The Albert Lea City Council tonight unanimously approved a resolution supporting Elk River, Minn.-based JonnyPops’ application for a state economic development grant that could bring more than 100 new jobs to the community through a proposed production facility. The vote marks an early but important step in the company’s effort to expand operations in Minnesota rather than neighboring states.
Founded in 2011, Johnny Pops makes what frozen fruit and cream pops using simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. The company employs roughly 157 people across its Elk River production facility and related operations including Vortex Cold Storage in Albert Lea. That facility was created as JonnyPops’ need for refrigerated and frozen capacity grew.
The company says it is evaluating potential expansion sites in Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. In order to build its new production facility in Albert Lee, it’s seeking support through Minnesota’s Forward Fund, a state program that provides up to $15 million per application for projects that create high‑quality jobs and strengthen long‑term economic competitiveness.
With the council’s approval, the city’s resolution will now be forwarded to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as part of JonnyPops’ formal application. DEED will review the project’s financials, job‑creation estimates, capital investment levels and local incentive options. That process can take several months, and DEED may request additional documentation from both the company and the city.
If the state approves the application, JonnyPops expects to begin final engineering and site planning in late 2026 and early 2027, with a construction decision anticipated in summer 2027. Under that scenario, the facility could be completed and operational sometime in 2028.
The company’s efforts to build additional production capacity follows its March expansion of its national retail footprint through Albertsons Companies stores nationwide, and its April expansion into Canada through select stores including Whole Foods, Save-On-Foods, City Avenue Market and Costco.
