Acting State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for Ohio, Beth Huhn announced that the USDA has awarded $1 million in grants to help expand the availability for higher blend, renewable biofuel in Ohio, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky.

Ohio is one of 23 states that the USDA is investing $26 million through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The funding will assist in increasing the use of biofuels derived from American agricultural products.

Among the companies taking advantage of these grants is Hubbard-based Qualdland Corporation. The company will use a $202,000 grant to replace eight dispensers and two storage tanks at a fueling station in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This project is expected to increase ethanol sales by 804,000 gallons per year.

Other Ohio companies who received grants include Cincinnati-based company United Dairy Farmers, who is using its $634,000 grant to replace 21 dispensers and four storage tanks at four fueling stations, as well as install 13 new dispensers and two new storage tanks at two fueling stations in Ohio and Kentucky. This project is expected to increase ethanol sales by 4.4 million gallons per year.

Westlake-based company TA Operating Inc also received a grant of to replace 28 dispensers and two storage tanks in Gary, Indiana and Salina, Kansas. This project is expected to increase ethanol sales by 1.1 million gallons per year.

Huhn says these investments will help America create thriving communities that can grow and prosper.

"USDA is putting rural America at the heart of solutions for renewable energy by expanding the infrastructure and availability of higher-blend biofuels to promote environmentally-friendly fuel choices and stimulate the market for U.S. farmers and ranchers," Huhn said.