City: More incentives needed to attract jobs
5:10 PM
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, December 08, 2006
A company would like to locate in Sioux City, but can't receive state financial aid to assist in its relocation, Marty Dougherty, economic development director, told state lawmakers Thursday.
"This is a nice corporation with 300 to 400 jobs that is looking at bringing their entity to Sioux City, but their corporation wages are below what would qualify them" for state assistance through new border legislation enacted a year ago.
"The Iowa Department of Economic Development doesn't have the flexibility to help us out. ...There are people who would take those jobs. They have a good benefit package."
Dougherty made his remarks during the annual City Hall Day in which Sioux City council members presented the city's legislative wish list to Sioux City area legislators. The discussion ranged from economic development to the mayoral election to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
After the meeting, Dougherty said, "The state has been very helpful, but there is not a lot of flexibility there. We're still in the running."
He could not release the name of the company or type of business because the city signed a confidentiality agreement. He said he knew the corporation was looking at several other cities, but did not know where they were.
"It's a real prospect," he said. "We've probably been working with them for six months, but it's only been in the last two months that the talks have gotten serious."
He asked the legislators to consider amending the law to encourage investment in Iowa.
For additional information, read Friday's Sioux City Journal.
"This is a nice corporation with 300 to 400 jobs that is looking at bringing their entity to Sioux City, but their corporation wages are below what would qualify them" for state assistance through new border legislation enacted a year ago.
"The Iowa Department of Economic Development doesn't have the flexibility to help us out. ...There are people who would take those jobs. They have a good benefit package."
Dougherty made his remarks during the annual City Hall Day in which Sioux City council members presented the city's legislative wish list to Sioux City area legislators. The discussion ranged from economic development to the mayoral election to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
After the meeting, Dougherty said, "The state has been very helpful, but there is not a lot of flexibility there. We're still in the running."
He could not release the name of the company or type of business because the city signed a confidentiality agreement. He said he knew the corporation was looking at several other cities, but did not know where they were.
"It's a real prospect," he said. "We've probably been working with them for six months, but it's only been in the last two months that the talks have gotten serious."
He asked the legislators to consider amending the law to encourage investment in Iowa.
For additional information, read Friday's Sioux City Journal.
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Happy Employee wrote on Dec 7, 2006 6:55 PM: