The RM of Portage la Prairie's Poplar Bluff Industrial Park lots are for sale for prospective businesses. The park is situated just west of Portage, around the Enns Brothers site in an L-shape. The four lots that face the Trans-Canada Highway are the ones that received offers for purchase. RM Council deliberated on the agreement to accept the sales in this past week's meeting, and everyone was in favour.

Lots for saleThe four frontal lots

Ward 5 Councillor Arnold Verwey explains two companies, Chaloem Pasak from Winnipeg and Allan Moskaliuk from St. Andrews, made the offers.

"One is a trucking company for selling aggregate out of there," says Verwey. "And the other one is for truck and trailer repair. So, I think it's a good thing to get going on that industrial park and, hopefully, there's more interest down the road."

He says people often wonder what the overall location and empty lots are there for. Verwey notes it will be good to see construction begin on the four closest to the highway. He says this will lead to even more inquiries. 

"Hopefully, these companies follow up," continues Verwey. "They said that they're going to have nice appearances, so all we can do is hope for the best. Both sales were okayed, pending all the paperwork, i's dotted and the t's are crossed."

Verwey says the frontage lots are more expensive than the others, noting the RM is keeping in touch with Royal LePage who are selling the lots. He explains they set the purchase price with some less and others more according to size. He adds the project engineer recommended these details while performing survey work.

If the sales go through, out of the overall 22 lots, this will mean 5 are now taken. Verwey notes the fifth one was sold to Simard Industrial this past fall, where a nice large building will soon be constructed.