Manufacturer to debut $70M expansion project in Verona

A Des Moines, Iowa-based manufacturer is set to debut an expansion project in Verona that represents an investment in the eight figures.

Kemin Industries Inc., which makes specialty ingredients, has scheduled an Aug. 23 ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a news release. The 633 N. Third St. address in Verona is about 4 miles west of Aurora.

"The 38,000-square-foot production plant is a $70 million investment and will employ nearly 30 full-time workers in the community once it's fully operational," company officials said in the release.

Kemin Industries broke ground on the facility in November 2021, at which time officials expected the investment to be $40 million, according to past reporting. A company official could not be reached for comment by deadline on why the figure increased.

The production plant is next door to an existing company facility that Kemin bought in 2011 from Springfield-based American Dehydrated Foods Inc.

"Southwest Missouri has served as an excellent place for Kemin’s production capabilities and will continue to be a great community to expand our manufacturing opportunities,” Kemin Industries President and CEO Chris Nelson said when the expansion was announced in late 2021. "We believe that Verona and the surrounding areas provide a talented and dedicated workforce ideal to grow our global footprint and transform the quality of life.”

Kansas City-based JE Dunn Construction Co. and St. Louis-based Barry-Wehmiller Design Group Inc. were hired as general contractor and architect at that time, according to past reporting.

Officials told Springfield Business Journal at the time that the new facility would manufacture functional proteins for the food technologies division of Kemin.