevin  Schieber. “Along with creating best-in-class building products, I’m impressed by LP’s strong commitment to high-quality jobs and its focus on long-term employee retention. The city of North Branch continues to see strong growth and our proactive investments in infrastructure position us well to support this new facility.”