• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Generous!We Are Having Fun!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

POET Biorefining

By MarionMade! on October 5, 2017

POET.

In 1983, Jeff Broin and his family observed valuable farmland going unused while the nation was importing millions of barrels of oil and farmers were going bankrupt. As a result, they made the decision to start producing biofuels on a small farm-scale operation in Wanamingo, Minnesota, to soak up surplus grain. In 1987, the Broins moved to commercial-scale with the purchase of a foreclosed biofuels plant in Scotland, South Dakota, marking the beginning of Broin Companies. The company kept that name until March 2007 when the POET name change brought all Broin entities under one strong identity.

From 1991 to 2001, POET Design & Construction designed and built 11 biofuel production facilities, five of which are still managed by POET Plant Management. Since 2002, POET has constructed 21 additional facilities, all of which are part of the POET Biorefining network.

Today, POET is a fully-integrated biofuels company, orchestrating the development, design, engineering, construction, and management of biofuels production facilities and then marketing the products. There are 28 POET Biorefining production facilities in seven states, annually producing 1.8 billion gallons of biofuels, 10 billion pounds of high-protein distillers grains and 550 million pounds of corn oil.

POET Biorefining–Marion is currently expanding its footprint which will ultimately more than double the facility’s production capacity from 70 million gallons of biofuels per year to 150 million gallons. In addition, we will produce nearly 360,000 tons of high-protein animal feed, up from 178,000 tons at the current capacity. This expansion has a capital cost of $120 million, directly supporting area contractors and indirectly supporting hotels and restaurants in the community.

During construction, we will provide 225 jobs and will permanently hire 18-21 new jobs.

#MarionMade #WeAreGrowing #WeArePoet

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Marion’s Helping Hands

    MARION’S HELPING HANDS Marion’s Helping Hands started in May 2013 with a mission, a Facebook page, a friend, and Brandy Gatrell’s garage. Almost four years later, the mission has gone above and beyond what was ever imagined. Now, the operations are led by four moms and a community that cares. A community that wants to […]Read More »
  • Marion Bicentennial

    The new year- 2020 brings in many once in a lifetime events for the Marion community.  The bicentennial anniversary of Marion County is one of the most important.  Here are the plans on how Marion County will celebrate this year-long commemoration. A core aspect of the events will revolve around celebrating the history and development […]Read More »
  • Jacqueline Ringer Born to be a Social worker

    In honor of National Social Work Month and Women’s History Month, we are highlighting a MarionMade! social worker. Jacqueline Ringer started her social work career over 20 years ago. She knew social work was for her when she went to an open house in high school where the core values of social work were presented […]Read More »
  • Photographer Captures Marion’s Best Features

    One man volunteers his time and talent to take dozens of beautiful pictures of Marion County, its new businesses, historical places, interesting people and everything in between. “I like the history of Marion – from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Chapel to the Huber Museum to the True House. We need to learn about our history!” […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image