Ohio firm wins $500,000 to build Iowa biorefinery

A Ohio firm has been awarded $500,000 in state assistance to build a biorefinery in the City of Nevada that will produce sustainablechemicals from agricultural biomass.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board awarded tax incentives and $500,000 worth of direct financial assistance to Thesis Chemistry LLC. Thesis also will build a corporate headquarters, research and development facility, and a pilot manufacturing adjacent to the biorefinery. The facilities will be operated developed in conjunction with the BECON biomass research center in Nevada.

These expects the initial phase of the production facility to open in 2014, with more product capacity begin added through 2016.

The board also approved tax incentives for Bodeans Cone Company to expand production of Le Mars, creating nine jobs, and for Wacker Chemical Corp. to add local production of a vital raw material to its plant in Eddyville, adding three jobs.