The Iowa Economic Development Authority board today approved awards for three companies, which will assist in creating 281 jobs and result in $135 million in new capital investment for the state. It also approved tourism grants for four projects, including the Des Moines Children’s Museum.

Incentives were awarded to two Illinois manufacturers are relocating to Iowa as well as Sioux Honey, more widely known by brand name Sue Bee Honey, which is consolidating its California operation into an expanded campus in Sioux City, keeping the company in the state and adding a new multimillion-dollar campus.

Community Attraction and Tourism program

The Des Moines Children’s Museum was awarded a $787,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant for the $3.9 million relocation and renovation of the community play space from Valley West Mall to a larger place in West Des Moines. The expansion and building improvements will support more exhibits, programming and events for families.

Other CAT projects to receive funding include:

• The city of Lake Park was awarded $900,000 for the Silver Lake City Park renovation project to enhance a recreation area. The $3 million project will support improvements to the park near Okoboji and connect its trail system to one in Dickinson County. 
• Maquoketa is building a new splash pad in partnership with the local YMCA. The $2.8 million project will be accessible to visitors at nearby attractions like Maquoketa State Park. 
• The city of Pella was awarded $500,000 for the $8 million renovation of the Pella Community Center, an historic building originally built in 1916 and serving the area as a place for arts, education, social services and community engagement since 1978. 

The CAT program provides financial assistance to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. 

Manufacturing news

Morrison relocating to Coralville: Family-owned Morrison Weighing Systems plans to purchase and expand an existing facility in the University of Iowa Research Park, relocating operations from Illinois. The company manufactures high-speed weighing and labeling systems. It designs in-motion weighing scales and data collection software to help automate food processing and manufacturing businesses throughout North America. The project represents a nearly $1.5 million capital investment and is expected to create 11 jobs, of which five are incented at a qualifying wage of $33.05 per hour. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program.

Electro Freeze relocating to Davenport: H.C. Duke & Son, doing business as Electro Freeze, manufactures food service equipment for a global customer network. The company plans to relocate operations from Illinois with a long-term lease at a 300,000-square-foot vacant building in Davenport. The $7 million capital investment project was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to bring 200 jobs, of which 70 are incented at a qualifying wage of $31.16 per hour.

Sioux Honey expanding in Sioux City: Sioux Honey Association is the world’s largest beekeeper co-op, producing more than 40 million pounds of honey each year. Their two brands, Sue Bee and Aunt Sue’s, are the first honey brands to be nationally certified that at least 95% of ingredients are grown in the U.S. The company plans to purchase a facility in Sioux City and expand that to accommodate for additional production capacity. The board awarded the company a $2 million forgivable loan and tax benefits through the HQJ program. It represents a capital investment of $130 million and is expected to create and retain 70 jobs, of which 33 are incented at a qualifying wage of $29.47 per hour.

Entrepreneurial Investment Awards

The board also approved three grants through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program, which provides financial assistance to Iowa-based organizations that help entrepreneurs and early-stage startups create, locate or expand a business in Iowa.

The Iowa Center for Economic Success, based in Des Moines, was awarded a $150,000 grant for two years to support the expansion of direct learning with professional advisers.

The nonprofit, which provides coaching lending and tax services, plans to strategically locate business coaches in rural and micropolitan regions around the state to help people who face barriers to services needed to start and grow businesses.

The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, commonly known as NewBoCo, in Cedar Rapids delivers entrepreneurial education, assistance and programming to help Iowans start and grow companies. The organization plans to lead the development of the Iowa Aviation Technology Center, aligning with a statewide effort to strengthen Iowa’s aviation sector. Through a two-phase approach of program and stakeholder coordination and the launch of training and startup programming, NewBoCo will work to establish Iowa as a competitive hub for aviation technology and talent. The project was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support program staff, events and administration.

Located in Fairfield, Pathfinders RC&D helps rural entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses with technical assistance and assists local governments, chambers and partners with capacity building. The organization plans to create scalable systems to strengthen capital readiness, streamline referrals and deliver business planning support. Pathfinders was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support personnel, services and outreach to reach rural entrepreneurs and establish long-lasting capacity in smaller communities.