A Republican lawmaker who pushed for creation of the Iowa Values Fund says the potential of state investment in TransOva was the “inspiration” and “driving focus” behind the new state economic development fund. House Speaker Christopher Rants of Sioux City says the kind of biotech activity TransOva’s generating was in the back of everybody’s mind as they were putting the Iowa Values Fund together. Rants says the state grant to TransOva should breed other activity. Rants says “it’s a win for the state” and gives Iowa officials a good example to show companies in other states considering Iowa as a place to do business. Rants says Iowa’s becoming a leader and innovator in a “fledgling industry.”
