3,200-head dairy farm will break ground soon in Cass County

Skip Kuker, president of the Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation, told the organization's board today that a new business would soon break ground in Cass County.

Far Hills Dairy recently completed the permitting process for its 3,200-head facility, Kuker said, and the company is trying to schedule a ground-breaking at the future site near Royal Center. At this point, he said, it is a matter of aligning the schedules of everyone involved.

The dairy, which is a Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development project, will be owned by Anton and Ineke Verwayen and employ roughly 32 people.

Though Kuker did offer updates on many projects, he said he had no news on the Camshaft project.

The Michigan-based manufacturer has been looking to move at least part of its operation. It was reported last week in the Jackson Citizen Patriot that the company might be moving to Coldwater, Mich., from nearby Jackson. However, the company itself has not commented publicly about any decision.

"I have not been told we are out of the running for any future developments for Camshaft," Kuker said.

Kuker objected to a characterization in an article this week that said he was previously confident about Logansport's chances at landing the facility. He had said that he thought the company was looking strongly at Logansport, but he noted at the time that the company had made no commitments.

"Economic development is constantly changing," he said. "You have to listen to your clients, be apolitical and you have to constantly be professional about what you do."

Kuker also discussed the addition of a new project this month, which he is calling "Project Lonnie." Kuker said the company was looking to relocate, but was involved in contracts with another community that might prohibit a potential move.

"They're committed to come to our community if they can get out of these contracts," Kuker said.

Kuker said the company was exploring options to get out of its current building projects. Given that history, however, Kuker said he has researched the company and how it got into its current situation. He said he would make sure city officials were aware of that history if the company did decide to make the move.

"We are doing our due diligence in always making sure the elected officials are educated about all the things that have happened," he said.

Another company has recently shown interest in Logansport and is creating competition with a project Kuker has been working on for several months. "Project Clean" is still in the review process, but Kuker said a second company of the same type has also come forward.

"Competition is always a good thing," said Kuker. "As long as we can land one, it's good to see. Now we have two people interested in industry in our community. Only one will probably make it, so the first one in wins, and we're working with both."

Two other companies are exploring building options in the area. "Project Ear" is looking at contractor pricing while "Project Bark" is making an offer on an existing building.

A proposed biodiesel plant, nicknamed "Project Olive," is currently looking at additional funding.

"They've got private funding, but one of the private people funding the project is looking for a second partner," said Kuker, noting that his office also works with venture capitalists and tries to connect them to potential business opportunities. "If that second partner comes in, I think the project may move forward."