Area Development
Microbiologics Inc., a worldwide supplier of microorganisms and lab-testing products, will build a 30,000-square-foot addition and create 35 jobs in an expansion and renovation of its headquarters in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The company said it will invest $7.24 million on the project, which will include new research and development laboratories and production facilities. New offices for sales and marketing and for administrative work also are planned.

Originally named Environmental Protection Laboratories, Microbiologics was founded in 1971 to provide laboratory-testing services for detecting microbial contamination in water, the environment and food products. The company today employs about 110 people in St. Cloud, specializing in producing microorganisms for quality-control testing in the clinical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, dietary supplement, food, water, environmental and educational industries.

The company, which distributes its products to more than 140 countries, also has a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, that employs 23 people.

As an incentive, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is supporting the project with a $182,000 grant from the Job Creation Fund. The company will receive the funding once it has completed its job and investment commitments.

“I thank Microbiologics for their continued commitment to St. Cloud and for creating dozens of good Minnesota jobs,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “This expansion shows how the Minnesota Job Creation Fund supports the development of Minnesota-based companies and job growth in our state.”

“Microbiologics is a fast-growing company that has doubled its revenue in the past four years and diversified its services,” added DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “The funding will help the company to continue expanding, particularly in international markets.”