Back in October, a biodiesel plant for the empty Mill Race Crossing Industrial Park went from a green light...."The project is definitely a go," said Phil Rosenstiel of Blackhawk Biofuels. To a red light this week. Blackhawk Biofuels announced it's pulling out of "Lot 7" and heading to Danville. "It's regrettable but I understand the business decision they had to make," said Stepehenson County Board Member Jeff Mikkelson.
A tough reality for Stepehson County, now down two businesses for the Mill Race Crossing site. Last year a pork proceesing plant backed out. Mikkelsen says the disappointment lies in the county's aggressive efforts to fill up the land. They've made it 'infraustrucre and rail ready. Leaders in Freeport say the county's loss trickles down to the city too.
"The effect on Freeport is the economy. Job's being hired, the payroll, what comes out of the plant," Mayor George Gaulrapp said. But Gaulrapp and county board members remain optimistic about the future of this land. The mayor did suggest a shift in strategy. "Maybe we need to refine the process a little bit. We meaning the city and the county, everyone working together so we make sure we get some really good prospects," Gaulrapp said. Right now, Mikkelsen says the county has at least two prospects in the agriculture arena. But it's too early to give details. If anything, waiting some more could be on their side.
"We've always known we were on the fringe of development. We're not Boone County, Winnebago county, but it's coming this way," Mikkelsen said. Officials with Blackhawk Biofuels say they're leaving Mill Race Crossing because the company's lender wouldn't committ to the project. They do plan to repay Stephenson County $300,000 for its investment in the biodiesel plant. The loss of this project is means about 30 to 40 fewer new jobs for the area.