ST. PAUL – There are ongoing conversations between potential investors and Morton Salt, regarding the potential repurposing of the Windsor Salt Plant, which was shut down a few years ago. Morton Salt is the owner of the Windsor Salt Plant.
During the Aug. 26 County of St. Paul Public Works Meeting, the STEP Economic Development Alliance presented the final report of the first phase of a $70,000 feasibility study it conducted with GHD Engineering regarding the feasibility of repurposing the salt plant – which council accepted.
The project was funded through a 50/50 matching grant between the County of St. Paul and the province’s Northern and Regional Economic Development Program.
The study was conducted to determine if the salt plant could be repurposed to attract potential investors to transform the facility and potentially restore lost revenue for the County.
RELATED: County of St. Paul explores options to revitalize shuttered salt plant
The study includes a reclamation plan, as well as looking at potential industries the plant could be repurposed to, including a small or a mid-sized data center, or a hydrogen or ammonia production facility.
Linda Sallstrom, Economic Development Officer (EDO) of the STEP Alliance, suggested during the Public Works meeting that there is interest from potential investors in repurposing the plant, and that some discussions are currently underway.
These conversations, however, do not yet guarantee the repurposing of the salt plant, she clarified. “But we continue to connect [with potential investors],” she told council.
“I'm usually in those initial meetings . . . with the disclaimer that if they need additional support, municipality support, planning development support [or] whatnot,” that STEP could help, she said.
County of St. Paul Coun. Darrell Younghans, who is also a member of STEP’s board, stated, “It is somewhat reassuring that there have been many inquiries about it.”
Coun. Ross Krekoski asked what County council could potentially do to facilitate or help market the salt plant to potential investors. “What’s the low hanging fruit that we can do, from a council perspective, to kick the ball forward,” he asked.
For now, Sallstrom said council could help by putting the message out there that Windsor Salt Plant is for sale and is viable for repurposing. “I think if you’re doing that, it shows . . . that it’s supported [by County council] and the [County] administration would support it as well,” she said.
Reeve Glen Ockerman said County council is willing to look at any investors and any opportunities. “What I envision here is tax dollars and support to our community,” he said. Since the salt plant was shut down, Ockerman estimated the County lost over $2 million of tax revenue.
In a follow-up with Lakeland This Week, Younghans said he is hopeful that investors would come out to potentially repurpose the plant, because the County has to start attracting new investment or new industries as commercial tax revenue shrinks.
For example, “Our tax revenue in oil and gas has been shrinking,” he said. “We’re seeing more and more wells shut down, so we need to attract new sources of revenue.”
“So, if we don’t entice new industries or businesses into the County, everything else has to be picked up by our residents as far as tax revenues goes,” he said.
As work to market the salt plant to potential investors continues, the feasibility study is set to enter Phase 2 which will involve a deeper technical and economic analysis of repurposing the plant.
