Ankeny is providing tax incentives to an information technology company that is considering constructing a new office building in town, following city council approval Monday evening.

Nelson Computer Systems Inc., is currently located at 1370 Northwest 18th Street in Ankeny. The information security consulting firm is considering building a new 7,100 square-foot office along Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway.

The city is providing a $34,500 loan to assist Nelson Computer Systems Inc. in expanding, according to the development agreement. Under the loan, Nelson would create 11 new jobs ranging between $25 an hour to $47-plus an hour. It is 50 percent forgivable and 50 percent repayable.

The funding will come from tax increment funding and Ankeny's economic development fund.

The company has locations in Missouri and Texas. There are 11 employees in Iowa.

"Just because they're located here doesn't meant they'll continue to invest here," said Derek Lord, Ankeny economic development director. "When asked to help with the project, we were happy to offer some assistance to ensure that investment occurs in Ankeny and here in Iowa."

Ankeny is focusing on attracting industries that are growing, such as bio technology, information technology, logistics and warehouse distribution, Lord said. A policy is in place for Ankeny to provide financial assistance to these type of expanding industries.

Nelson Computer Systems Inc. has grown out of its current office space and is interested in moving to 1551 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, which is also an Urban Renewal Area. The project will be new construction.

The annual property tax bill for the building is estimated between $30,000 to $40,000 annually.

"The quality of the jobs and the type of industry falls directly in line with that policy and helps us achieve our economic development goals in attracting higher wage positions to the city," Lord said.