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Missouri Corn matching state, federal grants

The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council is providing up to five hundred-thousand dollars to fuel retailers by matching state and federal grant programs.

For fuel retailers to qualify for the council’s funding, they must first be approved for the USDA Rural Development’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program and the state’s Biofuel Infrastructure Program.

Bradley Schad with Missouri Corn said his organization’s funding paired with others will allow local fuel retailers to install pumps at a quarter of the cost, increasing access to ethanol blends above 10 percent.

“This gives an opportunity, that during financially stressed times, that it helps grow the market for the ethanol industry, which is a big thing as they have been hurt too,” he said. As the downturn, people have not been traveling as much and so fuel consumption is down.”

The council’s Chairman Greg Schneider said the matching program is intended to increase statewide demand for locally produced, corn-based ethanol. Applications for the program are due July 1.