Winnebago breaks ground for Charles City plant

Winnebago Industries broke ground Tuesday for its new plant in Charles City. Workers at the 204-thousand-square-foot addition will manufacture up to four thousand motor homes annually. Charles City Mayor Jim Erb says it’s an important project for his town.Erb says Charles City is back as an economic force in north Iowa. Winnebago President and C-E-O Bruce Hertzke says these are exciting times for the motor home manufacturer with sales increasing.He says the demographics show continued growth over the next 30 years, and they need to expand to meet the demand. Hertzke says the people of Charles City have helped Winnebago be successful, as did the people at the company’s headquarters in Forest City.Besides Winnebago’s main plant in Forest City and two satellites in Charles City, the company has other plants in Hampton and Lorimor. Founder John K. Hanson opened the first plant in Forest City in the 1950s.