A manufacturer in China is considering a move to the Quad Cities. Bettendorf’s city council has approved property tax incentives to lure the company, LED America, and more than 100 jobs.
Bettendorf economic development director Steve Van Dyke says officials with the high-efficiency light bulb manufacturer see a number of advantages in moving production to eastern Iowa. “They feel American workers can do a great job and they do have patents they’re wanting…and America does a great job at that,” Van Dyke said. “And shipping costs – they indicated with rising oil prices and shipping, plus the distance, it would be much better for them to produce and ship within the United States, where much of the product would be used.”
Bettendorf and LED America are seeking $400,000 from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to help finance the new plant. Van Dyke says moving the plant to Bettendorf would take about three years, but the initial manufacturing could begin early next year.
The facility would eventually employ around 130 workers. Van Dyke says the production jobs would pay around $17 an hour to start.