Louis Dreyfus Company Announces Record Breaking Project in Wyandot County

Gregory Moon
Wyandot County Office of Economic Development

October 20, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Louis Dreyfus Company Announces Record Breaking Project in Wyandot County

Today, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, announced plans for its state-of-the-art soybean processing facility to be located in Wyandot County, Ohio.  The project will bolster the region’s economic growth in the critical food and agriculture sector.  LDC’s facility will be located just outside of the City of Upper Sandusky; it’s first location in the State of Ohio.

The project will create over 100 new jobs with an associated annual payroll of approximately $9.2 million.  Total capital investment of over half a billion dollars for the LDC facility will make it the single largest private investment project in Wyandot County history.

LDC will start construction in early 2024 on the future facility in Upper Sandusky that will have an annual soy crushing capacity of 1.5 million metric tons, the company said in a statement.

The site will have an edible soybean oil production capacity of 320,000 metric tons per year and annual lecithin production capacity of 7,500 metric tons, it said.

The Wyandot County Office of Economic Development (WCOED) and its member partners are proud to welcome LDC to the Wyandot County business community.  The WCOED worked diligently since mid-2021 to bring this project to fruition.

“It’s been years of overcoming challenges, but today the hard work of many resulted in a historic project announcement for Wyandot County,” said WCOED Executive Director Greg Moon.  “We are very fortunate to welcome LDC to Wyandot County’s expanding community of industry leaders.  Beyond the direct jobs and investment, this new operation will have a positive impact to many more in our agricultural-rich community.”

Among the local partners playing a critical role in the project’s development have been leadership from the City of Upper Sandusky and County of Wyandot who plan to support the project through local incentives and utility services.

“The City of Upper Sandusky welcomes LCD to our community.  We are looking forward to being a part of their future success as well as the part they will play in ours,” said Upper Sandusky Mayor Kyle McColly.

Wyandot County Commissioner Brad Batton noted, “This project will bring great benefits to our residents, and we are pleased LDC chose Wyandot County out of many potential sites for this project.”

There are approximately 26,000 soybean farmers in Ohio, and the annual economic impact from soybean production in Ohio is $5.3 billion. LDC’s state-of the-art soybean processing plant will have integrated crushing, edible oil refining, and lecithin production and packaging capabilities.

“Soybeans are Ohio’s top exported agriculture product, so we are very excited to welcome LDC to Upper Sandusky,” said Governor DeWine. “This new facility will not only bring in new jobs, but it will also lead to new avenues for growth and innovation in Ohio’s agricultural sector.”

Wyandot County has long been recognized as a center for manufacturing, agri-business, and farming, backed by an ideal location and highly skilled workforce. The partnership between Wyandot County Economic Development, the City of Upper Sandusky, Regional Growth Partnership, and JobsOhio created an ideal environment for LDC.

“LDC’s substantial investment is a testament to Ohio’s economic vibrancy and our appeal to global agribusiness leaders,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “Our collaboration will ensure the venture’s success and bolster Ohio’s reputation as a prime destination for diverse investments.”

The State of Ohio, JobsOhio, and Wyandot County will consider assistance for the project, which will be made public after any incentives are approved.