The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development approved $450,000 in Food and Agriculture Investment Program grant funding for Star of the West Corn Milling LLC. The funding will support construction of a new mill facility, implementation of advanced technology and creation of 17 jobs.
“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 grant will support a $79 million development project to build a new dry corn mill in Quincy, Michigan. The project requires demolition of decommissioned mill structures and construction of a six-story slipform mill building, warehouse and packaging area, feed loadout structure and employee relief and office building.
“This funding will help us strengthen our supply chain, create new opportunities for Michigan agriculture, and support long-term economic growth in our community,” said Karina Spencer, executive vice president of Star of the West’s Flour Milling Division.
Michigan produces more than 340 million bushels of corn each year but does not have any corn mills. Star of the West’s development project will process 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 provide Michigan farmers with an economic opportunity and a stable end-user market.
Founded in 1870 in Frankenmuth, Star of the West is a 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 10th-largest miller in the United States.
MDARD’s FAIP grant program offers financial support for projects that expand food and agriculture processing and enable growth in the agriculture industry. Since Fiscal Year 2019, MDARD has awarded more than $6.9 million of FAIP grants.
