Governor Laura Kelly Announces 50 New Jobs in Montgomery County

Governor Laura Kelly today applauded plans from Bartlett, a Savage Company, to invest $325 million in a large soybean crushing facility project in Montgomery County that will create 50 new jobs in Southeast Kansas.

"Agriculture-based and renewable energy businesses are major economic drivers in Kansas, and I am extremely pleased to see Bartlett recognize just how ideal this location is for the future of their operations," Governor Laura Kelly said. "Powered by Kansas' outstanding infrastructure and talented workforce, I'm confident Bartlett's new project will be a tremendous success and have a significant economic impact on the region and our state as a whole."

This facility will be one of nine Bartlett grain facilities in Kansas, contributing to their continued success in Kansas. Soybean crushing facilities crush soybeans into a meal, soak them in a solvent, and distill them in order to produce a refined soybean oil. This soybean oil and byproducts will be used in producing renewable fuels, food products and animal feeds.

The new operation will be capable of handling approximately 38.5 million bushels of soybeans annually, which is about 110,000 bushels every day. Other than the 50 full-time jobs planned with the Bartlett facility in Montgomery County, additional jobs will be supported during construction of this facility and the supporting infrastructure.

"With our strategic location in the middle of the country and our strong agricultural roots, I'm absolutely thrilled that Bartlett chose Kansas as the place to locate this impressive new facility," Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. "We know they had other states in the region to choose from, so I am proud but not surprised that they selected Kansas as the winning location for this project. It's proof of their visionary approach, and of the strong assets in Kansas we have to offer ag-based and renewable energy companies."

Bartlett is Savage's growth-oriented agribusiness focusing on grain merchandising, flour milling and feed manufacturing, and has been family owned and operated for over 100 years.

Savage, a global provider of industrial infrastructure and supply chain services, is working with partners across the agriculture and energy sectors to lead the development of renewable energy assets and services across the United States. The South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad plans on providing rail services for the new facility, connecting them to a network of Class 1 carriers. This investment will also encourage rail improvements benefitting Southeast Kansas as well as the logistics, renewable energy and agriculture industries in the state.

"This is an important milestone for our project, enabling infrastructure investment in Kansas that accelerates the nation's transition to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable transportation system," Bartlett President Bob Knief said. "We appreciate the County Commissioners' recognition of the long-term benefits this plant will provide by expanding markets for area producers and agribusiness and driving economic growth in Montgomery County and Southeast Kansas. With strong demand for soybean products, we look forward to our crushing facility supporting farming families in the Midwest and playing a vital role in multiple supply chains including renewable diesel production."

The following photos are available for media use below:

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bartlett_grain_Kansas_2021.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bartlett_Customer-soybean-harvest_Kansas.jpg

About Bartlett, a Savage Company

Established in 1907, Bartlett joined the Savage family of companies in 2018. Its diverse agribusiness is focused on the acquisition, storage, transportation, processing, and merchandising of grain, and the company is a leading U.S. exporter of grain to Mexico. Bartlett supplies all classes of wheat, feed grains, food-grade corn, and soybeans to millers and processors and produces a full line of commercial patent flours and animal feeds. For more information, visit www.bartlettandco.com

About Kansas Department of Commerce

As the state's lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, nationwide and worldwide. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new business.

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