The City of Melville is hoping to attract a major agriculture-based business.

The City has obtained Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone status, the first of its kind in North America.

City Manager Ron McCullough is hoping the new status and access to over 300,000 tons of local wheat straw will entice Redleaf Pulp to build a $280-million straw processing facility.

He says the company has not decided yet where it will build in Saskatchewan.

He says straw can be turned into many products like pulp and car door panels.

McCullough says the wheat straw development would pump $20-million into the local economy.

He says the proposed plant would have a $250-million annual revenue stream, creating 110 direct jobs and 175 indirect jobs.