BELOIT, Wis. -- Frito Lay has been awarded $2 million in financial support from Gov. Jim Doyle.

The community development block grant will help the company expand and create 24 full-time jobs in Beloit.

In addition, Frito Lay has become the 29th company in the state to be accepted into the "Green Tier" program.

The program recognizes corporations that go above and beyond to protect the environment.

"Since 1999, the Beloit site has reduced its water usage by over 50 percent; natural gas by 35 percent and electricity by 22 percent per pound of finished product produced," said Mike Stahl, Beloit technical manager.

Frito Lay said it is also making an impact in the local economy by using more than 500,000 pounds of Wisconsin-grown potatoes each day.