New malting plant slated for Great Falls, MT

Modern Brewery Age, April 7, 2003

International Malting Co. formally announced Monday that its malt division plans to build a new malting plant in Great Falls, Montana, with groundbreaking for the plant scheduled this spring and completion projected for the fall of 2005.

"This new U.S. facility will feature state-of-the-art technology and process controls that enhance malt quality and conformity," the company said.

Projected production capacity will be between 8 million and 12 million bushels annually.

The company has malting operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The plant in Great Falls would be constructed by the company's Froedtert Malt division.

The plan initially was announced in January by Gov. Judy Martz, during her State of the State address to the Legislature.

International Malting Co. applied to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for a preconstruction air-quality permit in February. Information in the application said the plant will cost between $52 million and $72 million to build on a 10-acre site north of the city.

It would employ about 34 people with an annual payroll of $2.3 million in salary and benefits.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Secretary of Agriculture Ralph Peck. "It's a dream of mine that Montana will become the malt capital of the world."

Local officials said the plant would be an anchor in what will become a new industrial park poised to attract other businesses that make products from Montana's agricultural products.

Great Falls Mayor Randy Gray said those plans also would be unveiled on Tuesday.

Great Falls Development Authority President John Kramer said the final commitment from 1MG, which is headquartered in Milwaukee, came after it inked a deal with Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser and Michelob beers.

Peck said crop disease problems in the Red River Valley area of North Dakota mean companies are increasingly looking to Montana's farmers for malt barley.

Anheuser-Busch recently announced it will buy 10 million to 12 million bushels of malt barley in the Sidney area this year, he said.

"It's another opportunity for farmers to diversify their operations," Peck said. "Each one will make their own decision, but it's another choice."