TOPEKA, KANSAS, U.S. — The Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) in Topeka, Kansas, U.S., has approved a contract that will allow Global Grain to establish operations in the city.

The JEDO in June approved performance-based incentives of up to $115,600 for funding for an entity known only as “Project Eagle.” On Sept. 12, “Project Eagle” was identified as Global Grain, a new start-up commodity export company that is owned by Paragon Ag Advisors, Silver Lake, Kansas, U.S. Chris Haverkamp is chief executive officer of Paragon.

Molly Howey, senior vice-president of economic development for the Greater Topeka Partnership, said Global Grain is expected to create 16 new jobs in the area over five years with an average salary of $60,000 plus benefits. The company is expected to have an economic impact of $2 million over the five-year period.

Howey told the JEDO that Global Grain will containerize and export commodities and grain materials from the region to other countries that Paragon Ag Advisors already has relationships with, including Asia and Canada.