Minnesota asphalt company to lay off nearly 300 workers

An asphalt and aggregate products business with many locations across Minnesota says it will be closing some of those facilities by the end of the year, with nearly 300 employees losing their jobs.

Rogers-based Minnesota Paving & Materials sent a notice to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, announcing the permanent closure of 14 of its operations in the state.

The list of facilities to be closed includes quarries in Owatonna, Comfrey and New Ulm, and an asphalt plant in Kasota. Other affected locations are in Becker, Mankato, Rogers, Rosemount, Waite Park, St. Cloud and Lakeland.

The closures will affect 297 workers. The affected plants are set to close on Dec. 19.

The company’s notice to the state did not offer any details on why it’s closing those locations, or whether affected employees will be offered positions at other facilities.

Minnesota Paving & Materials is owned by New York-based CRH. When contacted by MPR News, a CRH spokesperson said the company “is currently in a quiet period ahead of its upcoming Q3 earnings announcement and will not be providing any commentary at this time.”

On its website, Minnesota Paving & Materials says it offers “a broad range of products and services, specializing in paving, construction, and materials supply across central and southern Minnesota.”