A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction on the expansion of Incobrasa Industries’ manufacturing facility in Gilman, Illinois, US.

The event saw the participation of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), state governor JB Pritzker and other state and local officials.

This new soybean crushing facility will add 170,000ft² of new production facilities. Furthermore, Incobrasa will build a 50-acre solar array having a capacity of 5MW, which is intended to power the plant or to feed the grid.

The facility produces soybeans for making animal feed, packaged vegetable oil, and biodiesel. This expansion project will allow the company to benefit from Illinois’s large supply of soybeans.

With an investment of more than $250m, this expansion project is expected to create 40 new full-time jobs while keeping 200 existing ones, providing economic benefit for the community and state.

Incobrasa president and CEO Aluizio Ribeiro said: “Today is an exciting day for Incobrasa and our community. Because of the EDGE tax credit, we will be able to expand our workforce, and our footprint with local farmers.”

The company has secured an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit for this expansion project, which calls for a minimum total expenditure of $155.8m.

DCEO director Kristin Richards said: “Bolstered by DCEO’s EDGE tax credit, Incobrasa’s $250m investment at its Gilman location will create jobs and boost the economy.

“Through a variety of business attraction incentives, the State of Illinois is committed to supporting businesses with a shared commitment to investing in Illinois’ communities while spurring economic development.”