Ceres Solutions obtains state loan for rail project at Michigan feed mill

Ceres Solutions Cooperative Inc. has been awarded a $350,000 state loan for a rail project that's part of a feed-mill expansion in White Cloud, Michigan.

The company obtained the loan from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Rail's Freight Economic Development Program (FEDP), which provides low interest loans to rail-served businesses in the state.

Ceres Solutions will use the funding toward a project to increase the logistics capacity at its feed-mill site. The project will include a new rail siding, existing track improvements and the installation of ingredient receiving pits.

FEDP loans may cover up to 50 percent of the cost of the rail infrastructure, and are limited to the rail infrastructure itself, according to a press release issued by the Newaygo County Economic Development Office (NCEDO), which assisted Ceres in its loan application.

Formerly known as the North Central Co-op, Ceres Solutions announced the $10 million expansion of its White Cloud facility last year.

"NCEDO and MDOT have provided us with all the tools and support we need to succeed in West Michigan," said Martin Hall, Michigan region manager at Ceres Solutions. "Without their support, this project would have taken much longer and would have slowed our growth in the state."