ADM wants to buy Enterprise South Property

Archer Daniels Midland company is offering the county $623,700 for 17.82 acres at Enterprise South Industrial Park to open up a complex to handle corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dry dextrose, dry starch, and dry and liquid sugar, according to county documents and County Commission Chairman Larry Henry.

The project will relocate 25 jobs from within Chattanooga area to the facility. Henry said the facility will provide products to McKee Foods and M&M Mars company. According to an ADM spokesman, Roman Blahoski, the company does not reveal its customers.

When completed, ADM will consolidate the operations of the company’s Jersey Pike and River Bend terminals in Chattanooga and its terminal in Cleveland, Tenn., into the new Chattanooga facility.

“The new sweetener terminal will expand our warehousing and sugar melting capabilities in the region and allow ADM to more efficiently meet our customers’ needs for sweetener products,” said Chris Cuddy, ADM’s vice president and general manager for sweeteners and starches. “The location provides access to the major railroads in the area and is well-positioned to serve our customers in several Southeastern states.”

Pending city and county approval, construction is expected to begin in May and the facility should be complete by the summer of 2012.

Commissioners will consider approving the purchase at their meeting next week.