The Iowa Economic Development Board approved state money for several projects Thursday that are expected to create hundreds of new jobs. Department of Economic Development spokesperson, Erin Seidler says one of the projects involves reopening a plant in Independence.
Seidler says Tyson Foods subsidiary Provemex International Holdings will re-open an Independence plant to make pet treats. She says they will add up to 105 people at the plant. Seidler says the board approved several hundred thousand dollars in aid for the venture.
They awarded $400,000 from the value-added agricultural component of the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program and tax benefits from the High Quality Job Program for the creation of 13 of the initial 63 jobs as the plant reopens.
Seidler says Tyson will use raw materials from its U.S. food plants to manufacture pet treats to human-food standards. She says Tyson is investing $6.6 million into the plant, which she says is “significant” investment from the company for just a small investment from the state.
They hope to have the plant running within the next year. Pioneer Hi-Bred plans received state aid to help improve its facilities in central Iowa, and create 160 jobs.
Seidler says Pioneer plans a $9.5 million renovation and expansion of the Krug building in Johnston for research and development, adding 65 jobs; $3 million 25,000 square foot expansion of offices and laboratories in Dallas Center, adding 25 jobs; a $500,000 expansion of their Ankeny laboratories and offices, adding 40 jobs; and a $5 million renovation of their laboratory and office building in Johnston, adding 30 jobs.
The D-E-D board also approved state help for the Wacker Chemical Corporation in the west-central Iowa town of Eddyville. She says they plan to invest close to 83-million dollars to build a fermentation plant at the Iowa bioprocessing complex in Eddyville, creating 38 jobs.
The board awarded the biotech firm five-million dollars million from the infrastructure component of the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program and tax benefits from the High Quality Job Program.
The plant will convert corn starch into ingredients used in the baking, dietary supplement and food flavoring industries. Construction would begin in October of next year and be completed by 2012. A central Iowa manufacturing plant also won state assistance.
Seidler says the American Packaging Corporation is invest over $15 million in a 20,000 square foot expansion in Story City to improve and increase production flow. The Economic Development Board awarded the company $200,000 from the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program and tax benefits from the High Quality Job Program for the creation of 30 jobs. The Story City operation prints flexible packaging for many companies in the food, beverage, medical, personal care and other specialty markets.
