Positive economic signs: Algae-ethanol project, warehouse project progress

Prospects for two projects -- including the innovative algae-to-ethanol plant -- remain positive, according to Marshall-Saline Development Corporation Executive Director Roy Hunter.

Hunter told the MSDC board of directors Tuesday, Sept. 9, that representatives of the company interested in building the algae-based ethanol plant will visit this month to continue the site selection process.

Green Star Products announced at the end of July that it planned to locate its plant in Saline County. The plant will be one of the first of its kind in the nation, Hunter said at the time.

The process is going a little slower than the company initially hoped, he said. In addition to site selection work, there is a good deal of red tape to deal with.

"Seems like every state department is involved," he said.

But the company remains committed to the project.

"They seem to think it's all going to work out," Hunter said. "They remain aggressive."

Another project may soon make use of MSDC's second "shell" building, a structure built to help attract new business projects.

Hunter said a local company is considering the site for warehousing, which would create a few new jobs but would also help further cement the company's commitment to the area.

He also reported on two other projects, the enhanced enterprise zone for Slater and the effort to rejuvenate development in Sweet Springs.

The Slater enterprise zone application has been submitted to the state Department of Economic Development, he said. The next step will be for Slater city government to hold a public hearing and consider a required ordinance.

The partners involved in the Sweet Springs project are slated to meet late in September or early in October to discuss how to continue the process begun at a July meeting to discuss how to turn around the local economy.

An auditor's report at the Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen meeting Monday, Sept. 8, included mention of the fact that the city's sales tax base continues to slip.

Another economic development project has seen activity recently, although the prospects remain uncertain.

Development of Marshall Junction has long been a priority, but progress has been elusive.

Hunter said there would be a meeting early in October of potential development partners. But much of the earlier work studying the site will have to be redone, he said, because so much time has passed since the earlier studies were done.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net