The Iowa Economic Development Board approved a series of state financial incentives for businesses Thursday — including millions to help Whirpool expand its Amana plant. Iowa Department of Economic Development spokeswoman, Tina Hoffman, says the board awarded Whirlpool five-million dollars to help with the project.

Hoffman says Whirlpool Corporation is considering an expansion that would create 438 jobs and retain two-thousand-336 jobs. Hoffman says the state money will help the company expand the plant’s manufacturing capability and office space.

Hoffman says it will be for the increased production of the bottom mount refrigeration units. Whirlpool is closing the Maytag plant in Newton, and Hoffman says some of the Maytag workers might be able to get jobs in Amana.

Hoffman says the plants do produce different products, but it would be a possibility. Hoffman says Whirlpool will go ahead with the project now that they have state approval of the money.

The D-E-D board also approved money for expansion of the Dresser-Rand steam turbine plant in Burlington. She says they’ll be retaining 127 jobs after getting one-and-a-half million dollars in state money. The board awarded just over one-and-a-half million dollars to a company in Fort Dodge.

Hoffman says it’s an industrial starch company that will create ethanol as a byproduct. She says the Tate and Lyle company will create 100 jobs. A Woodbury County company got an award to help them build a 100 million gallon-per-year ethanol refinery. She says Chief Energy will create 45 jobs for a 210-million dollar facility in Sioux City.

Hoffman says Chief Energy received a package of benefits. Hoffman says they received 200-thousand dollars from the value added ag program along with tax credits. Hoffman says the plant will burn corn bran as fuel, saving on natural gas costs. When operational in early 2008, Chief Energy will be purchasing 52 million bushels of corn annually.

Hoffman says the board also approved a 750-thousand dollar grant and tax incentive package for Sauer-Danfoss of Ames to create 208 jobs through and expansion. Sauer-Danfoss manufactures fluid power, mobile hydraulics for a variety of agriculture, construction, material handling and other vehicles and currently has 810 employees.