Cargill Eddyville celebrates 30 years of growth and success
Cargill Eddyville celebrates 30 years of growth and success. (submitted photo)
Eddyville, Iowa June 23, 2015 – Today, Cargill celebrated the growth and success that its corn product-producing facility has achieved in the past 30 years in Eddyville, Iowa. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro, and Albia Industrial Development Corporation Executive Director Dan Tometich joined Julian Chase, Cargill Corn Milling North America president; Gavin Atkinson, Cargill Corn Milling director of operations; and Craig Ambrose, Cargill Eddyville facility manager, to celebrate its 30-year anniversary and continued growth in Eddyville as well as recognize Cargill’s 150-year anniversary.
“We’re proud to celebrate three decades of achievements and rapid growth at Cargill Eddyville,” said Ambrose. “In 30 years, we’ve added 500 employees to our local payroll and expanded our product lines, enabling us to meet the growing need of our customers. Our clear purpose is to be the partner of choice. Cargill Eddyville employees are dedicated to that purpose, and we anticipate continued future growth here.”
Approximately 500 employees and their families and invited guests from the community were on site to enjoy the festivities of the day, which included kids’ games and activities, tours of the facility, packaging food for its charity partner, and county fair-themed food and beverages.
“Cargill’s Eddyville campus demonstrates the success companies in Iowa can have with co-location. The campus’ growth has led to revitalization and increased economic development in the surrounding community,” said Branstad. “Because of the great careers at this campus, the area’s unemployment rate is down over 40 percent since I took office in 2011. I am pleased to join the celebration of Cargill’s 30 years of success in Eddyville.”
In 1985, Cargill Eddyville started its corn milling operation on 320 acres of land and the former Iowa Southern Utilities power plant. With 100 employees, the facility was grinding approximately 60,000 bushels of corn per day to make corn-based products such as sweeteners used by food and beverage companies, ethanol, corn gluten meal, crude corn oil, and innovative feed products. Today, the bio-refinery campus has expanded to operate on more than 1,500 acres, staff nearly 500 employees and 300 contractors, grind more than 275,000 bushels of corn per day, and produce additional products, such as acidulants and natural source Vitamin E. In addition, Cargill Eddyville services four co-location partners with a variety of products and services.
“Our rural communities and corn milling are a big part of Cargill’s 150-year heritage,” said Chase. “Acknowledging both significant milestones reminds us of the many people who have created Cargill’s legacy of innovation and our commitment to helping nourish people around the world. It also gives focus on how we will continue to help our partners and customers thrive for another 150 years.”
Cargill Eddyville takes great pride in its safety practices, environmental stewardship and community enrichment. It was recently recertified as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star site for voluntary safety excellence and leadership. In addition, Eddyville employees, along with the facility and Corporate Cargill, have donated nearly $2 million dollars and 50,000 hours in the community in the past five years, supporting such organizations as the Food Bank of Southern Iowa and the Kids Against Hunger program.
