Food processing and commodities giant ADM plans to invest more than $100 million at its hub in central Illinois, state and company officials announced in late June.
The $103 million “major modernization initiative” at ADM’s North American headquarters in Decatur would upgrade “critical facilities” and replace aging systems with “state-of-the-art technology” in its west and east soybean plants, as well as its corn wet mill. Officials said the project would enhance its soy crush and refining operations, improve isolate, textured vegetable protein and other protein production lines, and modernize its storage elevators and corn milling.
The Decatur facilities convert soybeans and corn into ingredients, nutrition products and fuels; Illinois officials said the complex represents “one of the world’s largest integrated agricultural processing hubs.”
The project is expected to add 50 jobs; ADM said it employs about 4,000 people in Decatur overall.
“Decatur represents ADM’s largest footprint and employee population, making it a vital hub that helps connect U.S. farmers with markets and customers around the world,” Chris Cuddy, ADM’s president of North America and Carbohydrate Solutions, said in the announcement. “Investments like this strengthen our ability to support customers, drive economic growth, and reinforce Illinois’ leadership in agriculture.”
