Ark. companies to open mill

Associated Press - November 13, 2009 9:14 AM ET

GREENVILLE, Miss (AP) - Two Arkansas companies have announced a joint venture to locate a rice mill in Greenville that will employ 60 people.

Officials with International Silica Technologies of Jonesboro, Ark., and Producers Rice Mill of Stuttgart, Ark., announced this week that they plan to break ground on the plant in early 2010.

The Delta Democrat Times in Greenville reports that an offsite facility will house the IST company headquarters and distribution center.

IST president Randall Powell says the mill will convert rice hulls and straw into silica. He says the plant will also produce energy for the rice mill's parboiling and drying operations, displacing the use of natural gas for the rice manufacturing process.

Officials say the start of construction of the new plant depends on the venture's principals obtaining financing.

Information from: Delta Democrat Times, http://www.ddtonoine.com