Star of the West Milling Company has announced its decision to expand its Ligonier-based flour mill to triple its output. The company’s expansion is scheduled to be complete by fall 2025.

Star of the West, headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, considered multiple options for expansion, placing the Indiana site into a position to compete for the expansion. The company has operations in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, and North Dakota. As a result of winning the project, the Ligonier plan will see the existing flour mill expand its capacity from an output of 800,000 pounds of soft wheat flour to 2.8 million pounds produced daily, including 500,000 pounds of pathogen mitigated capacity.

“The Ligonier, Indiana project is a significant step forward in meeting our strategic objective of partnering with producers and food processors with the goal of feeding the world,” said Jim Howe, CEO of Star of the West. “Our business model is diverse within the ag sector. Our ability to enhance and expand our wheat milling focus fits perfectly with our long-term company plans.”

The project, in addition to expanding capacity for conventional flour production, will enable Star of the West to bring to market an affordable pathogen mitigated flour, marking the first application of this technology in a commercial mill in the United States.

New construction will include a seven-story slipform structure to house the milling operation, additional feed and flour storage, two twin packaging lines, and tote-filling capabilities. The company currently owns property along on Richmond, N. Martin, and Gerber Streets in the Ligonier Industrial Park where the expansion will occur.

Also included in the project is funding for a full-time wheat specialist that will be based in Ligonier to work directly with local growers to maximize both yield and quality of their wheat crop.

“Wheat is a crop that has tremendous soil health benefits and we are excited to support the Indiana wheat grower in their decision to include soft red winter wheat in their crop rotation,” added Kate Knowlton, Ligonier plant manager for Star of the West.

The company has not released investment or job estimates associated with the expansion, but Be Noble Inc. confirms the project is one of the largest to come to Noble County in decades and does include job growth. Several local contractors and equipment suppliers will also benefit from the local project, including Leatherman Construction, based in Albion.

“It’s amazing,” noted Melanie Kellogg, director of Noble County’s economic development agency. “I’m super thrilled to support this project. It says what a great community Ligonier is.”