Thursday, August 17, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Pledges Continued Support to Family Farmers
Governor says only Farmer-owned Ethanol and Biodiesel Facilities will Receive Discretionary Tax Incentives
SEDALIA–Building on his record as the only governor in Missouri history to fully fund the state's ethanol incentive program, Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that only majority farmer-owned ethanol and biodiesel production facilities would receive discretionary state tax incentives.
“I am firmly committed to helping Missouri's farm families take advantage of the burgeoning ethanol and biodiesel industries," Blunt said. "Companies that are not farmer-owned are more than welcome to locate in Missouri but I want to make clear that our state's commitment is primarily to our farm families who have been the bedrock of our state's economy for generations.”
Blunt also announced that the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) will be creating a special team focused on advancing Missouri's agricultural economy and his intention to ask the Missouri General Assembly to modernize the state's value-added grant program by expanding it to include working capitol, something Missouri farmers have told him is desperately needed.
In addition to fully funding the ethanol incentive program, Blunt also led the effort to require all gasoline sold in the state of Missouri to be comprised of 10 percent ethanol by 2008. This change will have positive benefits for Missouri's economy and environment by providing new jobs and economic activity and cleaner air throughout the state.
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