New Hope Company Plays Key Role in Distributing Masks Statewide
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was in Brooklyn Park Wednesday to visit the packaging operations of New Hope-based Liberty Diversified International. He and other dignitaries singled out Liberty Carton Company for helping to distribute four million COVID-19 masks across the state.
Governor Walz visiting Liberty’s Brooklyn Park operations.
“You’re not around as a family business for 102 years just because you know the bottom line,” Walz said of Liberty. “It’s because you believe in your community and you’re part of that community. There’s a reason that the chamber of commerce asked their members if someone would be willing to help with this as we did our mask distribution. Once again Liberty raised their hands and said we would be part of that.”
The masks will be given out to businesses and people across the state through mask drives. Distribution of masks begins Thursday in northwest suburbs, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope and Plymouth. Liberty received high praise for playing a key role in distributing the masks.
“Without skipping a beat, no questions asked Liberty stepped up,” said Jonathan Weinhagen of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. “Liberty stepped up and said whatever we can do we’ll put our team on it. We’ll be a distribution point. We want to be a part of the solution. We want to be a part of keeping Minnesota’s economy opening. So I’ll double and triple my thanks to Liberty on behalf of everybody here today.”
Governor gets Liberty Carton tour
Governor Walz and others in his group received a tour of the Liberty Carton facility just south of Highway 610 in Brooklyn Park. The governor is hoping for a mask compliance rate of 90 to 95 percent in Minnesota.
“I can’t tell you how humbled we are,” said Liberty CEO Mike Fiterman. “To be able to participate in this great effort that you have with millions and millions of masks for our state and give everyone an opportunity to really do their share.”
“We don’t want to talk about handing out tickets, we want to talk about handing out masks,” said Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. “This is not something that has to be punitive. This is a place and space where we can all come together as Minnesotans and simply take care of one another.”
Governor Walz believes that combined with social distancing his mask mandate will help reduce COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota, preventing a rollback of business reopenings or another state shutdown.
Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | Maple Grove | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale | Twin Cities
