Indian Hills Regional Development Hosts Legislative Visit to Iowa Bioprocessing Center

Attendees at "Legislative Day" prepare to tour the Iowa Bioprocessing Center on Friday March 25, 2011

Friday March 25th, local leaders and state representative’s assembled at the Iowa Bioprocess Training Center of Indian Hills, located at the Cargill complex in Eddyville, Iowa. Attendees on hand included representatives from Wacker Chemical, Indian Hills, Alliant Energy, Cargill, Ajinomoto Food Ingredients, Ajinomoto Heartland, Mahaska County, Monroe County, Eddyville, Mahaska Community Development Group, Ottumwa Economic Development, Albia Industrial Development Corporation, City of Ottumwa, Iowa Senator Sandy Griener (R), Iowa Senator Tom Rielly (D),  Iowa Representative Guy Vander Linden (R), Iowa Representative Curt Hansen (D),  Congressman Boswell’s Office and Congressman Dave Lobsack’s Office.

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty five years ago. This is an ancient Chinese proverb.” stated Chuck Crabtree in opening remarks to those in attendance. “We planted a tree, (the original Cargill facility) and it’s grown. The next best time to plant a tree is today. We are looking to plant more trees, this is, our goal is to expand economic development, create jobs. This is what this complex is all about and that’s why your here.” continued Crabtree.

“This is a global campus, it has a global reach, international companies are here, Japan, Germany, United States, international product distribution. The products that are produced in this complex are used all over the world” said Crabtree on the products and the reach of the Bioprocessing Center and the products made at the center.

“The purpose of today’s visit is to showcase the Iowa Bioprocessing Center and its global reach throughout the world” said Chuck Crabtree, Director of Iowa BioDevelopment at Indian Hills Community College. “We want to highlight what we have in Eddyville and ask legislators to join us in bringing additional economic development opportunities to our immediate area.”

Those in attendance then loaded up on bus for a tour of the facility.

Upon returning, lunch was provided and the group presented their new quality of life video that will be used to help draw new people and business to the area. The group was the first to see the video, and it will soon be available on the Iowa Bioprocessing Center’s website. This video is just a part of the marketing plan the group is doing to help promote the region.

“What’s really neat is that we’re really working together to help ourselves. Today it was not by chance that you had somebody from business, somebody from education and economic development all sharing this presentation and giving information to you today.” Facility Manager of Corn Milling at Cargill Eddyville stated, just after the video presentation. “One of the challenges for us is around infrastructure. Transportation is a very big deal. A 4 lane highway by our property has done amazing things for our business and our ability to enable farmers to bring their corn here.”

Another subject touched upon was the process of getting permits approved in a timely manner from the DNR.

The group hopes to have Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds down for a similar event in the near future.