There’s a reason global companies choose where they do business carefully.

For Novonesis, that decision came down to more than geography. It was about incentives, partnerships and a state committed to helping companies succeed.

Today, the company’s Blair, Nebraska, facility plays a critical role in its global operations. And while the products made there are used in everything from food to fuel, the story of why Novonesis chose the Greater Omaha region — and continues to invest here — is just as important.

“You’ll commonly find pepperoni made in the U.S. has one of our biosolutions in it,” said Vanessa Rising, Senior Director of Manufacturing & General Manager at Novonesis’ Blair facility. “And if you’ve ever had low-lactose milk or a light beer, enzymes made by Novonesis are what make that possible.”

But long before production began, the company was focused on solving a different kind of challenge: where to grow.

“When we were evaluating expansion, we were transporting raw materials from the Midwest to North Carolina, producing enzymes there and then shipping them back to ethanol plants in the Midwest,” Rising explained. “Being here eliminates that inefficiency. We’re within a 500-mile radius of 95% of the biofuel producers in North America.”

That central location put Nebraska firmly on the shortlist alongside other Midwestern states. But location alone wasn’t enough to win the project.

“The incentives at the time did have an impact on our decision to locate here,” Rising said. “The state was a great partner in the discussions that ultimately led to our decision to locate here.”

Programs like property tax incentives and ImagiNE Nebraska helped strengthen the business case. But just as important was how those incentives were delivered.

“As a Danish company based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, not many Danes really understood Nebraska,” Rising said. “Having both local and state officials and groups working together impressed our site development teams at the end of the day.”

That coordination — across city, state and regional partners — signaled something larger: a community aligned around helping companies invest and grow.

Beyond incentives, Greater Omaha’s broader business environment helped close the deal. Access to power, water, transportation and local suppliers all played a role. Even the Missouri River became a critical asset, allowing Novonesis to transport oversized equipment that couldn’t move by road or rail.

The Blair BioRefinery Campus added another layer of advantage.

“This has become extremely important,” Rising said of the company’s co-location with Cargill. “We receive raw materials that are directly piped from Cargill, as well as steam availability… In addition, our wastewater is transported via pipeline to Cargill for processing.”

That setup reduces costs, simplifies operations and reflects the kind of long-term infrastructure investment that supports advanced manufacturing.

Just as important, Rising pointed to the less tangible factors that shaped the decision.

“On a soft note, I would say the ‘friendly’ aspect of those that were involved in the process at the city and state levels,” she said. “We felt ‘welcomed.’”

That sense of partnership didn’t end after the initial investment.

Novonesis’ presence in Blair has grown from an initial commitment of more than $250 million to more than $700 million, with continued expansion over time.

“Our investment at this site speaks for itself,” Rising said. “That growth is a testament to our workforce and their ‘get it done’ attitude, as well as the operational advantages this location offers.”

State and local partnerships have continued to support growth through workforce development, infrastructure coordination and ongoing engagement.

That forward-looking perspective reflects a broader truth: incentives matter most when they evolve alongside industry.

For companies considering expansion, the company’s message is clear.

“Nebraska has been very good for Novonesis,” she said. “It’s a ‘small town state’ that takes pride in finding synergies where possible and supporting those that invest in growth.”

Grounded in a strong commitment to customer centricity, Novonesis leveraged Nebraska’s exceptional ecosystem to build lasting roots—further strengthening its ability to support customers while contributing to the continued growth of local industry.