Four Iowa cities won grants today from the Iowa Transportation Commission toimprove access to businesses in their communities. Grant Administrator TomVaughan (von) with the Iowa Depart of Transportation says a two grantstotaling over 750-thousand dollars will help a new Oskaloosa company. TheU-S-A Toshoku (toe-show-coo) company plans to create 145 jobs.The company will grind soybeans into a very fine powder for use in variousproducts. The Phoenix Closures company won a 79-thousand dollar railroadimprovement grant for it operation in Davenport.Vaughan says Phoenix Closures promises to create 28 new jobs. The Schumacherelevator company in Denver, Iowa is getting a 114-thousand dollar grant. Theelevator manufacturer says the grant will let the company add 15 jobs andretain 75. The final grant recipient is Fiberbody Industries of Swea City.The fiberglass truck body manufacturer says it will use the 189-thousanddollar grant to add 75 new jobs to its existing 120 member workforce.Vaughan says the grants all help the companies fix or build a portion ofroadway or railway.The D-O-T grants pay for 80-percent of the project and the local communitiesmust pay the remaining 20-percent.
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