An Illinois manufacturing company is considering a relocation to Coralville in exchange for $205,000 in incremental tax assistance that would aid in expanding an existing facility in the University of Iowa Research Park.
The Coralville City Council passed a resolution Dec. 9 that would approve a redevelopment and forgivable loan agreement with Morrison Weighing Systems, which manufactures custom automated weighing and labeling equipment for large food processors and other manufacturers.
Under the proposed agreement, the company would move its operations to the University of Iowa Research Park at 2300 Oakdale Boulevard, creating 14 jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000. The city’s tax assistance would aid the company in expanding the current 7,242-square-foot facility with 5,000-square-foot and 6,000-square-foot additions for production and testing.
To guarantee repayment of the incremental tax revenues outlined in the agreement, the company must also agree to a minimum assessment of $1.485 million for the building, according to council documents. According to the Johnson County Assessor, the building is worth $524,300.
Morrison Weighing Systems’ co-owner and president, Wynn Feddema, said the company is nearing the end of a 60-year land lease in Illinois and has quadrupled its revenue in the last eight years.
He said the company develops all circuit board, software and mechanical designs in-house, outsourcing equipment fabrication and construction to local vendors before conducting final on-site testing prior to customer delivery.
“As far as economic impact, 95% of our customers are outside the state of Iowa. None of our customers are within Coralville,” Mr. Feddema told the council at its meeting Dec. 9. “So whenever we are selling something, it’s money coming in from somewhere else, and then – it’s just a high cost business. We spend a lot of money locally, whether that be with our vendors or the various people involved in making everything happen.” He added that the company pays employees well and has a quality apprenticeship program.
Market estimates for the global industrial weighing equipment sector vary significantly, with 2024 estimates ranging from $2.3 billion to $5.2 billion, depending on methodology and market scope.
According to a February 2025 Research and Markets report, the industry’s market is expected to reach $3.12 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%. The report projects that growth from this period will be fueled by industry 4.0 adoption, rising automation in industries, stringent quality standards, e-commerce and logistics growth, sustainability focus, globalization and market expansion.
Company would add economic value
The company represents the type of engineering-focused innovation the Research Park aims to foster, said Austin Korns, associate director of economic development with UI’s Office of Innovation and Iowa Research Park.
“They’re developing new high tech products, advanced engineering applications and precision manufacturing capabilities at their current facility, and we would love to see them keep doing that here at Coralville,” he told the city council.
The company’s presence would also foster collaboration with the university on product development and create opportunities for student talent and internships, he added.
Mr. Korns said Morrison Weighing Systems would own the building and the planned additions but lease the land from the university. The company would assume a prepaid land lease running through 2044, and Research Park officials are discussing a long-term extension ahead of closing.
He noted that while the university is exempt from property taxes under a decades-long agreement with the city, Morrison Weighing Systems would be responsible for taxes on the structure.
A representative with Johnson County economic development group Greater Iowa City, Inc. also advocated for the company during the council meeting, emphasizing the company’s strong history.
“A relocation to Coralville would bring high quality jobs, deepen our manufacturing ecosystem and reinforce the commitment to supporting long term value-added operations. It also advances our regional priorities we work toward every day, which is talent development, supply chain resilience and sustainable economic growth,” said Melanie Bimson, Greater IC economic development program manager.
During council discussion, council member Mike Knudson asked how the incentive would impact the city’s FY2027 budget. Coralville City Administrator Kelly Hayworth replied that it would be a one-time expense out of the TIF fund and would have no impact on the general budget, adding that the company would receive the loan once they obtain an occupancy permit.
Prior to discussing the agreement, the council also approved a resolution that would add the proposed expansion at 2300 Oakdale Boulevard to the urban renewal plan for the Coralville urban renewal area.
Nothing finalized
In a phone call with the CBJ, Mr. Feddema said the company came across the opportunity through associations in an Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois business group, who put him in touch with the city.
Mr. Feddema emphasized that no agreements have been made yet with the city or the university, but is excited at the prospect of moving the company to the next step.
“We’ve been in our current location for almost 60 years and are outgrowing it,” he said, noting that the company’s facility in Milan, Illinois is 10,000 square feet.
“We’re just looking forward to the future, and we think wherever we end up, we can be a member of the community and help train people and also just bring business to other companies in the area,” he said.
