Shetka Works of LeCenter, LLC, uses an innovative manufacturingprocess for converting waste pulp, paper and fiber products intohigh quality tabletops, counters and work surfaces. Shetka haspurchased a vacant 24,000-sf building in LeCenter, and anticipatesa total capital investment of about $3.4 million in the newcompany. Shetka expects the LeCenter facility will employ between20 and 40 people in its first year of full production.

"Essentially we take paper and turn it back into wood," saysStan Shetka, who invented the manufacturing process used by his newcompany. He says his process is cleaner, uses no chemicals, andresults in a product that's "easier to work with than wood."

Electronic Assembly Specialists, Inc., is a contractmanufacturer of electronic circuit boards that specializes inlow-cost printed circuit board assembly and testing. It's a newcompany, founded by Jan Berghoff, who has successfully created andexpanded similar electronics companies in the Twin Cities.