Web exclusive posted June 15, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. CST

Genencor, a division of Danisco AS, broke ground June 11 on a new 20,000 square-foot Applications and Training Center of Excellence in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Construction on the $4.6 million project which will create approximately 20 new positions is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2009. The center's state-of-the-art facilities will allow fuel ethanol and carbohydrate processing customers to solve real-world production challenges. "With this new Center of Excellence, Genencor continues to expand its capabilities to improve performance and efficiency for grain processing customers," Tjerk de Ruiter, Genencor's chief operating officer, said. "It allows us to bring the latest applications technologies to ethanol producers and carbohydrate processing plants, and to work closely with our Midwest customers. This new facility will support our commitment to helping producers get the best results from their operations."

The facility will include a fully equipped laboratory for analysis and testing and will provide extensive training facilities for customers and staff to build technical knowledge.

City and economic development officials from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, praised the company for choosing to locate in their community. "This operation brings another dimension of industrial biotechnology to our community and further positions Cedar Rapids as a world leader in this industry," said Mark Seckman, president of Priority One, the Economic Development Division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

"Genencor's decision to locate its new Center of Excellence in Cedar Rapids is a clear sign that we have made some good decisions in the growth and development of our community," Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran said. "Genencor has been a part of that growth and development, by providing highly-skilled jobs to our residents and serving as a community leader. We are very excited to see Genencor continue to grow in Cedar Rapids."

The Genencor Center of Excellence was designed by the architect firm Shive-Hattery and the general contractor for the project was Kleiman Construction, Inc. The project has received support from Priority One, Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Kirkwood Community College and the city of Cedar Rapids.