(MERRILL, IA) The state's top office talks job creation in Siouxland as part of the Moving Iowa Forward tour. Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge stopped in Merrill to tout Plymouth Energy's economic impact. The company is leading the effort to both feed and fuel America.

Plymouth Energy is just one example of how Iowa is creating jobs by finding new uses for commodity crops.

"When we add value right here in Plymouth County or the other counties in northwest Iowa by further processing that corn, changing it into something of higher value, that money is going to stay here in your own communities," says Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.

The ethanol plant and nearby oil company created 60 new jobs in the last 18 months.

"This company will expand some. We will create some more jobs," says Dave Hoffman, Plymouth Energy President & CEO.    

Plant location in Merrill means more customers for other local businesses.

"It really has made a big difference as far as truck traffic coming through town because they stop and eat at our restaurants and also buy fuel here," says Rich Husman, Merrill Mayor.

Plymouth Oil plans to get its food-grade corn oil on the market within a month, using byproducts of Plymouth Energy's ethanol and feed production. 

"They're going to use every little bit of that corn kernel. They're going to both feed and fuel the world, right here from this plant. That's the kind of plants that are going to build the future of our state," says Lt. Gov. Judge.

Judge believes northwest Iowa is poised to lead the way in renewable energy and the state must prepare for the future of the budding industry.

"We know that the research and development that we do today will become the standard practices tomorrow," says Lt. Gov. Judge.

The governor is asking state lawmakers to fully fund the final installment of the Iowa Power Fund this session, a $100 million commitment for renewable energy research.

Reported by Erika Thomas. You can contact her at ethomas@kmeg.com.

Friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ErikaThomasTV.