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Calcium Products seeks expansion

Webster County Supervisors support plan

Messenger photo by Michaela Frerichs
Calcium Products’ current facility is located on Webster County Road P59 on the southeast edge of Fort Dodge.

Calcium Products in Fort Dodge is one step closer to expanding its facility after Tuesday’s Webster County Board of Supervisors meeting. The board unanimously approved a resolution of support for Calcium Products improvements.

The Calcium Products facility is currently located on Webster County Road P59 on the southeast edge of Fort Dodge.

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance CEO Dennis Plautz said, “What’s proposed today is a $17 million expansion, which includes building, machinery, equipment and new palletizers so they can do more things than they do today and be more competitive in the marketplace.”

Plautz said the $17 million will include $7.5 million for construction, $8.1 million for machinery and equipment, and $1.5 million for the land.

Calcium Products takes local products such as gypsum and limestone and creates soil additives. Plautz said one of their biggest customers is golf courses.

“Calcium Products is an added-value company,” Plautz said. ”With this expansion they can go after new consumers and create more development around Fort Dodge.”

Plautz added that Calcium Products would continue to use its current buildings for storage and warehousing and build a new production facility on 40 acres across the road from the current facility.

This project would also add two jobs while maintaining the current 11 positions. The two new positions are projected to pay $20.47 per hour.

The board approved the resolution of support to give Calcium Products an annual appropriation rebate equal to 70 percent of the incremental tax produced by the new project.

The next step will be for incentives to be considered Friday by the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board.

The state will vote to approve a $225,000 refund of sales, service, and use tax paid during construction. If the state board approves, the improvement project will be able to move forward.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Campbell thanked Plautz and Kelly Halsted, who is the Growth Alliance’s economic development director, for their work on this project.

“It’s very exciting to see more expansion and growth in our area,” Campbell said.

With the unanimous passing of the resolution, Plautz said, “The support of the Board of Supervisors is certainly appreciated. They’ve always stepped up to the plate and been supportive of economic development projects brought to them.”

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