June 22, 2004

Cargill's Corn Milling Factory Gets Aid For Expansion

Cargill Inc., and Cargill Polyols LLC has received federal funding to expand its facility, buy new equipment and create more jobs.

The corn milling factory was awarded $500,000 from the city of Blair to help purchase new equipment and create 16 full-time positions within the company.

A federal program called the Community Development Block Grant provided Blair the money to loan the corn-milling factory for its expansion project.

Officials said the new equipment is needed to produce low calorie, low carbohydrate polyol sweeteners for sugar free candy, gum and low carb products. Several grades of maltitol syrup, maltitol crystals, sorbitol and liquid maltose also will be produced by the factory.

Cargill, based in Minnetonka, Minn., plans to invest $30 million in expanding its facility and offering more products such as a fiber called Ingeo. The company developed the biotech fiber from a corn-based plastic it produces.