December 19, 2025 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for three companies, which will assist in the creation of 281 jobs and result in $135 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Coralville, Davenport and Sioux City. Projects in Lake Park, Maquoketa, Pella and West Des Moines received awards through the Community Attraction and Tourism program. The board also approved grants through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program.
Morrison to relocate operations from Illinois to Coralville
Family-owned Morrison Weighing Systems, Inc. manufactures high-speed weighing and labeling systems. They design in-motion weighing scales and data collection software to help automate food processing and manufacturing businesses throughout North America. The company plans to purchase and expand an existing facility in the University of Iowa Research Park, relocating operations from Illinois. The project represents a nearly $1.5 million capital investment and is expected to create 11 jobs, of which five are incented at a qualifying wage of $33.05 per hour. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.
Electro Freeze to relocate and expand from Illinois to Davenport
H.C. Duke & Son, dba Electro Freeze, manufactures foodservice equipment for a global customer network. The company plans to relocate operations from Illinois with a long-term lease at a 300,000-square-foot vacant building in Davenport. The $7 million capital investment project was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to bring 200 jobs, of which 70 are incented at a qualifying wage of $31.16 per hour.
Sioux Honey to expand production in Sioux City
Sioux Honey Association is the world’s largest beekeeper co-op, producing more than 40 million pounds of honey each year for customers nationwide. Their two well-known brands, Sue Bee and Aunt Sue’s, are the first honey brands to be nationally certified that at least 95% of ingredients are grown in the U.S. The company plans to purchase a facility in Sioux City and expand that to accommodate for additional production capacity. The board awarded the company a $2 million forgivable loan and tax benefits through the HQJ program. It represents a capital investment of $130 million and is expected to create and retain 70 jobs, of which 33 are incented at a qualifying wage of $29.47 per hour.
Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants awarded to four projects
The City of Lake Park was awarded $900,000 for the Silver Lake City Park renovation project to enhance a recreation area that will attract park users of all ages. The project will replace outdated playground equipment, create a paved loop trail with seating to view the lake, improve the shelter house for community events, add spaces for new sporting activities and construct wayfinding signage for the new trail extension. The total project cost is $3,054,137.
The City of Maquoketa was awarded $628,000 for the construction of a new splash pad for the community in partnership with the local YMCA. The project offers an additional recreation opportunity for families visiting the nearby cultural attractions and state park. The total project cost is $2,863,990.
The City of Pella was awarded $500,000 for the renovation of the Pella Community Center, an historic building originally built in 1916 and serving the area as a place for arts, education, social services and community engagement since 1978. The project will make necessary upgrades to the infrastructure, improve accessibility and functionality, and create more spaces for multipurpose programming. The total project cost is $8,087,500.
The Des Moines Children’s Museum was awarded $787,000 for the relocation and renovation of the community play space from Valley West Mall to a larger place in West Des Moines. The expansion and building improvements will support more exhibits, programming and events for families. The total project cost is $3,939,179.
The CAT program provides financial assistance to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the CAT Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.
Entrepreneurial Investment Award (EIA) grants awarded to three startup initiatives
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc. (NewBoCo) in Cedar Rapids delivers entrepreneurial education, assistance and programming to help Iowans start and grow companies. The organization plans to lead the development of the Iowa Aviation Technology Center, aligning with a statewide effort to strengthen Iowa’s aviation sector. Through a two-phase approach of program and stakeholder coordination and the launch of training and startup programming, NewBoCo will work to establish Iowa as a competitive hub for aviation technology and talent. The project was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support program staff, events and administration.
The Iowa Center, based in Des Moines, is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering early-stage entrepreneurs through education, coaching and microloans. The organization plans to strategically locate business coaches in rural and micropolitan regions around the state to help people who face barriers or lack access to services needed to start and grow businesses. The Iowa Center was awarded a $150,000 grant for two years to support the expansion of direct learning with professional advisors.
Located in Fairfield, Pathfinders RC&D, Inc. helps rural entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses with technical assistance and assists local governments, chambers and partners with capacity building. The organization plans to create scalable systems to strengthen capital readiness, streamline referrals and deliver business planning support. Pathfinders was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support the personnel, services and outreach for reaching more rural entrepreneurs and establishing long-lasting capacity in smaller communities.
The EIA program provides financial assistance to Iowa-based organizations that directly support entrepreneurs and early-stage startups create, locate or expand a business in Iowa. The award is in the form of a grant through a competitive application process. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the EIA Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.
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Download a spreadsheet with today's HQJ awards.
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