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IDED Quick News

The news report for customers, partners and friends of the

Iowa Department of Economic Development.

 

August 2, 2004

Contents:

Economic Development Top Stories

• IDED Board Approves Incentives for 10 companies

Business Development News

·         Governor and IDED Director Sell Iowa in Seattle

·         Advanced Manufacturing Targeted at Trade Show

·         MIATCO Export Training Offered

·         A Taste of Iowa® at Grocery Industry Event

·         Brownfield Redevelopment Program Launched

·         HRRC Coordinates RAGBRAI Event in Marshalltown

 

Community Development News

·         Vision Iowa board Makes CAT Awards

·         Downtown Development, Beaverdale Reach Agreement

·         Downtown Summit Planned

·         Housing Fund, CDBG Application Workshops Planned

·         CDBG Grant to Linn County

·         Enterprise Zone Housing Projects Approved

·         Tourism Building Showcases Iowa at State Fair

·         Volunteerism Has Economic Impact

·         Volunteer Commission Appointments

·         Governors Volunteer Awards Ceremonies Planned

·         Volunteer Commission Gets Funding for AmeriCorps Programs

 

Calendar of Events

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Economic Development Top Stories

Ten business expansions were approved for incentive awards recently by the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) Board. The IDED used funds repaid to the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA), federal funds and tax incentives to stimulate economic growth. The new expansions create 501 jobs and leverage new investments of $38 million.

 

The IDED Board approved a $320,000 CEBA investment to Protocol Driven Healthcare, Inc. (PDHI) which is considering Des Moines and other out-of state locations for an expansion, creating 48 jobs at an average wage of $33.68 per hour.

 

A Le Mars sugar cone manufacturer approved last October for a CEBA investment has requested additional investment to proceed with the second phase of the three-phase, five-year expansion. The IDED board today approved another $150,000 to BoDeans Baking Company for the creation of 25 additional jobs at an average wage of $12.99 per hour.

 

A new privately-owned company, Alton Plastics Inc., was awarded a $20,000 forgivable Economic Development Set-Aside (EDSA) loan to begin operations in an existing 6,000 square foot building in Alton, creating 10 jobs at an average hourly wage of $11.82 per hour.

 

A $102,000 forgivable EDSA loan and approval of tax benefits from the New Capital Investment Program for Pure Fishing Inc. will assist in the creation of 101 jobs at an average hourly wage of $11.23 in Spirit Lake. 

 

A $530,000 forgivable EDSA loan was approved for Shelby County Cookers, LLC, a new company which will produce pre-cooked, microwavable bacon. The project, which also qualifies for Enterprise Zone tax benefits, will create 204 jobs at an average wage of $11.60 per hour in Harlan.

 

Cutting Edge Enterprise, LLC, in Decorah, was awarded a $75,000 forgivable EDSA loan to create 20 jobs at an average wage of $14 per hour.

 

Tax benefits were approved under the New Capital Investment Program (NCIP) for Innovative Injection Technologies, Inc. in West Moines which is investing $2.8 million to upgrade equipment and plant, creating 15 jobs at an average wage of $12.12 per hour. 

 

CDI, LLC of Forrest City qualified for tax benefits with a $1,150,300 expansion to keep up with growing sales at Winnebago Industries. The project includes construction of 30,000 sq. ft. building and the creation of 30 jobs at an average wage of $12.50 per hour.

 

RELCO Locomotives of Illinois plans to build a 92,000 square foot facility to house a locomotive shop, offices and ancillary services in a Monroe county enterprise zone. The project will create 71 jobs at an average wage of $13.31 per hour.

 

Premium Protein Products, LLC will receive tax benefits for making a more than $2 million investment in Denison, creating 25 jobs at an average wage of $9.67 per hour. 

 

Business Development News

Governor Tom Vilsack and IDED Director Mike Blouin participated in an Advantage Iowa prospecting and marketing trip to Seattle July 19-21. IDED staff and developers from Cedar Rapids and Sioux City made business prospecting calls in the Seattle area.

 

Advanced manufacturing will be targeted for prospecting Sept. 8-15 when IDED staff along with community and utility partners exhibit Iowa opportunities at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) at McCormick Place in Chicago. IMTS is the largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States and is ranked among the biggest trade shows in the world. Communities will share the opportunity to staff the booth at the show, network with manufacturers, link to a page to IMTS, display community materials and participate in "mini-onsite" sales calls at booths located within the facility. 

 

The IDED and the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO) are planning to offer a training seminar focusing on the MIATCO Market Development Program and exporting.  The training will be held on August 5 at the Conference Center of Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny.

 

For the second year, the Iowa Grocery Industry Association sponsored the A Taste of Iowa Showcase as part of their 2004 Conference July.  The showcase is designed for small to mid-size companies who need to gain exposure and expand their sales in the Iowa retail market. 

 

IDED staff recently helped announce Iowa's Brownfield Redevelopment Program at the former White Farm Equipment Site in Charles City, Iowa.  Iowa's Brownfield Redevelopment Program is a cooperative efforts between IDED and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).  During the press event, Liz Christiansen, Deputy Director of IDNR and IDED’s Jeff Rossate committed staff to answer environmental questions at brownfield sites, while encouraging the redevelopment and re-use of these properties. 

 

The Iowa Human Resource Recruitment Consortium (HRRC) coordinated an event during RAGBRAI in Marshalltown on July 28. More than 20 HRRC members and IDED staff helped thousands of riders find out more about Iowa and were encouraged to consider their future in the State. A pre-event mailing was sent to over 5,000 out-of-state riders encouraging them to visit with HRRC representatives in Marshalltown. The day's events consisted of sending electronic postcards, participating in Iowa trivia games, Frisbee tosses and frozen T-shirt contests.

 

Community Development News

The Vision Iowa board recently made three awards from the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) program. The CAT program was reauthorized by the Iowa Legislature during its most recent session. The new legislation means the program will receive $12 million annually over the next six years to assist the creation of quality of life projects around Iowa.

  

Projects receiving funding were:

 

Ryan Living Veterans Memorial, Ryan: $24,000. The city of Ryan will construct the Ryan Living Veterans Memorial on the community's Main Street. The memorial will include a paved walking path, a series of flagpoles, and granite tablets bearing the names of residents who lost their lives while serving in the military. The landscaped memorial area will also feature a helicopter donated by the American Legion.

 

Slater Area Swimming Pool, Slater: $83,500. The new Slater Area Swimming Pool will replace the community's 30-year-old pool.  In addition to swimming facilities, the project will include a concession area, bathhouse and water features.

Bedell Family YMCA, Spirit Lake: $200,000. The Bedell Family YMCA will encompass 43,000-square-feet and will feature a zero-depth entry pool, a lap pool, youth center, gymnasium, walking track, conference room, aerobics room and wellness center, locker rooms, child care area and administrative offices. The CAT award assists only the aquatic portion of the project.

 

The downtown resource center has reached agreement with Beaverdale, a Des Moines neighborhood, to develop an urban neighborhood commercial district pilot project. For more information, contact Thom Guzman at 515.242.4733.

 

The 18th annual Iowa Downtown Summit is scheduled for August 24 & 25, 2004 in Muscatine, IA.  Summit theme is "Downtown... Pearls of Change".  For more information, contact Thom Guzman at 515.242.4733.

 

IDED Housing Fund and CDBG Application workshops are planned for the first week in September. Details, application materials and administrative rules will be made available on the IDED website, http://iowasmartidea.com after August 5, 2004.

 

A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Career Link award was made to Linn County on behalf of Kirkwood Community College in the amount of $569,001 to provide customer contact training for participating businesses.

 

The IDED Housing Team is working on finalizing revisions to the Housing Fund Administrative Rules for '05. Rules are also being developed for additional monies received from HUD for a new initiative known as the American Dream Down payment Initiative (ADDI). For more information, contact Terry Vestal at 515.242.4850.

 

The following Enterprise Zone Housing Projects have been approved:

 

County Location		City/County Enterprise Zone	Housing Business Name		# of Units Pledged	Total Tax Credit Amount
Lee	Burlington			HP Enterprise Inc.	4	$84,050.00
Webster	Fort Dodge			Twin Enterprises dba Sun Apartments	15	$112,500.00
Polk	Des Moines			The Rose of Des Moines, LP	50	$213,086.00
Jackson	Maquoketa			Maquoketa Shoreline Development Inc.	4	$85,000.00
Dubuque	Dubuque			Gronen Adaptive Resue, LLLP	30	$89,000.00

 

For more information, contact Kent Powell at 515.242.4786.

 

The Iowa Tourism Building will showcase exhibits from throughout the state during the Sesquicentennial Iowa State Fair, August 12-22. The Iowa Tourism Office is partnering with Best Western Hotels of Iowa and fairgoers will have a daily chance to win a $150 gift card for an overnight stay at a Best Western hotel of their choice.

 

Volunteerism generated an estimated economic impact of more than $830 million for Iowa last year.  Iowa ranked second in the nation in a study of volunteers, with 40.8 percent average of people aged 16 and above who volunteer. 

 

Several Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services ICVS commission appointments expired June 30 including: Mary Steele, Tim Moerman, Sandy Dixon, Martha Fung, John McDonough, Penelope Fox, and Jane Fogg.  New commissioners beginning July 1 include: Regan Banks, (Manly), Linda Miller (Dept. of Education), Mary Bracken (IPTV), Todd Behrends (Mediacom), Linda Nelson (ISEA), Ron Thielenhaus (Kemin Foods), and Megan Wettach (youth commissioner from Mt. Pleasant).  Two more positions remain to be confirmed.

 

Governor's Volunteer Awards ceremonies will be held September 29, in Storm Lake, October 4, in Marion and October 22, in Des Moines.  Details will be added soon to the calendar of events at www.volunteeriowa.org.

 

ICVS has been awarded $930,585 in national competitive funding for four additional AmeriCorps programs in Iowa (three statewide projects and one in Dubuque) bringing the yearly total for AmeriCorps funding to $3,175,890. For more information, visit http://www.volunteeriowa.org or contact Adam Lounsbury at 515.242.5466.

 

Calendar of Events

For up-to-date IDED Calendar of Events listings Click Here:

http://asp.iowasmartidea.com/idedsrchcal.asp?sm=1&allided=1

 

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