Area Development
Iowa Economic Development Authority approved expansion incentive awards to three companies that will result in more than $65 million in new capital investment in Cedar Rapids, Nevada and Sioux City, with expectations of creating 135 jobs.

Incentives include awards to:

General Mills, a global food company that produces cereal, fruit snacks and frosting at its Cedar Rapids, Iowa, facility, will invest $37 million to upgrade and modernize an existing production line to increase production capacity. Investment will be made on upgrades to existing production equipment and for new, more efficient machinery and equipment. The board awarded the project tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program. The project is expected to create 50 jobs.

In Nevada, Iowa, Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication is a metal fabrication company in the agri-business and custom metal fabrication markets. The company primarily makes grain handling equipment ranging from grain drag conveyors to structural I-beams, four-legged metal towers that support catwalks and bucket elevators.

The proposed project will expand the current facility by 40,000 square feet. The company will also acquire state-of-the-art fabrication equipment. The board awarded the project, a nearly $3.2 million capital investment, tax benefits through the HQJ program. The company is expected to create nine jobs.

In Sioux City, Iowa, Sabre Industries, Inc. will invest $25 million and add a new galvanizing plant at Southbridge Business Park, which will support the company’s product line for telecommunications and utility infrastructure and allow for third party customers to utilize the facility. The project, which also received tax benefits through the HQJ program, is expected to create 76 jobs.

The company offers a full line of engineered telecom structures such as self-supporting and guyed towers, monopoles, concealment products and small cell products, as well as highly-engineered support structures for electric transmission and distribution, oil and gas, renewable energy and government and defense end markets.