Essential Estrogen

Advanced manufacturing and information technology companies continue to grow and add jobs in Iowa with more than $122 million in capital investments and 719 jobs on the table today at the Iowa Economic Development Board meeting. Financial and tax benefits were awarded to 10 projects across the state to recruit new companies, upgrade existing companies and launch new entrepreneurs.

“Iowa’s economy is strong and these projects will make our state even stronger,” said Gov. Chet Culver in a prepared statement. “We are working hard every day to aggressively recruit companies to locate and expand in Iowa, creating high-quality careers for Iowa families.”

Iowa Department of Economic Development Director Mike Tramontina added, “Job growth means new opportunities for our communities and our state’s workers. This month, we are growing career opportunities across the state, from Sioux Center to Davenport and in between.”

Technology services firm reviewing Davenport

eServ Corporation, a custom engineering services company, is looking at Davenport and locations in other states for a new $24 million advanced manufacturing technologies center. The proposed 30,000 square feet. office building in Davenport would house 275 jobs in product engineering, 270 of the jobs paying an average wage of $28.95 per hour. The Economic Development Board approved the project for $1 million from the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation (HQJC) program. Because of unprecedented growth the company needs a facility large enough to consolidate current operations as well as handle future expansion. eServ is part of Perot Systems Corporation, a worldwide provider of information technology services.

Continued growth at Iowa Bioprocessing Center in Eddyville

A supplier industry is building a $68 million chemical plant at the Iowa Bioprocessing Center in Eddyville. Midwest Chlor-Alkali will produce liquid caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at the new plant near the Cargill grain milling operation. Tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation (HQJC) program were awarded for the creation of 13 jobs paying an average wage of $29.59 per hour. Cargill is a significant customer for the liquid caustic soda and hydrochloric acid. The bleach will be sold as a water treatment product

New plastics company for Centerville

Lee Container Corporation is proposing to locate new Midwestern manufacturing in Centerville to serve existing and new customers for blow molded plastic containers. Enterprise Zone tax benefits were awarded to the project for 124 jobs, 28 of the jobs paying an average wage of $19.04 per hour. Initially the company would begin with 3 production lines in a 250,000 sq. ft. rail served building. Based in Homerville, Georgia, Lee Container plans to expand in Centerville to 600,000 sq. ft., more than 10 production lines, and over 200 employees within ten years. Customers for the containers include Syngenta, BASF, Helena, Chevron, Conoco Phillips, Dupont, FMC, Dow and others

Homegrown Link grows again

A manufacturer of cab suspensions and several other products for the transportation industry is expanding into a new 50,000 sq. ft. building in Sioux Center. Link Manufacturing Ltd. will create 69 jobs paying an average wage of $21.11 per hour. The Economic Development Board awarded the expansion project $241,500 from Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation (HQJC) program. The new facility will house assembly operations, a new paint system, an expanded engineering test lab and warehousing. Link was started in 1980 by a local truck driver who wanted a better ride and invented an air suspension system for his truck cab.

Becker Underwood unit looking at Ames

Ames is competing with an out-of-state location for the $11 million expansion of Becker Underwood, a producer of landscape colorants, coatings and other specialty garden products. By July of 2008, the Colorbiotics business unit of Becker Underwood expects to be operating in a new 140,000 sq. ft. building, producing colorants for the landscape industry. The Economic Development Board awarded $150,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation (HQJC) program to get Becker Underwood to put the expansion in Ames. The project impacts 53 created and retained jobs, 17 of the new jobs and 19 of the retained jobs paying an average wage of $27.97 per hour.

Mason City working with Kraft

Enterprise Zone tax benefits were awarded to Kraft Foods, which is considering a $15 million expansion in Mason City where it manufactures refrigerated pudding products. Expansion would create 15 jobs and leverage future growth at the Iowa plant.

Health company expansions in Des Moines and Waterloo

American Healthways Services, Inc. is reviewing Des Moines for a possible Health and Care Support center employing at least 100 Registered Nurses within three years at an average wage of $29.45 per hour. The Economic Development Board awarded $300,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) to assist Des Moines in recruiting the project. American Healthways’ programs are designed to help healthy people stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease associated with risk factors, and promote the best possible health for those already affected by disease.

HQAA JSA L.L.C. was awarded $200,000 from Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) and Enterprise Zone tax credits to expand in downtown Waterloo. The project would create 47 jobs over three years, 45 of the jobs paying an average wage of $19.99 per hour including executive positions. HQAA (Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation) specializes in mandated accreditation in the home medical equipment industry and is partnering with the building owner, JSA Development LLC.

Information Technology award in Hiawatha

Axis Backup of Hiawatha is launching a proprietary product that restores network computer systems of data intensive insurance agencies within 12 hours after a disaster. The Economic Development Board awarded Axis Backup $100,000 from the Entrepreneurial Ventures Assistance (EVA) program. Axis expects to create 13 jobs paying an average wage of $26.63 per hour. The company is an offshoot of Iowa Electronics owned by Greg Edwards. Once the product is established, Axis will expand its market to law firms and banking.

BMX pro to manufacture bicycles

Bicycle Motocross (BMX) pro Rick Moliterno is starting a new company in Davenport to manufacture bicycles from the proprietary metal alloy, OX Platinum. The Economic Development Board today awarded $50,000 from Entrepreneurial Ventures Assistance (EVA) program to Moliterno’s company, Standard Byke Manufacturing, Inc. The company will create ten jobs, seven of the jobs paying an average wage of $17 per hour as it goes into production of new BMX styles.

Since the original Grow Iowa Values Fund started on July 1, 2003, IDED has assisted 472 Iowa projects that are expected to create and retain 36,593 Iowa jobs. Total capital investment in Iowa as a result of the fund is projected to be $11.78 billion. A full list of the awards approved and announced today is available on the Iowa Department of Economic Development site.