IEDA Board approved incentive awards for “two legacy companies” to spark their more than $85 million in new capital investment expansion, in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, Iowa. The projects are expected to create 284 jobs.

Eco Lips, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of nationally recognized lip products, which can be found in over 10,000 retail locations and through e-commerce platforms, plans to purchase an existing facility in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) officials said the company will more than double the manufacturing and warehouse space to accommodate growth and expansion.

The project will represent a capital investment of close to $5.6 million and will create 13 jobs incented at a wage of $23.20 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program.

Dubuque Simmons Pet Food, Inc., the largest co-manufacturer and private label pet food maker in North America that manufactures treats along with wet and dry pet food for dogs, plans to increase its wet pet food production capacity with the purchase of a building and equipment for a new operation. The expansion will include the addition of a second canning line and a 75,000 square foot expansion of the distribution center and warehouse.

The project represents a $79.5 million capital investment. It was awarded tax benefits and a forgivable loan through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 271 jobs, of which 206 are incented at a wage of $20.49 per hour.

The board also approved a grant for just over $2.9 million to IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa for the Iowa Wastewater and Waste-to-Energy Research Program Innovation Center and Tech Park located at the Iowa City Municipal Water Resource Recovery facility. The University of Iowa will receive the funding over the course of five years for the instrumentation and equipment needed to build the facility, which will support critical fee-for-service analyses unavailable in Iowa to support local wastewater and waste-to-energy stakeholders.