logo
Sofidel Accepts 2024 Governor's International Trade Award for Foreign Direct Investment

Sofidel Accepts 2024 Governor's International Trade Award for Foreign Direct Investment

Duluth, MN, February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Sofidel is proud to announce that it has been named the recipient of the 2024 Governor's International Trade Award for Foreign Direct Investment. Simone Giacomelli, representing Sofidel, accepted the award on behalf of the company during a ceremony last week. Sofidel extends its sincere gratitude to Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota Trade Office, and all those who helped make this prestigious recognition possible.
'We are truly honored to receive this award,' said Giacomelli. 'It's a testament to our commitment to sustainable growth, high-quality products, and community investment. This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with the state of Minnesota and the ongoing support we receive from local partners.'
Sofidel's dedication to the U.S. market has been evident over the past decade, with significant investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and the creation of stable, long-term jobs. In November 2024, the company further solidified its U.S. presence with the acquisition of Clearwater Tissue Division, expanding its ability to serve customers nationwide.
One of the company's most exciting projects is its ongoing expansion in Duluth, where Sofidel is adding a new production line for kitchen towels and bath tissue, along with a fully automated warehouse. The project, which began in the fall of 2024, is slated for completion by mid-2026. The Duluth expansion underscores Sofidel's continued commitment to Minnesota and the city of Duluth.
This expansion aligns with Sofidel's shared vision with the state and city to foster sustainable economic growth, create rewarding opportunities for local workers, and strengthen the local manufacturing sector.
As Sofidel continues to grow in Minnesota, the company remains focused on fostering innovation, sustainability, and economic prosperity for the communities it serves.
About Sofidel
The Sofidel Group, a privately held company, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA - with more than 6,800 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Independent pharmacies welcome legislation targeting drug middlemen
Independent pharmacies welcome legislation targeting drug middlemen

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Independent pharmacies welcome legislation targeting drug middlemen

The Brief The legislation would create a single state-run pharmacy benefit manager to negotiate drug prices for Medicaid plans. Independent pharmacies often lose money on prescriptions because drug middlemen do not always reimburse them. The changes would take effect in 2027. (FOX 9) - Independent pharmacies applauded legislation that is awaiting the governor's signature, saying it would help them stay afloat as many of them struggle to survive. What we know Legislation awaiting Governor Tim Walz' signature would create a state-run pharmacy benefit manager, which would negotiate drug prices for Medicaid plans. The goal is to simplify the process, which now involves multiple pharmacy benefit managers, and increase transparency. The legislation would also require the state-run group to report prices, rebates and discounts to a state commissioner. Under the legislation, a single pharmacy benefit manager overseen by the state would be required to pay independent pharmacies for each prescription they fill. That requirement would take effect in 2027. In the meantime, the state would pay pharmacies a flat fee of $4.50 per prescription to keep them afloat. The backstory Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, negotiate drug prices for insurance plans. Many of them are owned by insurance companies. Within the last year, the Federal Trade Commission has investigated pharmacy benefit managers. It released two scathing reports, accusing them of unfair business practices. What they're saying "You're paying the pharmacies better, pharmacies stay open, patients have choice where they get their care..." said pharmacist John Hoeschen, owner of St. Paul Corner Drug. "If you're losing $35, $40, $50, $55, $60, $70 dollars a prescription, what else can you sell to make that up? You can't. That's an unsustainable model. That is not a recipe for longevity in this business." Dig deeper Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor who has criticized pharmacy benefit managers and who started his own company to sell prescriptions at affordable rates, said the legislation in Minnesota does not do enough. In a post on X on Sunday, Cuban said "all it is doing is saying you want more details but keep doing business the way your PBMs always have.... They will just move things around to different places." What's next The legislation is awaiting the governor's signature.

MN House, Senate convene for special session to pass state budget
MN House, Senate convene for special session to pass state budget

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

MN House, Senate convene for special session to pass state budget

Minnesota lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday morning to complete the state's next two-year budget as agencies prepared to warn thousands of government employees of a potential government shutdown next month. Most of the state government only has funding through the end of June after the Legislature failed to pass the majority of the bills that form the roughly $66 billion state budget by the end of the regular legislative session on May 19. Gov. Tim Walz called a special session so lawmakers can finish their work. State leaders finalized the details in a series of mostly closed meetings over the last few weeks. The Senate and House went into session at 10 a.m. and are expected to finish their work by Tuesday morning. However, there's no guarantee that will happen. Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican legislative leaders and the governor may have signed an agreement to finish up the special session by 7 a.m. Tuesday, but nothing can stop other state senators and representatives from introducing amendments and engaging in lengthy debate on controversial bills. Some bills that are part of the budget deal between Walz, the tied House and DFL majority Senate may pass on thin margins. A proposal to end state-funded health insurance for adults in the U.S. without legal immigration status is opposed by many DFLers and may only pass with the support of Republicans and the DFL leaders who signed the agreement. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, and House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, have said they agreed to remove coverage for adults to avert a government shutdown, which would interrupt services on a much larger scale. The immigrant care proposal was the first bill the House took up Monday morning, and representatives continued to debate the matter as noon approached. If the measure passes both chambers, Walz would have a tough time vetoing it. Republicans managed to get DFLers to agree to tie the activation of health care spending to ending MinnesotaCare for around 17,000 adults in the state who came to the U.S. illegally. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers have expressed reservations about the tax and transportation bills. The tax bill includes an increase to the sales tax on cannabis, and Republican leadership had initially said it wouldn't support any new taxes, and some members may stick to that pledge. There were also questions on Friday about whether a proposal to shift $93 million in sales tax revenue from metro counties to the Metropolitan Council would survive floor votes, as members of both parties might turn on shifting money from local governments to a central planning agency. This is a developing story that will update throughout the day. Letters: It's unfortunate that we can't have certain conversations Gov. Tim Walz calls for special session for Legislature Monday Timeline for Minnesota special session blurry as budget talks continue MN government return to office order kicks in as shutdown layoffs loom Ramsey County: Economic Development Authority to allow flexibility on housing projects

Minnesota Legislature is set to begin special session on Monday. What bills are left to pass?
Minnesota Legislature is set to begin special session on Monday. What bills are left to pass?

CBS News

time2 days ago

  • CBS News

Minnesota Legislature is set to begin special session on Monday. What bills are left to pass?

What bills still need to pass the Legislature? What bills still need to pass the Legislature? What bills still need to pass the Legislature? Minnesota lawmakers will return to the capitol on Monday to begin what Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders hope will be a one-day special session to pass the rest of the next two-year state budget. They are set to start at 10 a.m. and end at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The focus will be on 14 bills, mostly spending plans for state programs and services. But there is also a bonding bill funding infrastructure projects and a compromise to remove undocumented immigrant adults from MinnesotaCare, a state health coverage program for low-income people. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said in an interview on WCCO Sunday Morning that most of the bills were drafted and posted for the public to see, after the provisions were largely negotiated behind closed doors. Lawmakers will begin passing bills right when they gavel in, but it will likely be a long day, she conceded. The special session will be the state's first since 2021. It comes after key negotiators and leaders worked almost around the clock the last three weeks since the regular session ended on May 19, trying to resolve sticking points in the most closely divided Legislature in state history. There is a tied state House and one-seat DFL advantage in the Senate—100 Republicans to 101 Democrats. Because of that make-up, it is as if every individual lawmaker has their own veto power, Walz described the dynamic. "It's not the state budget we would have put together, but it's a compromise, and we have to keep state government functioning," said Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, last week. All sides had to make concessions to ink a deal, refine the proposals, and find a way to ensure passage of the necessary bills to fund state government and its services. They also had to make difficult decisions on where to find savings through cuts since the state is staring down a $6 billion deficit in future years. "Right now, we have a very good state budget that is actually delivering the largest spending cut between biennium to biennium ever. really—almost $5 billion of cuts," Demuth told WCCO Sunday. Roughly 30,000 state workers were set to get a layoff notice Monday morning as part of protocol, since failure to pass a budget by July 1 means a partial government shutdown. But the governor's office said that could be delayed until Tuesday morning, which is when the special session is set to end. If lawmakers complete all their work by that time, the state can avoid sending those messages to employees. What bills still need to pass the Legislature? A majority of the bills that piece together the next two-year, roughly $66 billion budget are on lawmakers' to-do list Monday. Before the regular session ended last month, the Legislature approved funding for the court system and the agriculture and veterans affairs departments. But most of that work was unfinished. Among the provisions in the public safety and judiciary budget that passed is the deal to close the Stillwater prison by 2029. Lawmakers still need to sign off on funding for K-12 education, transportation, health and human services, and more. There is also a tax proposal, which includes increasing the cannabis tax from 10-15%, sparking pushback. They also need to debate the proposal to remove undocumented immigrant adults from MinnesotaCare.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store