Genencor breaks ground on Center of Excellence in Cedar Rapids
Genencor broke ground today on a new 20,000-square-foot Applications and Training Center of Excellence located at 1000 41st Avenue Drive Southwest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The $4.6 million project will create approximately 20 new positions.
Construction is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2009.
The center’s state-of-the-art facilities will allow fuel ethanol and carbohydrate processing customers to solve real-world production challenges.
It will include a fully equipped laboratory for analysis and testing. It also will provide extensive training facilities for customers and staff to build technical knowledge.
“We have maintained a close working relationship with Genencor since their arrival to Cedar Rapids almost 20 years ago,” said Mark Seckman, President of Priority One, the Economic Development Division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. “This operation brings another dimension of industrial biotechnology to our community and further positions Cedar Rapids as a world leader in this industry.”
“Genencor’s decision to locate its new Center of Excellence in Cedar Rapids is a clear sign that we have made some good decisions in the growth and development of our community,” said Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran. “Genencor has been a part of that growth and development, by providing highly-skilled jobs to our residents and serving as a community leader. We are very excited to see Genencor continue to grow in Cedar Rapids.”