An Ames start-up company and a Knoxville manufacturing plant are among the recipients of a new round of state incentives designed to create new jobs.

At a Feb. 15 meeting, the Iowa Department of Economic Development Board approved incentives for nine projects that are expected to create and retain 372 jobs and attract new capital investment of $763 million.

The board approved $100,000 from its Entrepreneurial Ventures Assistance program to Sirrah, an Ames company that manufactures a swine vaccine that was developed at Iowa State University. The company will rent office space at the ISU Research Park and create five jobs paying an average wage of $38.01 per hour.

At the same meeting, the IDED pledged its support to provide tax benefits to 3M Co. in Knoxville, which is planning an $8 million expansion to accommodate new production. The amount of tax credits provided depends on the scope of 3M’s expansion, but is estimated to be in the range of $459,000, according to Kay Snyder, the IDED’s communications manager.

Renewable energy was the focus of several of the incentives approved, including a wind energy company that is considering locating in West Branch and ethanol plants proposed near Storm Lake, Lu Verne and Garner. The other projects to receive incentives are T8Design in Cedar Falls, which is planning an expansion, and NewVentures Center, a business accelerator in Davenport.