The world's largest soybean processing and biofuels plant has opened in northern Indiana in Claypool. Louis Dreyfus Commodities says when fully operational, the facility will buy about $450 million in soybeans from Indiana farmers annually. The plant will employ about 70 workers. Mike Mandl, regional operations manager for Louis Dreyfus Commodities, says the company chose Claypool because of its agricultural support infrastructure and transportation options.

Ag exports expected

to reach record high

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting that total U.S. agriculture exports for 2007 are expected to reach a record high of more than $78 billion. Purdue University Agricultural Economist Phil Abbott says the increase will likely be caused by higher grain and oilseed prices.

Major economic plan

set for Indianapolis

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz will join executives from ANGEL Learning Inc. at INTECH Park this week for a major economic development announcement. Inside INdiana Business reported in June that ANGEL Learning was moving its headquarters to INTECH Park and would create 123 jobs.

Manufacturer moving

to Michigan City

Vanair Manufacturing Inc. has started construction on a new facility in LaPorte County. The company is building a 60,000-square-foot plant for manufacturing air compressors and generators. The new facility is expected to help the company create 60 jobs in the next three years.

Two Indiana companies

will combine efforts

Fort Wayne-based Riverside Manufacturing Inc. has acquired Transportation Safety Technologies, Inc. (TST) in Indianapolis. Riverside bought TST from Arcapita, an investment firm. Riverside Chief Executive Officer Fred Merritt says the acquisition will help the combined company in its efforts to become the world's largest manufacturer of electrical components for military and specialty vehicles.

IU adds faculty to

growing department

Indiana University is adding six new faculty members to its Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design. The university says it has seen a

93 percent increase in students majoring in these areas from 2000 to 2006. The university says the additional faculty will allow it to expand course offerings.

New leader chosen

at Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame's Center for Environmental Science and Technology has a new director.Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences Professor Jeremy Fein has been chosen to replace Patricia Maurice. The center provides the advanced tools researchers need to address complex environmental issues.