New owners of Cambridge ethanol plant plan to start production soon

CAMBRIDGE -- The new owners of the Cambridge ethanol plant, shut down since January, plan to restart production as soon as possible and to hire 30 to 35 people to run the facility.

The Cambridge Clarion newspaper reports that on Dec. 16 Zeeland Farm Services Inc., with offices in Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, purchased the two-year-old Cambridge ethanol plant owned by Standard Ethanol LLC of North Platte and run by Mid-America Bio-Energy and Commodities LLC.

The plant started production in early 2008 and shut down for maintenance in January 2009. In March 2009, more than two dozen employees were laid off. In June 2009, Mid-America filed for bankruptcy protection.

The plant has an annual capacity of 40 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol and 420,000 tons of wet distiller's grain.

Cambridge Mayor Mark Harpst told the Clarion that he's excited that the ethanol plant has sold. He continued, "Getting the facility sold is good for the jobs it will create when it is in full operation. It will help the economy, and the farmers will have a place to take their grain. This is good news and we can now move forward."

Andela Taylor, executive director of Cambridge Economic Development, said that the Zeeland Farms company "will be a tremendous new member of our community. The return of the operation of the ethanol plant should make 2010 a year in which we will have a lot to celebrate."

Zeeland Farms Services President Cliff Meeuwsen told the Clarion that the company has long-range plans in mind for the Cambridge facility. "We are a family-based company and we are used to working within communities," Meeuwsen said. He and company representatives plan a trip to Cambridge to make final plans for the plant's reopening.

According to its Web site, Zeeland Farm Services Inc. is a family-owned and operated business with more than 55 years of service to the agricultural and transportation industries. It was founded in 1950 by Robert (Bob) G. Meeuwsen as Meeuwsen Produce and Grain. In 1977, it was reorganized as Zeeland Farm Services Inc. to provide customers with a variety of agricultural services. Bob sold the company to his sons Cliff, Arlen, and Robb in 1992.

More than 200 employees, including 12 Meeuwsen family members, work at ZFS.

Its divisions include Zeeland Farm Services Inc., Zeeland Freight Services Inc., Zeeland Farm Soya Inc. and Zeeland Food Services Inc.

Main offices are located in Zeeland, Mich., Jefferson, Wis., and DeSoto, Ga. Its Web site is www.zfsinc.com