Frontier Co-op employees celebrate at the company's groundbreaking ceremony, marking the beginning of its expansion on its distribution facility in Belle Plaine. CREDIT CINDY HADISH
An expansion of Frontier Co-op’s distribution facility signals more than job growth for the rural town of Belle Plaine. The project represents a capital investment of just over $30 million. “We’ve continued to grow, and with that growth comes the responsibility to keep investing in the rural communities we live and work in,” Frontier Co-op […]
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An expansion of Frontier Co-op’s distribution facility signals more than job growth for the rural town of Belle Plaine. The project represents a capital investment of just over $30 million.
“We’ve continued to grow, and with that growth comes the responsibility to keep investing in the rural communities we live and work in,” Frontier Co-op CEO Tony Bedard said during a July 5 groundbreaking ceremony.
The 90,000-square-foot addition will nearly double the size of the existing Belle Plaine facility to 210,000 square feet. The expansion represents a key step in the co-op’s strategic plan to support continued sales growth.
The expanded facility will consolidate the company’s distribution operations, relocating all distribution activities from its Norway headquarters to Belle Plaine. Mr. Bedard said the project will help create additional capacity and support projected growth, including new production lines and warehousing needs.
“This has been a dream to bring all of our distribution back together,” he said.
Founded in 1976, Frontier Co-op is a cooperatively owned wholesaler of natural and organic herbs, spices and essential oil products sold under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands.
During the ceremony, Mr. Bedard called the 2015 decision to purchase the Belle Plaine site one of the best of his tenure. The location currently employs about 35 people and is Frontier’s largest employment site.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board approved nearly $790,000 in tax benefits for the project earlier this year, including a $281,000 investment tax credit and a $508,000 sales and use tax refund. The incentives were awarded through the state’s High Quality Jobs program.
Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority, praised Frontier’s investment in Belle Plaine, at the company's July 11 groundbreaking ceremony. CREDIT CINDY HADISH
Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority, praised Frontier’s investment in Belle Plaine, as well as its ongoing commitment to other Iowa communities including North Liberty, Urbana and Norway.
“Strong Midwest values are alive and well here,” Ms. Durham said.
The expansion is expected to create 16 new jobs, six of which will pay $22.18 an hour.
Belle Plaine City Administrator Steve Beck said the city is finalizing a development agreement with Frontier that could provide more than $1 million in tax increment financing during the course of the agreement.
“It’s a huge blessing for our community and the region and the state,” Mr. Beck said. “It offers a sense of optimism for the community.”
Mayor Lyle Morrow agreed.
“This is a huge opportunity for Belle Plaine,” he said. “Especially in these rural communities, it’s hard to continue to strive. Bigger cities can offer more, but we’re a very tight-knit community and we work hard to keep Belle Plaine going.”
Construction is underway and expected to be completed by summer 2026.
Community members, including local business owners, also turned out for the groundbreaking. Zach Lahn, an organic farmer and owner of the King Theatre in Belle Plaine, said the expansion will benefit Main Street businesses and boost the local economy.
“This is going to supercharge all of that,” said Mr. Lahn, whose family has lived in the area since the 1850s. “Belle Plaine is very unique, and the community has a lot to offer.”
