Governor Doyle Awards
Tax Credits to Sajan
During his August 2nd tour of west central Wisconsin, Governor Jim Doyle awarded $250,000 in Technology Zone tax credits to Sajan, Inc., a high-tech company based in River Falls, Wisconsin. In return, Sajan, Inc. will invest $2.7 million to construct and equip a new 24,000 square foot corporate office in Whitetail Ridge Corporate Park. The award will help the company create 36 new jobs and retain approximately 31 jobs. Sajan is a leader in global communication management technology and language translation services. The company translates complex and technical product instructions into other languages and provides custom software to help businesses communicate with foreign customers.
In presenting the tax credits, Gov. Doyle said, "As Governor, I have made economic development a top priority of my Administration. Through my Grow Wisconsin plan, we have worked to foster the growth of businesses statewide, create high-wage, high-end jobs for our citizens, and build a strong economy from the ground up. Our hard work is starting to pay off. In the past 12 months, we've created more jobs than any of our Midwestern neighbors. It's clear that our strategy of focusing on upgrading our industries and competing at the high end is making an impact, but we still have much more work to do. Today, we are taking the next steps forward in our efforts to grow our economy by helping Sajan keep and create jobs here in Wisconsin and make a new investment in the community of River Falls."
St. Croix EDC's William Rubin served as master of ceremonies for the tax credit award presentation and groundbreaking. As he introduced Shannon Zimmerman, president and CEO of Sajan, Inc., Rubin said, "To say that Sajan, Inc. is a rising star in the River Falls skyline is a bit of an understatement. For a number of years, the company has operated under the community's radar screen while carving out a nice share of the global communications and translation market. From an economic development standpoint, businesses like Sajan are highly coveted. They create high-wage, high-end jobs for the residents of the River Falls area. In a community with 51 percent of its adult workforce labeled as commuters, this is particularly important."
"We are grateful for Governor Doyle's assistance and commitment to a better business climate," said Shannon Zimmerman. "The receipt of the tax benefit will allow Sajan, Inc. to better serve the Wisconsin business community."
Over 50 community leaders attended the ceremonial groundbreaking that followed the tax credit award. Governor Doyle and Secretary of Commerce Cory L. Nettles lent a hand with the shovels as did State Rep. Kitty Rhoades and State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf.
In late July, the City of River Falls conveyed a 5 acre site in its business park to Sajan. The incentive package was negotiated by the River Falls EDC, an independent economic development arm of the city. The business park is part of a TIF District created by the city a number of years ago. The Sajan site can accommodate a second 24,000 square foot office for future growth.
In late 2001, St. Croix EDC led an application effort in an attempt at getting St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce Counties designated as one of 8 technology zones scheduled for creation in Wisconsin. By late June 2002, the EDC learned the 3-county application had been merged with an application from Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire, resulting in the 6-county I-94 Corridor Technology Zone. In this region, corporate tax credits are made available to businesses that are commercializing technology or using advanced manufacturing techniques to retain or create jobs in Wisconsin. The I-94 zone originally received $5 million in tax credits. Sajan's award was the first for a River Falls business and a first for St. Croix County.
The general contractor for the project is Keller Construction. Associated Bank provided the financing. Both are 2004 members of St. Croix EDC.
Occupancy is scheduled for later this year. Additional space is available for lease within Sajan's office building.
