Blue Marble Biomaterials, a specialty biochemical manufacturer founded in Seattle, Washington and based in Missoula, Montana, has closed on the purchase of the former GTC Oats Inc. facility located at 5840 Expressway, Missoula, MT 59808. Previously, this site was a wet extraction processing plant for the creation of food ingredients.
“We are excited to announce the purchase of this site which will become our first Large Commercial Bio- Refinery. The acquisition of this facility fulfills the next stage of our scaling plan to begin offering an expanded portfolio of products to global customers. In 2011, two percent of all chemicals sold globally were sustainable. By 2025, the USDA predicts that 44% of all chemicals sold will be sustainable. Everyday, we see the explosive growth that is occurring with natural bio-chemicals. With the increased production capacity of this facility and others planned for the future, we will become one of the bio- chemical market leaders,” said Colby Underwood, Co-CEO and Chief Business Officer for Blue Marble Biomaterials.
The purchase includes 3.81 acres of land, a 19,000 square foot building complex, and parking stalls for over 100 employees. With this site, Blue Marble will have the opportunity to equip its employees with the latest technologies. The building retrofits include systems that will allow for greater energy efficiency and enable the site to be a showcase for the company’s “zero-waste” focus.
“On behalf of the entire Blue Marble team, I would like to thank Governor Steve Bullock, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Senator Max Baucus, Congressman Steve Daines, and Missoula Mayor John Engen for their support on behalf of this purchase and our company. We would also like to thank the hard working employees of the Missoula Job Service, Bitterroot Economic Development District, and Missoula County, ” Underwood said.
Blue Marble Biomaterials expects to see significant growth in the coming months, as the site purchase comes just as Blue Marble begins closing a $15 million debt financing deal through the USCIS EB-5 Program. The EB-5 Program was created by Congress in 1990 as a mechanism to stimulate economic activity, encourage foreign investment in US companies, and create domestic jobs. Currently employing 24 people, Blue Marble Biomaterials is one of the first biotechnology companies to take advantage of the program and expects to create over 300 direct and indirect jobs in the Missoula area as a result of the financing and recent site purchase.
About Blue Marble Biomaterials:
Blue Marble Biomaterials is a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Marble Energy. Blue Marble Biomaterials manufactures renewable specialty chemicals for the food, fragrance, cosmetics, and personal care industries in a zero-waste, carbon neutral production facility in Missoula, Montana. Their mission is to replace petroleum-based chemicals with fully sustainable, zero carbon specialty chemicals.
Source
Blue Marble Biomaterials, press release, 2013-08-29.
Supplier
Blue Marble Biomaterials
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
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