Kansas Corn Works with Wichita Jump Start Store to Receive Ethanol Pump Grant

Wichita-based Jump Start Stores has received a USDA grant to add E15 and higher ethanol blends to a retail location in the Wichita area. Kansas Corn partnered with Jump Start to apply for the USDA Rural Development Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grant.

The Kansas Corn Commission has worked with Jump Start on several ethanol projects in Wichita and this project at a store located at 7115 W. 13^th St. N, Wichita, is the company’s fourteenth station in the area to offer higher ethanol blends and more fuel choices for its customers. The station is outfitted with three state-of-the-art blender pumps that also have screens to allow the retailer to connect with customers with information about the fuel offerings and more. The new pumps were installed early November and are currently in operation.

“We are excited to have helped Jump Start receive USDA funding for this project,” Kansas Corn Market Development Coordinator Emily Koop said. “The Jump Start stations have a strong presence in the Wichita area and have been champions for increasing the use of ethanol blended fuels.”

The $100 million USDA program matched approximately 50 percent of total project costs for fuel infrastructure projects that added higher ethanol blends to fuel stations. Kansas corn contributed additional funds to incentivize fuel retailers to apply and assist with the cost share. Kansas Corn staff members also provided technical support, helping with the environmental review process, economic analysis and grant writing to help Kansas fuel retailers apply for the grants. Additional Kansas fuel retailers may be announced later pending final project approval.

USDA has announced the initial round of awards under this program to 40 recipients in 14 states for a total of $22 million. The initial $22 million in investment nationwide are projected to increase ethanol demand by nearly 150 million gallons annually.