With more than 750 locations across the United States and Canada, Pilot Flying J is landing in Ste. Agathe.

A very excited Shaun Crew says it is currently under construction in the Riel Industrial Park. Crew is Chairman of that park, which is owned and administered by Ste. Agathe Community Development Incorporation.

Crew notes it was a little over two years ago that Flying J began pursuing various sites in Manitoba. The Industrial Park learned of this and was able to secure the deal with Flying J. Crew says by as early as January they could be pumping gas there.

"It's going to be very exciting," he says.

According to Crew, the Ste. Agathe location will be corporate owned. He says to the best of his knowledge it will resemble the site in Headingley and include a Subway restaurant. Though he has seen a conceptual drawing, Crew says it does not indicate the number of gas pumps or parking spaces available.

Crew says it is great to see rural development and he hopes to share this excitement with not only Ste. Agathe and the RM of Ritchot, but with the entire province.

"When you have an industrial park that can bring business to town it also leads to the opportunity to sell more homes and bring new residents to our community," he says.

A sod turning ceremony will take place Thursday morning at the Riel Industrial Park. This ceremony will launch Phase 3. With a total of 25 new lots, Crew says they are being developed for light industrial and highway commercial use.

Crew says in recent years they have had Hemp Oil Canada locate its head office and processing facility in the park. Other businesses to move into the park include Boulet Brothers Concrete, Tree Suns and Upper Deck Transport. He notes Flying J was part of phase 2, as well as Delmar Commodities, which plans to establish a packaging and warehouse terminal in the park.

"Flying J is a very visible business to have in the industrial park," says Crew. "And it's certainly going to help sell these 25 new lots that we're going to be establishing."