By Sara Quam
The local Corn-er Stone Farmers Co-op intends to construct and operate a soybean processing facility in Luverne.
This information came to the Luverne Economic Development Authority Tuesday in the form of a letter of intent signed by Corn-er Stone representative David Kolsrud and University Technology Inc. of Baton Rouge, La.
The letter says the joint venture operation will defat soybeans and convert the oil and defatted soy meal into value-added products.
The project has been in the works for about a year and is waiting on verification that the products are commercially viable. Then the agreement to build in Luverne will be final.
Initially, Kolsrud thought the plant might request a loan of about $40,000 from the city of Luverne, but that won't be necessary.
The local farmers co-op spearheaded the efforts to get a first-of-its-kind soybean processing plant.
The process is unique because of its method of soybean processing. Currently, chemicals and heat are used to extract oil and make flour from the beans. But a newly-patented cold process can achieve the same results at room temperature.
After-school program
During their Tuesday meeting, LEDA members heard an update on Family U, a new after-school program through Luverne Community Education.
Renae Reu supervises the program along with one other part-time employee. Family U was first started by funds from the Blandin Foundation and then supplemented by the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council.
Fourteen students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade are listed on the program's roster, but about nine show up every day for snacks, play, educational activities or field trips.
"We try to balance between fun and work," Reu said.
Reu said she's working on the possibility of continuing the program into the summer.
Now the program runs afternoons from 3 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays for a cost of $70 a week if the child attends every day. An hourly rate is available for part-time users as well.
In other business Tuesday, the LEDA:
-Received a border city legislation update from Mayor Glen Gust. He and City Administrator Matt Hylen visited legislators again last Tuesday and reaffirmed support from local representatives and got in the door with a declared non-supporter, Rep. Ron Abrams.
Gust said, "He said he would revisit the issue... With a little bit of help, we can compete with the powerhouse Sioux Falls."
-Learned that Economic Development Director Tony Chladek will have a high school intern this year. The intern will help with marketing economic development activity to businesses locally or for business recruitment.
Chladek will also continue to market the city through updating the city's economic web site, which is a link on the bottom of the city's home page at www.ci.luverne.mn.us .