• 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 Having Fun!We Are Generous!
  • 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

  • Kenny Spafford

    He may be one of the most recognizable people in Marion. And, if you’ve ever met him—even once—he will never forget your name. Picking up litter on his daily walks, Kenny Spafford knows Marion County. Originally from Lima, Kenny moved to Marion at the age of 19 to attend Tri-Rivers. Over the past 30 years, […]Read More »
  • Marion Public Library Promotes Lifelong Learning

    From newborns to senior citizens, the Marion Public Library (MPL) holds a variety of programs to promote lifelong learning. The library offers opportunities to learn from local experts, meet national award-winning authors and take a deep dive into timely topics such as the upcoming solar eclipse. “When lifelong learning is your mission, you are always […]Read More »
  • Terry Cline Puts Marion in Focus

    Marion native Terry Cline has always strived to make his hometown a better place to live, work, and play. Whether it’s been through the business he founded or volunteer activities, Cline has sought to use his skills in video production, marketing, and advertising to help promote a wide range of events in Marion County. Awards […]Read More »
  • Carroll Neidhardt: Marion Man Preserves History

    As a child, Carroll Neidhardt had a passion for learning about Marion County. “He was interested in everything. The boys would go play in the woods and Carroll would know all of the rocks, trees, leaves and acorns,” said Mary Ellen Dune, Carroll’s mother. “He was interested in everything he could see.” At age 12, […]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