The Government of Alberta will contribute more than $2 million to an expansion at Southland Trailer Corp. in Lethbridge. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Province invests $2 million into Southland Trailer expansion in Lethbridge

Oct 4, 2022 | 1:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE COUNTY, AB – A local manufacturing business is growing.

Officials with the Government of Alberta joined employees of Southland Trailer Corp. in Lethbridge to announce $2.06 million in funding for Southland’s expansion.

Invest Alberta CEO Rick Christiaanse says Southland is the first recipient of funding from the rural stream of the Investment and Growth Fund. Although the company is located along the edge of Lethbridge’s industrial park, it is part of Lethbridge County.

He explains that there were a few things that Invest Alberta and the provincial government liked about the company.

“They are well-established here and do great work here and have a track record of growth, that’s important to us,” says Christiaanse. “Secondly, they export, so this allows us to penetrate the U.S. more effectively. By enabling Southland with this investment, we enabled more export growth, which diversifies the economy here in Alberta better.”

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Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation Tanya Fir says, through investments like this, the government is working hard to make Alberta the best place to do business.

“Our Investment and Growth Fund is one more tool we have to attract investment and jobs to our province,” says Fir. “It is a signal to investors that we are serious and laser-focused about growing our economy and working with businesses to make that happen.”

Southland General Manager Ryan Sailer says they will open a new facility next to their current one on 44 Street North that will be utilized for cargo trailer production.

“This expansion allows us to vertically integrate our supply chain further, resulting in more streamlined operations, more employment within Southern Alberta, and ultimately, more dollars going to the Alberta economy versus purchasing abroad and having those dollars leave the province,” says Sailer.

He hopes to employ an additional 250 people once the new building is finished.

Southland will also offer more opportunities for apprenticeships in the areas of welding, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, HGV mechanics, and carpentry.

Sailer adds that they had initially looked at expansions in several Canadian and American communities. At the end of the day, it was the investment from the province that made them decide to stay local in Southern Alberta.

“Being born and raised in Southern Alberta, ultimately, we wanted the dollars to stay here, but we had to do our due diligence in other regions,” says Sailer. “Looking at areas outside of Southern Alberta but within Canada and also areas outside of Canada with it, so we had to look at the entire spectrum of what other offers were out there and the pros and cons.”

The expanded facility is expected to open in summer 2023.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now