CLAYPOOL - Members of the general public will have the chance to tour the Louis Dreyfus biodiesel plant in Claypool Tuesday before it starts production.
A grand-opening celebration for the plant, which is the world's largest biodiesel plant, will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday rain or shine, and the public is invited to attend. Gates open at 9 a.m. for the event.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., officials from Louis Dreyfus, along with state and local agencies, will speak. Robert Louis Dreyfus, owner of Louis Dreyfus Commodities, and Serge Schoen, chief executive officer of Louis Dreyfus, are flying in from Paris, France, to attend the event, and Governor Mitch Daniels will speak at the event as well. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
From noon to 2 p.m., everyone is invited to take a tour of the newly built facility. This will be the only opportunity for the public to tour the plant before it starts operations. Tours of the plant will not be allowed after production begins in October.
Lunch will be provided free of charge and will be prepared by Our Father's House, the Kosciusko County Cattlemen and Kosciusko County Pork Producers. The menu includes ribeye sandwiches, pork chop sandwiches, hot dogs, herbed chicken, potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, honey glazed carrots and homemade pies for dessert. Any food left over will be donated to Our Father's House.
Popcorn also will be provided by Lake City Bank, and ice cream will be provided by the Leesburg Lions Club and the The Dairy and Nutrition Council and American Dairy Association of Indiana, along with Prairie Farms. Maple Leaf Farms will serve duck samples.
About 60 area businesses and vendors also will set up booths during the event. Many of the companies who will set up booths have been involved with the construction of the plant.
An activity area will be set up for children.
Parking will be available for about 700 cars at the site, and alternative parking will be available at Kerlin's in Silver Lake and the Claypool school. Chartered buses will be available to take people from the alternative parking areas to the site.
According to Jeremy Mullins, a representative of Louis Dreyfus, Claypool, accommodations have been made for people who are handicapped or have trouble walking long distances. Small shuttle vehicles and wagons from Clunette Elevator will be available for those who need it.
Tents will be set up, and the site is ready for any type of weather. Since the plant is still a construction site, people attending the event should wear appropriate closed-toed shoes.
The plant is at 7344 Ind. 15S, just south of the Claypool overpass.
