Supervisors discuss Mid-Iowa expansion, workforce development

By: 
Robert Maharry

After a discussion during last week’s meeting created confusion over the parameters of an urban renewal agreement with Mid-Iowa Cooperative for its expansion north of Grundy Center, the Grundy County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with the process on Monday morning.
           
According to Butler-Grundy Economic Development Alliance Director Jeff Kolb, the development agreement—which specifies the number of jobs, minimum investment and tax status of the new facility—comes after the initial urban renewal agreement. Chairman Jim Ross noted during the previous meeting that details on jobs were not included in the URA paperwork and urged fellow supervisors to vote against setting a hearing date until it could be clarified.
           
Kolb added that the current assessed value of the new elevator is just shy of $9,500,000, although original estimates had pegged it closer to $14,000,000. It is expected to create three or four permanent jobs. The board eventually voted 4-1 to move forward with a scheduled consultation on May 30, as Harlyn Riekena dissented.
           
On the economic development front, Kolb reported that leads are currently slow due to uncertainty with “what’s going on at the federal level,” but he has turned his efforts toward workforce development initiatives. 
 
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