(KLZA)-- While not all of the I's are dotted and T's crossed at this point, all the principals involved in Citroniq Chemicals constructing a $5 billion plant to transform ethanol into bio-based polypropylene, plastic pellets for use by companies interested in lowering their carbon footprint are very positive the project will be ready to move forward in the not too distant future.

During a public meeting last week to allow local citizens to hear from Citroniq founders Kelly Knopp and Mel Badheka, Falls City EDGE Executive Director Lucas Froeschl said this is a giant step in Falls City building a biochemical hub in Falls City, noting there are companies that value decarbonized products.

Julie Bushell with Nebraska BioEconomy was working with Citoniq to find a location when she met EDGE Director Lucas Froeschl who explained how Falls City was being proactive and looking for companies like Citroniq to locate here. She was able to get the two entities who shared the same vision together.

Bushell said the leadership in Falls City has been great to work with.

The Nebraska BioEconomy is working to revitalize rural communities and protect family farms and ranches by spurring investments in our rural infrastructure.

Bushell says projects like this are important in helping keep young people in Nebraska by creating careers allowing them to do that.

She says the investment back into communities is important in helping grow the needs for commodities like corn grown in Nebraska which in turn helps add value to what farmers are producing and allowing family farms to continue to grow while creating additional revenue streams for those farms.

More than 200 people were in attendance during the meeting last week at Falls City High School. The plan is to have the plant to be located approximately two miles south of Falls City in operation by 2029.