The chairman of the Western-Pasta-Growers says support for the group is growing following a series of information and membership meetings held throughout the southeast over the past two weeks.

Orlin Hector estimates around 300 people have purchased $25 memberships in Western Pasta, which guarantees them the right to invest in a durum mill and pasta plant for Weyburn down the road.

The group's goal is to get 2,000 members in total and use the money in the development of a business plan for the plant.

Membership meetings have been held in Weyburn, Estevan, Redvers, Fillmore, Ogema, Sedley and Radville. A meeting is set for Assiniboia this afternoon and Milestone on Thursday, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Legion Hall.

"We're amazed that we're selling more memberships than there are people attending the meetings," said Hector, referring to farmers who are buying for friends and family.

Further meetings are in the works for southwest Saskatchewan and Alberta, but firm dates have not been set.

While there is support for the idea of a value-added venture like a pasta plant, Hector admits producers are questioning where the money will come from during a farm income crisis.

"There is some concern about farmers raising the money because of the economy, but most people have faith that if the business is right, banks will invest and farmers will come up with enough money to make it work. People are looking at it as an investment, like buying a piece of machinery or land," he said.

Hector admits there are also concerns that Western Pasta and the Prairie Pasta Producers - the first group on the scene to propose a pasta plant for Weyburn - aren't working together.

Western Pasta - made up of local business people, politicians and farmers - formed when Prairie Pasta rejected the City of Weyburn's offer to sell land and buildings for a pasta plant for $1.

Prairie Pasta chairman Dave Schnell says they have to buy an existing plant first to gain market share in the competitive pasta market, before they establish a new one in Weyburn.

They'll be looking for investors in late February through a series of 25 town hall meetings in Western Canada and North Dakota.

"We're both trying to do the same thing at the end of the day," said Schnell. "But all the research we've done shows it's difficult to do without forming market share first. I don't understand how the Western Pasta group figures it can make it happen sooner."

Prairie Pasta has been forming a business plan and fighting with the Canadian Wheat Board for a delivery exemption for potential investors for the last two years.

Schnell says he isn't threatened by the new group.

"Maybe what they're doing will help us to gain membership. What Orlin and Western Pasta are doing is creating awareness. All I ask is that the people attending the Western Pasta meetings come to our meetings and find out what we're talking about. I believe we will be able to explain all our research," he said.

According to Schnell, support for Prairie Pasta isn't waning.

"I'm getting calls everyday and what I'm hearing is that people are concerned about what Western Pasta is doing because they're saying this needs to be done together - if we split everyone will lose," he said.