A subsidiary of Michael Foods, a Minnesota-based food processor that specializes in egg products and other dairy-case items, is seeking nearly $14 million in state and local development incentives for an $85 million manufacturing plant in Norwalk.

The Norwalk City Council is scheduled to vote today on a resolution supporting the incentives. 
On Friday, the Iowa Economic Development Authority will vote on a $3.9 million state incentive package made up of $3.4 million in investment tax credits and $492,450 in sales, service and use tax rebates. State incentives will support 17 jobs at an hourly wage of $24.38. In all, 168 jobs are expected to be created by the project.

According to a report from IEDA staff to the board, the Norwalk incentives consist of $9.7 million in tax increment financing rebates over 20 years and a $73,000 grant. The grant would be tied to the creation of high-paying jobs.

Michael Foods is one of the largest manufacturers of egg products in the country, according to the IEDA report. In 2014, it was purchased for $2.45 billion by Post Holdings Inc.

The company specializes in potato, cheese and other dairy-case products. Its brands include Papetti’s, All Whites, Better ‘n Eggs, Easy Eggs, Simply Potatoes and Crystal Farms.

Michael Foods, operating as Michael Foods Egg Products Co., plans to close on the land purchase by March and could start construction in April with a projected completion date of October 2019. The plant could be up and running in late 2019, according to the IEDA report.

According to its website, Michael Foods also has operations in Britt and Lennox, where it received a $510,000 state development award in 1997.

The company plans to build a 143,000-square-foot facility on 35 acres located on the south side of Norwalk in an area designated for industrial uses. Windsor Windows and Doors announced last year that it would expand its manufacturing operations in Norwalk at the same industrial park. Read more about the Windsor project.