The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board has approved an award to Frontier National Products Co-op in Belle Plaine for an expansion project.
Frontier Co-op plans to expand its Belle Plaine facility with the construction of a 90,000-square-foot facility for additional production and warehouse capacity to support continued growth, including service to larger multinational retail corporations, according to an IEDA release.
The project represents a capital investment of just over $30 million and is expected to create 16 jobs, of which six are incented at a qualifying wage of $22.18 per hour.
The IEDA board awarded the company tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.
Founded in 1976, Frontier Natural Products 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.
Several Corridor firms were also awarded IEDA grants through the Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Program, which aims to enhance productivity, efficiency and competitiveness in Iowa’s largest industry.
The grants help small- and mid-size Iowa manufacturers invest in the adoption and integration of smart technologies.
Awards to Corridor firms include:
- Betenbeder Manufacturing of Coggon, $58,355 grant toward a $129,510 project
- EMS Detergent Services of North Liberty, $49,784 grant toward a $99,569 project
- JW Bell of Cedar Rapids, $62,500 grant toward a $305,000 project
- Ledford Engineering of Cedar Rapids, $75,000 grant toward a $151,730 project
- Reickhoff Family Businesses (Almost Famous Popcorn) of Cedar Rapids, $75,000 grant toward a $169,300 project
- US Nameplate of Mount Vernon, $50,000 grant toward a $250,000 project
