Marquis Energy eyes expansion

HENNEPIN – Marquis Energy is working with Putnam and Bureau counties to expand its appeal to employers, recently gaining board approvals to expand its business park enterprise zones.

The Bureau/Putnam Area Enterprise Zone is made up of eight local governing bodies in Bureau and Putnam counties and includes Granville, Hennepin, Mark, Ladd, Princeton, Spring Valley and some unincorporated areas of Bureau and Putnam counties.

Bureau and Putnam county boards, along with Spring Valley and Princeton city councils this month, approved expansion of the enterprise zones aimed at marketing Marquis as a premier location for incoming businesses. A total of 1,051 acres will be added.

Danielle Anderson, director of government affairs and public relations at Marquis, said the energy company currently has more than 2,000 acres surrounding its property that is zoned industrial. She said some of those parcels are in the enterprise zone, and Marquis is going through the process now to have the remaining parcels included.

“We believe our town of Hennepin has superior logistics. That includes river freight, a Class 1 railroad and multiple interstate highways. We utilize these three important modes of transportation and shipping on a daily basis,” Anderson said.

The business park originated as a marine logistics center on the Illinois River in 2001. Marquis Energy broke ground in 2006 and started production two years later after CEO Mark Marquis determined that the site was an ideal location for an ethanol facility. Marquis doubled its facility in 2016, becoming the largest dry-mill ethanol facility in the world.

Marquis markets the location as ideal due to access to export markets via the American inland waterway system and the Gulf Coast. Additionally, Marquis’ railroad trackage connects to the Norfolk Southern Railroad, which covers the Eastern Seaboard, according to marketing materials for the land.

Those who bring their business to the enterprise zone are promised nearly 100% real estate tax abatement for 10 years, 6.25% sales tax exemption for building materials, a 0.5% investment tax credit and a $500 per job credit for hiring eligible workers. Additionally, Marquis is hoping to entice corporations with Illinois’ competitive energy market and natural gas supply lines located on the property.

“We know businesses will flourish due to the many benefits our area has to offer and this will further benefit our local community,” Anderson said.