MDARD, MI Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development Award $450,000 in Grant Funding

Grant will support construction of state-of-the-art dry corn mill and create 17 jobs

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development today approved $450,000 in Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grant funding for Star of the West Corn Milling LLC. The funding, awarded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), will enable the company to construct a new mill facility, implement advanced technology and create 17 new jobs.

"MDARD's mission continues to be improving quality of life for Michiganders. Strategic investments throughout Michigan's food supply chain reinforce that focus by expanding market access for farmers and ensuring that more nutritious, locally grown foods reach dining tables," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "This Food and Agriculture Investment Program grant will help Star of the West mill Michigan-grown corn in Michigan, delivering new jobs and creating new economic opportunities for hardworking farmers across the state."

The FAIP funding will support a $79 million development project to build a new, state-of-the-art dry corn mill in Quincy, Michigan. The project will require demolition of decommissioned mill structures and construction of a six-story slipform mill building, warehouse/packaging area, feed loadout structure and employee relief/office building. The new mill building will enable Star of the West to take advantage of advanced automation technology and modernization processes.

"We are honored to receive this investment from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Food and Agriculture Investment Program," said Karina Spencer, Executive Vice President of Star of the West's Flour Milling Division. "This funding will help us strengthen our supply chain, create new opportunities for Michigan agriculture, and support long-term economic growth in our community. We appreciate MDARD's commitment to investing in innovative food and agriculture businesses that add value to Michigan-grown products and help build a stronger, more resilient agricultural economy."

Although Michigan produces more than 340 million bushels of corn each year, the state does not have any corn mills. Star of the West's development project will enable the company to add value to more than 5 million bushels of Michigan food grade corn in year one of operation and more than 6.7 million bushels per year by year five. This will have a large impact on Michigan farmers, providing an economic opportunity and a stable and reliable end-user market.

Founded in 1870 in Frankenmuth, Star of the West is a premier supplier of flour, dry edible beans, food grade soybeans and ready-to-eat wheat flakes. The company operates four mills in four states along with over 30 elevators and five bean processing facilities. Star of the West is the 10^th-largest miller in the United States and was the 2015 recipient of MDARD's Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award.

MDARD's FAIP grant program offers financial support for projects that expand food and agriculture processing, enable growth in the agriculture industry and bolster Michigan's economy. The selection process is based on high and consistent criteria that include the project's potential to impact the overall agriculture industry as well as food and agriculture growth and investment in the state.

Since Fiscal Year 2019, MDARD has awarded more than $6.9 million of FAIP grants. The grants were part of more than $276 million MDARD delivered over the past seven years to help local communities build infrastructure, promote agricultural prosperity, ensure food safety and create jobs.

Read more about the Food and Agriculture Investment Program.

Learn more about MDARD grants.

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