Kaplan getting soybean plant in Garan building

Kaplan has a reason to celebrate this Christmas.
Mayor Mike Kloesel announced that the city council has approved a new lease for Soja Food, LLC in the city-owned old Garan facility. The city and the company agreed on a 10-year lease, with an option to purchase after three years.
The Garan building, located at 302 Klaby Meaux Road, has been vacant for years, previously used by Walmart for storage.
Before that, the Garan plant in Kaplan produced clothing for major retailers such as Walmart and J.C. Penny, primarily focusing on children’s apparel through cut-and-sew operations.
Mayor Kloesel negotiated the donation of the building to the City of Kaplan a little over 2 years ago convincing Garan, Inc., to donate the building and 18 acres of land to the city.
Soja Food plans to invest $10 million in equipment and renovations over the next 10 to 12 months for various types of soybean production. These products will be sold in markets across the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia. According to the lease-purchase agreement, Soja Foods, LLC is expected to create approximately 25-30 jobs in phase one and another 20-25 jobs in phase two of its operations.
“I am happy they selected Kaplan,” said Mayor Kloesel. “If they had to build a facility this big, it would cost them $6-8 million. I am excited for this opportunity to create jobs in our town. They loved our
location because there is room enough on the 18 acres for future expansion.”
Before the lease was approved, City Council member Mike Renfrow inquired about potential odors from soybean oil production. “I don’t want a pogie plant-type smell sitting in Kaplan,” said Renfrow, expressing concerns about possible odors. Although no one could say for sure, Kloesel did not expect any unpleasant smells similar to those from sugar cane production or the pogie plant.
Renfrow also asked about the type of water that would be discharged. After hearing the mayor’s responses, Renfrow commended Kloesel for securing the lease, stating, “This is a good thing for Kaplan.”
Kaplan will earn revenue from the lease agreement as well as the utilities used by the plant during operations. Additionally, there is a no solar panel clause in the contract to protect the city’s utility interests. The mayor reiterated that the renovation and setup process will take between 9-12 months.