The Iowa Economic Development Authority has approved state incentives for projects in six cities that officials say will lead to the creation of more than 1,300 new jobs.
The biggest project is in Sioux City. That’s where a new pork processing plant will be built. Officials say more than 1,100 will be employed there once the plant is up and running. The state is providing tax incentives for the project worth up to $13 million.
The other projects getting state awards today are in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, Colfax, Urbandale and Des Moines.
ConAgra is getting a package of state tax incentives worth up to $3.9 million for expansion of its facility in Waterloo and Red Star Yeast is getting $25,000 from the state, plus state tax breaks for expanding its operations in Cedar Rapids.
State officials have also awarded a half million dollar state loan for a plant in Fort Dodge where prescription drugs for animals will be made. Beck’s Hybrids is getting $200,000 from the state, along with tax breaks, for construction of a sales and distribution center along Interstate 80, near Colfax. A company called BirdDogHR that has outgrown its headquarters in Urbandale and is getting a $215,000 state grant for relocating in the same suburb rather than move out-of-state.
Finally, the City of Des Moines is getting $36.5 million from the Iowa Reinvestment District Program. The money is to be used on development of the entertainment district in the capital city’s downtown. The centerpiece: a new convention hotel that would connect to the Iowa Events Center.