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While many western Kansas towns are struggling with declining populations and difficult economies, a building boom is bringing construction workers and hope for a bright future to a small town in the far southwest corner of the state.
Construction has begun on a new multi-million ethanol plant and a new nursing home in Hugoton, which also has made improvements to its schools. And Stevens County also is celebrating the last year's opening of a new jail, The Hutchinson News reported Monday (http://bit.ly/n11JjRhttp://bit.ly/n11JjR ).
This community, about 70 miles southwest of Garden City, is welcoming Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, which recently received a $132.4 million loan guarantee to develop a commercial-scale ethanol plant that will convert crop residue and switchgrass into 23 million gallons of ethanol per year.
Crews are grading for roads on land about two miles west of town before starting on construction of the plant.
"We think it's a home run," said Neil Gillespie, director of Stevens County Economic Development. "For a community our size, this is an enormously good thing."
About 20 people are currently working on the site. But Chris Standlee, executive vice president of Abengoa Bioenergy U.S. Holdings Inc., said 50 to 100 contract employees will be on site by the end of 2011 and eventually about 300 employees will be building the $350 million plant. Standlee estimates full operation will begin by the middle of 2013.
While many western Kansas towns are struggling with declining populations and difficult economies, a building boom is bringing construction workers and hope for a bright future to a small town in the far southwest corner of the state.
Construction has begun on a new multi-million ethanol plant and a new nursing home in Hugoton, which also has made improvements to its schools. And Stevens County also is celebrating the last year's opening of a new jail, The Hutchinson News reported Monday (http://bit.ly/n11JjRhttp://bit.ly/n11JjR ).
This community, about 70 miles southwest of Garden City, is welcoming Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, which recently received a $132.4 million loan guarantee to develop a commercial-scale ethanol plant that will convert crop residue and switchgrass into 23 million gallons of ethanol per year.
Crews are grading for roads on land about two miles west of town before starting on construction of the plant.
"We think it's a home run," said Neil Gillespie, director of Stevens County Economic Development. "For a community our size, this is an enormously good thing."
About 20 people are currently working on the site. But Chris Standlee, executive vice president of Abengoa Bioenergy U.S. Holdings Inc., said 50 to 100 contract employees will be on site by the end of 2011 and eventually about 300 employees will be building the $350 million plant. Standlee estimates full operation will begin by the middle of 2013.
