Deere & Co.'s $32.6 million facility adds to list of central Iowa high-tech gets

Add Deere & Co. to the list of high-tech giants — Apple, Facebook, Microsoft — looking to invest in central Iowa, say state and local economic development leaders.

The manufacturer best known for making farm and construction equipment proposes building a $32.6 million facility in Urbandale to house its intelligent solutions group.

The group's technology work helps tractors drive themselves using global positioning satellites. It helps farmers change the rates used to plant seed, spray herbicides or apply fertilizers. It helps track yields, soil health, field moisture and other crop information.

The project, which snagged $2.9 million in state tax credits Friday, adds to central Iowa's reputation as a destination for "high-profile IT companies," said Curtis Brown, Urbandale's economic development director.

"It buoys the area for IT specialists to grow their careers," he said.

The Moline, Ill.-based company said it would add 31 new jobs and retain 20 with the project.

The new jobs would pay at least $24.27 an hour, state documents show.

Deere's intelligent solutions group now employs 343 workers in leased space in Urbandale, including software developers, systems engineers and product testers.

On Tuesday, Urbandale leaders will consider $4.12 million in incentives over 10 years for the 134,000-square-foot building.

The project, located on about six acres, will help anchor Urbandale's business development area called the Urban Loop, Brown and other city leaders said.

The loop is a four-square-mile economic development area connected by Interstate Highway 35/80 between Merle Hay Road and Hickman Road.

It has about 700 acres that can be developed and 800,000 square feet of available space.

A.J. Johnson, Urbandale's city manager, said Deere is making "a fantastic investment in our community."

Some other high-tech projects have run into criticism.

In August, Apple Inc. received more than $213 million in state and local incentives to build a $1.375 billion data center on the western edge of Waukee.

The Apple data center will create 50 full-time jobs, paying a minimum of $29.12 an hour. Apple expects more than 500 construction workers will build the data center complex.

TPI to build bus bodies

The Iowa Economic Development Authority approved incentives for several other large projects on Friday:

TPI Iowa, the Newton-based maker of wind turbine blades, received a $500,000 low-interest loan and a $500,000 forgivable loan for a $6.7 million expansion to manufacture bus bodies that will be used in electric-powered buses.

TPI, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, also received $613,000 in state tax credits. TPI said it expects to hire 351 new workers, earning at least $18.12 an hour. The company said it currently employs about 1,000 workers.

Arconic Inc., formerly known as Alcoa, received a $1.5 million forgivable loan, along with $4.3 million in tax credits, to help with a $162.6 million investment in its Riverdale plant.

The company said it plans to add new equipment that will expand its product lineup. The project will create 30 jobs and retain 250.

CJ Bio America proposes a $51 million expansion near Fort Dodge, expanding its production of Lysine, an essential amino acid that will be used in swine and poultry feed. The project received $901,430 in tax credits. It will create 18 jobs.