GOVERNOR CULVER ANNOUNCES NEW VITALITY IN THE IOWA ECONOMY
Dec 17, 2009
GOVERNOR CULVER ANNOUNCES NEW VITALITY IN THE IOWA ECONOMY
Innovations promise new jobs for Iowans
December 17, 2009(DES MOINES) - Governor Chet Culver today announced actions by the Economic Development Board to increase economic activity and opportunities for Iowans in biofuels, advanced manufacturing and information technology. In addition, seven companies are getting critical help with new technology from the Iowa Demonstration Fund.
"Iowa has the most competitive business climate in the nation," said Governor Culver. "I want to congratulate these companies for recognizing the advantages that exist in our state, and for helping us to create good-paying jobs, right when Iowans need them the most. I look forward to working with them, and all Iowans, as together we build Iowa's future."
Meeting at the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED), the Economic Development Board acted on the following initiatives announced by Governor Culver:
New manufacturer in Clarinda
Royal Cargo Trailers, Inc. (RCT) of Indiana plans to acquire and remodel five buildings totaling 78,000 sq. ft. in Clarinda to manufacture open and enclosed cargo trailers. The Economic Development Board awarded the company $45,000 from the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program (GIVFAP) and Enterprise Zone tax benefits for the project. RCT will create a total of 90 jobs (15 of the jobs qualify for assistance) and make a nearly $2 million capital investment to begin manufacturing in Iowa.
Moving to Dubuque
The Economic Development Board awarded $105,000 from the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program (GIVFAP) and Enterprise Zone tax benefits to The Creative Frontier, Inc., which will invest about $1.2 million to relocate to Dubuque from its present location in Galena, Illinois. Dubuque will get 21 new jobs when The Creative Frontier purchases an existing building for Iowa operations. The company manufactures a retractable safety gate for children and pets that winds into a small roll when not extended across a doorway. Creative Frontier sells the product through mail order and Internet sales as well as wholesale to retailers.
New efficiencies in Ida County
New equipment to be installed at Platinum Ethanol in IdaCounty will make pellets from Dried Distillers' Grains with Solubles (DDGS) for easier shipping of the high nutrient livestock feed. By changing to pellets, Platinum will be able to put more DDGS into each rail car and overseas shipping container. The Economic Development Board awarded the company $300,000 from the value-added agricultural component of the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program (GIVFAP) to become more efficient. Platinum Ethanol ships DDGS, a co-product of ethanol production, to California, Canada and Asia. The plant located in Arthur purchases 39 million bushels of corn per year and has 48 employees.
Re-opening plant in Charles City
Custom Poultry Processing LLC wants to acquire the former Allstate Quality Foods plant in CharlesCity and remodel it for poultry harvesting, processing and packaging. Owners Duane Bushman, Stacy Bushman, Chad Bushman, and Greg DeWeese and their spouses formed the new company to produce fresh chicken for specialty markets. The Economic Development Board awarded the start-up $250,000 from the value-added agricultural component of the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program (GIVFAP) and Enterprise Zone tax benefits. Twenty-six jobs would be created but at full capacity, the CharlesCity operation would process more than 14 million chickens per year and employ 126 people.
Another success in Cedar Rapids
RuffaloCODY, a fundraising company serving colleges, universities and other non profit organizations, is expanding in Cedar Rapids. The fast-growing, privately-owned company plans to lease 12,000 sq. ft. of office space and purchase equipment for an expansion that will create 26 jobs. The Economic Development Board awarded RuffaloCODY $150,000 from the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program (GIVFAP). RuffaloCODY serves more than 600 organizations in North America with strategic fundraising and other direct marketing services.
Exciting technologies moving to market
Seven companies are using the Iowa Demonstration Fund to roll out new technology products for social media, energy savings, conservation, and online transactions. Acting on recommendations of the Technology & Commercialization Committee, the Economic Development Board today approved the following awards:
· $100,000 to Eliason Media of Urbandale which has developed a social media platform that pays Twitter users to send advertising messages to their friends. Eliason is upgrading software and developing more customers.
· $150,000 to Innovative Lighting of Roland to market energy saving lighting for display cases at food and convenience stores, using the company's LED technology and precision optical lenses.
· $150,000 to Ovation Networks of Cedar Rapids to market and commercialize wireless technology that reduces energy consumption in hotel rooms when the guests are away.
· $100,000 to Agren Inc. of Carroll for regional and national marketing of its online Geographical Information System (GIS) for conservation planning, showing how farm fields look using different conservation practices.
· $50,000 to Canvis, LLC of West Moines to market web based software to housing developers and general contractors that allows each new buyer to personalize their new home and communicate on construction.
· $50,000 to DeskActive of Des Moines for expanded marketing of health & safety software to insurance companies and other large employers, a product that reduces health problems among sedentary office workers.
· $50,000 to ezPay LLC of Johnston for continued marketing and startup of a network product that accelerates recurring payments that accompany long-term services contracts and construction projects.
Events for a stronger economy
Two Student Competition and Networking awards recommended by the Technology & Commercialization Committee received approval today from the Economic Development Board:
· $40,000 from the Targeted Industries Student Competition Fund for the Information Technology Olympics for high school students next April 23-24 at Iowa State University
· $20,000 from the Networking Fund for Midwest Newspaper Summit 2--"Newspaper Evolution: Survival of the Fittest in the Digital Age" of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.
Pending applications for assistance
Other training, networking, and business applications pending at IDED to build a stronger economy include:
--Targeted Industries Internship Program applications totaling $31,000 to hire interns at five companies: Ag Leader Technology, Ames (3 interns); Innovative Software Engineering, Coralville (1 intern); Woodbine Manufacturing Company, Woodbine (1 intern); Mechdyne Corporation, Marshalltown (3 interns); and Groschopp, Inc., Sioux Center (2 interns)
--Information Technology Training Program awards to Vital Support Systems, Urbandale and Cedar Valley IT Services, Waterloo to train 1 employee at each company.
--Targeted Industries Networking Program awards of $5,000 for the Iowa State University Department of Food Science event for food manufacturers and $1,000 to Spindustry Technical Training for a Windows 7 Event.
--Applications for Targeted Small Business (TSB) funds from minority and women owned businesses in Des Moines and Dubuque were recommended for approval.
Additional action
The Iowa Economic Development Board also approved that the $50 million tax cap be adjusted downward to accommodate only existing projects that proceed to the contracting stage and FY' 10 projects currently under contract. The Board voted to reallocate $6 million to the Enterprise Zone - Housing program to fulfill current and future needs. Allocation of the remaining balance, on an ongoing basis, will go to the Enterprise Zone - Business and High Quality Jobs programs. This will allow additional resources to be placed in active programs as the current investigation and review by the Governor and Legislature of the Iowa Film Television and Video Project Promotion Program proceed in the coming months.
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Download a spreadsheet of these awards: http://www.iowalifechanging.com/downloads/dec09awards.pdf