Wells Enterprises Inc.’s South Ice Cream Plant in Le Mars. The company was awarded $6.3 million in tax credits by the Iowa Economic Development today to expand its product line and update equipment. Photo provided by Wells Enterprises Inc.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority board today awarded $6.3 in tax credits to Wells Enterprises Inc. to expand its product lines and upgrade its facilities in Le Mars.

The company, known for making Blue Bunny ice cream, Bomb Pops and Halo Top frozen treats, plans to add 135 jobs as part of the $70 million project. Of those jobs, 82 will pay a qualifying wage of $23.94 an hour. The company currently employs 2,488 people in Le Mars.

According to IEDA documents, Wells Enterprises plans to add new product lines and upgrade and modernize equipment throughout its facility in the northwest Iowa town of about 10,000 people.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, documents show.

In other action, the IEDA board:

• Approved $769,093 in tax credits and refunds for Ancient Brands Milling in Dyersville. The company plans to build a 92,000-square-foot facility in the Dyersville Industrial Park to increase its capacity from 2.5 million pounds to 30 million pounds of puffed grain product annually to compete in national markets and open global markets. IEDA board documents show the project will create 17 jobs, which will pay a qualifying wage of $22.63 an hour. The company will also receive $2 million in tax increment financing from the city.
• Approved $211,000 in tax credit and refunds to Moveero Inc. in Estherville and Armstrong. The maker of hubs, spindles and wheels for agricultural, construction and mining equipment plans to expand its operation by adding new powder coating facilities, incorporating a new weld cell as well as other investments into its hub and spindle operation. The company plans to add 11 jobs that pay $19.05 an hour.

The board also approved awards to six startups:

• Axis-U of Ankeny was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for market analysis, product refinement, personnel and equipment. The company developed an online pre-apprenticeship training platform that helps Iowa employers connect to job seekers.
• Learning Couture of Bettendorf received a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for IP development and evaluation, market analysis and planning, proof of concept work, and entry activities. The company created a web-based Customizing Learning Platform that supports professional learning for teachers.  
• Groov Inc. of Clive was awarded a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan for market analysis and personnel. The company is a software as a service company for residential land developers that organizes all land development data in one place.  
• ProCircular of Coralville, is a cybersecurity and compliance firm that is launching an interactive, virtual version of its table-top cybersecurity escape room game. The company was awarded a $250,000 Innovation Acceleration Propel Fund loan for IP development and evaluation, market and competitive analysis, proof of concept work, product refinement, market planning and entry activities, and key personnel.
• Aronson Woodworks in Prole was awarded a $250,000 Innovation Acceleration Propel Fund loan for personnel and equipment. The company is an artisanal craft furniture manufacturer that uses recycled lumber from diseased ash trees to make hand-crafted furniture.
• Hellcat Technologies in Tabor was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for product refinement and market planning. The company developed the Hellcat Office Command and Hellcat Field Command applications to make the process of digitizing paperwork and communications in the office and the field  more efficient.