(Evansville, WI) CHS has announced construction of a new oilseed processing facility at the east edge of the City, located at 400 County Road M. The new facility will accept soybeans by rail and truck and process soy meal and oils on site. Permitting is underway with construction expected to begin in the coming weeks, with completion targeted for fall 2028.
This project will provide Evansville, Rock County, and regional farmers with a new venue for their soy crops, boosting the local agricultural economy. Currently, the nearest soy processing facility is hours from Evansville, even though soy crops are a major product of southern Wisconsin agriculture. Upgrades to the local Union Pacific rail line will increase rail capacity between Evansville and Janesville and continue to the stateline. On site in Evansville, CHS will build a loop track to handle the daily loads of soybeans shipping out to market. At startup, the $700 million plant is expected to employ 80 full-time jobs and process 80 million bushels of beans, outputting both soy meal and oils. Mayor Abbey Barnes said, “In addition to the positive economic impact this will have for our community, this project puts Evansville on the map as an agricultural landmark for the region.”
Rock County and then the City began working with CHS in 2022 on development inquiries. Elected officials were engaged in the project in 2023, with a public open house later that summer. Common Council approved the project plans later in the year and then negotiated a development agreement that incorporated public input and outlined project specifics. Since then, CHS has provided quarterly updates to the Common Council and worked through environmental permitting with the State. Evansville’s CHS site will be in a new Tax Increment District, recently enacted by the State Legislature, to spur investment in both the district and City utilities. Community Development Director Colette Spranger shared, “The review and discussion that was involved with this site was truly a collaborative process with our city’s decision makers, the public and CHS.”
Hard work of City staff as well as partnerships with the County and the State of Wisconsin were pivotal in bringing this project to Evansville. Rock County Economic Development Manager James Otterstein worked hand in hand with the City to ready Evansville for development of this scale and made the critical first moves in engaging local landowners. Governor Tony Evers along with State Senators Mark Spreitzer and Howard Marklein, as well as State Representatives Clinton Anderson and Todd Novak worked on TIF legislation to make this project possible.
“I’m proud of the hard work the City has done over the years to become ready for a project like this; Evansville has a rich industrial heritage with a solid future ahead,” City Administrator Jason Sergeant noted. Evansville’s Common Council adopted a Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan in 2015 with the latest revisions in 2023 that prioritized diversifying Evansville’s tax base through strong economic development efforts and partnerships. Over the last decade Evansville’s downtown, retail, and industrial corridors have continued to see new businesses open, existing ones expand and millions of dollars in investments made. The new CHS facility will build upon Evansville’s small-city successes and invest in the community’s future.