Corn-stover processor shows interest in locating in Peabody
Staff writer
An undisclosed corn-stover processing company has expressed interest in establishing a manufacturing plant in Peabody, city officials were told Monday.
If the company sets up a processing plant in Peabody it would employ 10 to 15 people, require a 35,000-square-foot building, and use city utilities, mayor Tom Spencer said at Monday’s city council meeting.
“They’re looking for a community that wants them,” he said.
Andrew Nave, a member of the Greater Wichita Partnership, recently met with Peabody’s economic development board to outline the interests of the company, which is based in Texas.
“Yes, this is very preliminary,” councilman Jay Gfeller said. “I think that night we met with Andrew it was that, yes, we’re interested. We obviously don’t know all the details but we don’t want to say no because who knows what might work out and what might not work out. We’re going to pursue any chance we get around here.”
Nave will reveal the company’s name if Peabody reaches the presentation stage so the city can do proper research, Spencer said.
The Greater Wichita Partnership is an economic development group aimed at Wichita and surrounding areas.
Now that Peabody has a connection to Nave, it is important the city not let that go to waste, councilman Lindsay Hutchison said.
“The other thing we did was make a connection for economic development — someone we can go to for questions, advice, and help finding people to come to our area,” she said. “If we have things we’re looking for, we now have a connection from a much larger base.”
City pool to open
Peabody city pool will open by Tuesday, if not sooner. Manager Rachel Wattson said Monday that she wants to have it ready for Peabody’s swim team this summer.
A limit of 15 people in the pool at once was suggested.
Councilmen decided to lower individual memberships to $30 this year.