Gov. Heineman Awards City of Blair $800,000 for Novozymes Expansion

(Blair, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today awarded the city of Blair $810,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help with the start up of Novozymes Blair, Inc., a manufacturer of enzymes used in ethanol production in the U.S.

Novozyme's new facility will manufacture enzymes for grain-based ethanol production and those that will advance the production of cellulosic ethanol. The project will result in the creation of 100 full-time jobs.

“Attracting one of the world’s most influential bioinnovation companies was a significant win for Nebraska,” Gov. Heineman said. “Novozymes will be an important part of our growing biotechnology industry. The research and products made by this company are making the ethanol production process more efficient and more sustainable. This project will bring new jobs to Blair and the greater Omaha area. I’m pleased to present a grant that will help this project move forward.”

In the first phase of the project, the city of Blair will use CDBG funds to provide a conditional $400,000 grant to Novozymes for infrastructure improvements, including installing water and sewer lines and paving streets.

In the second phase, Blair will loan another $400,000 to the company for the purchase of equipment. The remaining $10,000 will be used by the city for project-related administrative costs. In addition, the city of Blair has committed $800,000 in local economic development funding for the purchase of equipment to match the CDBG funding.

Parent company Novozymes North America, Inc., will initially invest more than $2 million, projecting that future overall investment will increase substantially with development of the facility.

Novozymes markets more than 700 products throughout 130 countries and last year announcing new products to improve a detergent’s whitening power, improve apple production and improve drainage in paper mills recycling paper and cardboard.

Novozymes Blair, Inc. is a new company created by Novozymes North America Inc. to serve as the corporation’s operating entity in Blair. Danish company Novozymes A/S owns Novozymes North America Inc., on behalf of the Norvo Nordisk Foundation Novo A/S.

CDBG program funds are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Federal funds are made available to the state from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program.