Chairwoman Stabenow Attends Grand Opening of Marrone Bio Innovations Michigan Manufacturing Facility in Bangor

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, today participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of the Marrone Michigan Manufacturing facility in Bangor. Sen. Stabenow strongly urged Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI), which is headquartered in California, to come to Michigan and invest in the new biobased manufacturing plant in Bangor. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to create at least 50 new jobs in the region.

Recently, MBI was awarded a $10 million loan by Five Star Bank, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program. The loan will help MBI expand capacity and meet increased sales projections at its Bangor facility.

"Today's grand opening of the Marrone Michigan Manufacturing facility is great news for Southwest Michigan and our entire state," said Sen. Stabenow. "We know how to grow things and make things, so it's no surprise that MBI chose to invest right here in Michigan. It's exciting to be back at MBI and see new biobased products being manufactured that are supporting new jobs, helping our farmers, and protecting our Great lakes."

MBI is a leader in natural pest management products, or biobased pesticides, for the agriculture and water treatment markets. MBI will manufacture innovative products in Michigan to protect fruits and vegetables from pests and disease and to control invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which have been a serious problem in the Great Lakes.

Biobased manufacturing, using home-grown agriculture crops instead of petroleum-based chemicals to make products, is an industry creating jobs across Michigan. Senator Stabenow's bipartisan Farm Bill, signed into law by President Obama in Michigan, strengthens support for biobased manufacturing. The Farm Bill also provides significant resources for rural development initiatives, including much-needed capital to support businesses in rural communities. For more information on the Farm Bill, click here.