Amer Sports opens its doors

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OGDEN -- Hundreds of Ogden residents, ski industry representatives and outdoors enthusiasts packed the old American Can Building Friday for the ribbon-cutting at Amer Sport's newly refurbished corporate facilities.

"Welcome to the coolest town in the coolest state in America," said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. "I'm delighted to see a company transform a building from making cans, to making history," he said.

The glitzy event was Amer's way of thanking the Ogden community for a warm welcome to the neighborhood.

"We considered several Western cities, but now that we've moved to Ogden, we are even more convinced we selected the ideal home," said Mike Dowse, president and general manager of Amer Sports Winter and Outdoor, in a news release.

The pairing of the greatest snow on earth with a diverse outdoor and winter sports company is a perfect fit, according to Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey.

"I really believe this is a day much like the joining of the railroads, which brought about a new local economy." he said. "Amer relocating is also a major milestone in redefining the future of our economy in Ogden."

Attendees enjoyed music and entertainment, as well as delectable venison, salmon and cheeses. Caterers whisked through the audience delivering drinks and appetizers.

Representatives from the Ogden Chamber of Commerce crowded onto the stage to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Mayor Godfrey saw a vision and ran with it," said Marsha Combe, a member of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. "It's neat to see a business like this in this part of Ogden," she said.

Mayor Godfrey was excited about the future of Ogden in light of the new addition to the downtown area.

"We have more ski companies than anywhere in the country, probably the world," he said. "It brands our city in a unique and powerful way to have their corporate names plastered throughout downtown."

The mayor used the ribbon-cutting moment to present Dowse with a framed night-time photograph of the Salomon Center, which was named after an Amer brand.

Amer Sports is the parent company of Salomon, Atomic, Wilson and Suunto, all outdoor sports apparel and gear designers. The new headquarters houses 85 employees, 44 of whom were hired from the Ogden area. The building was renovated to make it environmentally friendly, according to Amer.

The event included live music and a silent auction, with all proceeds going toward Weber Pathways, an open space preservation organization.

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