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AgReliant chooses site for Ogden seed plant
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Seed plant proposed near Ogden
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AgReliant Genetics told Boone Futures and the Boone County Board of Supervisors that they have a "great interest" in locating in the county. The independent seed company has identified the location where they would like to build based on the minimum amount of heavy traffic.
The desired location for the $36 million production, conditioning, and distribution facility is on 72 acres south and east of the intersection of Hwy. 30 and E Ave., approximately two miles west of Ogden.
The Supervisors and Boone Futures had been working with the Iowa Department of Economic Development to put together a package of grants and tax incentives to entice AgReliant to locate in the area.
"It has been an interesting process and a true team effort," said Supervisor Chair Bill Lusher. "We felt we had to bring our 'A' game to the table and were extremely pleased they picked Boone County."
The plant will provide a significant economic boost to the area. Project leaders believe it will create 25-35 full time jobs with the need for an additional 80-100 seasonal workers. AgReliant estimates that they will need to utilize 3,500 acres of crop land to grow seed corn. As their planting base increases, the company intends to continue expanding the facility.
A few stakes marking gas and other infrastructure connections can now be seen on the planned site but major construction is still some time away. According to Lusher, AgReliant would like to begin getting the ground prepared this fall.
The county had previously established a good working relationship with AgReliant who recently constructed a research facility at the intersection of Hwy. 17 and Hwy. 30.
"They will be on a pretty aggressive schedule," Lusher said. "They hope to start construction next spring and be up and running by 2014." |
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©The Ogden Reporter 2013
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