Investors sought for Missouri ethanol plant

Liberal, Mo.-based Ozark Ethanol LLC has received authorization from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sell equity units for the plant, according to a news release. The company now can accept subscriptions from investors, with no corn-delivery commitments tied to the investments.

Equity units are $2 each, with a minimum of 10,000 units required.

Ozark Ethanol hopes to complete the drive within 60 days and start building the 57 million-gallon denatured ethanol plant in the fourth quarter, according to the release.

The equity offering is registered in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. To garner investor support, Ozark Ethanol will hold a series of town meetings, where industry advisers will be on hand. The kick-off meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. July 10 at Thiebaud Auditorium, 105 E. 11th St. in Lamar.

Additional information is available at www.ozarkethanol.com.

The plant is expected to produce 170,000 tons of dried distillers grains per year and consume about 19 million bushels of corn annually. Ozark Ethanol predicts it will hire about 36 workers and have an annual payroll of $2 million, according to the release.