(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Economic Development Board approved a two-million dollar forgivable loan and tax benefits today (Friday) to help the Sioux Honey Association with 130 million dollar expansion. I-E-D-A director Debi Durham calls it a legacy project for the company and for Sioux City.

“It is an incredible investment and it really does secure their future in Iowa for the next hundred years,” she says. Siouxland Chamber president Chris McGowan told the Board the site includes the purchase of an existing warehouse and adjacent property north of the Sioux Gateway Airport. He says the city is part of the investment in the project.

“The City of Sioux City has invested or will invest more than 15 million dollars in this project. They’re leading the way in a very significant way and I believe that underscores the commitment that they have in retaining a company that has been in our community for over a hundred years,” he says. The company intends to renovate the office space in the existing warehouse and construct a new processing plan and raw goods warehouse on the adjacent property.

Sioux Honey will also relocate its Anaheim, California operations to Sioux City and create 39 new jobs and retain 75 jobs. Sioux Honey has grown to become the largest beekeeper co-op in the world.

The I-E-D-A also approved tax benefits for Morrison Weighing Systems to move its operation that produces high-speed weighing and labeling systems from Illinois to Coralville. They plan to invest nearly one-and-a-half million dollars with the creation of 11 jobs. Electro Freeze was also awarded tax incentives to relocate from Illinois to Davenport. The company manufactures food service equipment and will expand operations with the move. The seven million dollar capital investment is expected to bring 200 jobs to Davenport.