Turning soil on a new era for Aurora

Gov. Pillen speaks at Mission Critical groundbreaking Friday

  • A drone photo provided by the City of Aurora captured the scene from above Friday's groundbreaking.
    A drone photo provided by the City of Aurora captured the scene from above Friday's groundbreaking.
  • Participating in the groundbreaking for the new Specialty Ag Formulations plant at the Mission Critical site south of Aurora on Friday were, from left: Rod Schroeder, CEO of Meristem; John Bender, CEO of Frenchman Valley Cooperative; Kelsey Bergen, ADC executive director; Ben Sauder with Frenchman Valley Coop; Gov. Jim Pillen; Rick Brandt, CEO of Brandt, Inc.; Shawn Thicksten with Brandt; Jim Ediger, ADC president; Aurora Mayor Marlin Seeman; Sen. Loren Lippincott; and Bill Engel, Brandt executive vice pres
    Participating in the groundbreaking for the new Specialty Ag Formulations plant at the Mission Critical site south of Aurora on Friday were, from left: Rod Schroeder, CEO of Meristem; John Bender, CEO of Frenchman Valley Cooperative; Kelsey Bergen, ADC executive director; Ben Sauder with Frenchman Valley Coop; Gov. Jim Pillen; Rick Brandt, CEO of Brandt, Inc.; Shawn Thicksten with Brandt; Jim Ediger, ADC president; Aurora Mayor Marlin Seeman; Sen. Loren Lippincott; and Bill Engel, Brandt executive vice pres
  • Rick Brandt, Brandt CEO, addressed a crowd of 100 people Friday during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Mission Critical site.
    Rick Brandt, Brandt CEO, addressed a crowd of 100 people Friday during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Mission Critical site.
  • Laurel Marlatt, left, the nearest neighbor to the new ag facility to be constructed near Aurora, visits with Gov. Jim Pillen following the Mission Critical groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning. At center is Sen. Loren Lippincott, who introduced Pillen to a crowd of approximately 100 people.
    Laurel Marlatt, left, the nearest neighbor to the new ag facility to be constructed near Aurora, visits with Gov. Jim Pillen following the Mission Critical groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning. At center is Sen. Loren Lippincott, who introduced Pillen to a crowd of approximately 100 people.
    Crowds gathered, dignitaries spoke and golden shovels turned earth on Friday morning signaling both the beginning of a new manufacturing business for Hamilton County and the culmination of more than a decade of work by public and private entities at the Mission Critical business development site between Aurora and I-80. The groundbreaking ceremony in a former soybean field just south o...

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