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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Imperial Seed Plans Agricultural Hub In Manitoba’s CentrePort Canada

09/19/2016
Imperial Seed started construction on its new agricultural hub at CentrePort Canada in the Province of Manitoba – an expanded, 20-acre site which will include a seed processing plant, seed lab, office space and significant warehouse space.

CentrePort Canada is Manitoba’s 20,000-acre inland port and Foreign Trade Zone. CentrePort connects to major national and international trade gateways and corridors, and is the only inland port in Canada with direct access to tri-modal transportation - truck, rail and air cargo, officials said.

The new $8-million operation – which will include facilities of 30,000 and 15,000 square feet – will allow Imperial Seed to double its current seed processing capacity. The Manitoba-based company is developing 10 of its 20 acres to start and anticipates their staff doubling as the operation grows over time, officials said.

Imperial Seed, which expects to open its new agricultural hub in 2017, is a forage and turf seed company that works with Western Canadian farmers and seed growers to process seeds for distribution to domestic and international markets including the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. The new hub at CentrePort will also include demonstration plots of seed varieties for the company’s retail program.

“Our new location will allow us to expand and better service our customers,” said Kurt Shmon, President of Imperial Seed. “It is quite exciting to be part of CentrePort’s development and the opportunities for us to expand are huge. We are very excited about our new home.”

Shmon said the transportation options at CentrePort, its proximity to a strong labour market, and well-established connections to seed growers across Western Canada made the inland port a perfect location for expansion. “This is exciting for our industry and exciting for CentrePort. It gives us access to high-quality logistical resources but also keeps us close to our rural roots.”

“This is a milestone for Imperial Seed and we are proud to be a part of their ongoing success in our province,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “The company’s plans for expanded capacity, new jobs and other improvements at CentrePort represent the growth and opportunity we all see in the agriculture sector and Manitoba’s economy as a whole.”

Imperial Seed is the latest to announce a new facility at CentrePort, which has welcomed 46 new companies that have either built or are building new operations on approximately 270 acres, representing more than $250 million in new capital investment.

“One of the benefits of our inland port is it provides the transportation and location assets that are needed by agricultural industries – industries that are at the very heart of Manitoba’s economy. We are thrilled Imperial Seed has chosen CentrePort as its site of the future,” said Diane Gray, President/CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc.

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