NEW ULM — Artstone's literature sometimes mentions that is it a state-certified Women Business Enterprise. Sometimes that certification, which is meant to help women- and minority-owned businesses, pays off.

Case in point: Artstone is producing 87 cast stone signs for the new stadium. Each one has the name of a Minnesota county engraved on it. The New Ulm-based company is also making some very visible and decorative touches to the new stadium, which was designed to replicate stadiums of the past. Artstone is building 39 small arches 18 feet tall, three medium arches that are 40 feet tall and two large arches that are 50 feet tall. It has also produced 119 base panels in addition to the county signs, which will adorn the outside edge of the elliptical-shaped stadium.

'We've done a lot of work for the U but nothing of this size," said Artstone president Jennifer Thompson. She said Artstone's certification as a Women's Business Enterprise helped the company land the contract because the stadium was required to meet certain state civil rights criteria. Because Artstone is more than 60 percent owned by women, the state certified it as a WBE — a Women Business Enterprise — which makes Artstone eligible for certain government contracts. Artstone first received the designation in 2004. Thompson said it is actually hard for her to say whether or not the certification has helped business at Artstone, although the WBE is mentioned in some of the marketing Artstone does and even though it does open some doors for the company. 'It's hard to say because we don't always know why we're chosen," Thompson said.

Artstone records indicate that it has made products for the University of Minnesota for almost 50 years, but TCF Bank Stadium is probably the largest and most visible U of M project that Artstone has been involved in. The new stadium is also one of Artstone's most complicated projects. Since the stadium is elliptical, each piece Artstone is building has to be slightly radiused or curved so it will fit together correctly. Making the pieces to the correct dimension has Artstone's architectural drafters figuring out dimensions and drawing each piece. Carpenters are making the molds for the pieces. Metal fabricators are making cages out of rebar to fit in the odd-shaped molds. Plant Manager Allan Schumacher said Artstone has been working on its parts of the stadium for four months. “It's a fun project that's been getting a lot of attention," he said.

Artstone is working with Gage Brothers of Sioux Falls. While Gage is handling the brick work, Artstone got the complex pieces. Schumacher said the stadium will probably be done next summer. The university wants to hold its inaugural game there in September 2009.