SPRINGFIELD, IL- This week, State Senator Gary Forby (D – Benton) was pleased to announce that Ag Energy Resources, Inc. will receive funding assistance provided by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The facility, located in Benton, Illinois, will be the recipient of nearly $750,000 in funding from the DCEO in order to maintain jobs and stabilize employment. This money will be used to reopen the milling and fuel product facility and will give the company the ability to provide much-needed jobs to local residents of Southern Illinois.

"This is a great opportunity for the people of Southern Illinois to maintain and create jobs," Senator Forby said. "The funding assistance will be beneficial for the local economy because it will use local resources, like grain, which will increase demand for local production."

Within the next few weeks, some of the near – 30 job opportunities are expected to be filled by those employees who previously lost their jobs due to the facility’s closing.