The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved a construction permit application for Southwest Iowa Egg, near Massena. Prior to approval, the Board held a public hearing on the plan, during which there were no written or spoken objections. Pat McCurdy, President of Cass/Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO), said CADCO was fully in support of the plan, which involves the removal of two, older buildings and replacing them with a larger, modern facility that gives the chickens more room and is designed to considerably reduce out-gassing of odors from the manure.

Board Chair Gaylord Schelling, said he and Supervisor Frank Waters scored and approved the Master Matrix for the permit application, which will now be submitted to the Iowa DNR for final approval. The Board also passed a resolution of support for a public/private partnership called “Home Base Iowa,” initiative, an effort to match military veterans with jobs available across Iowa. The program consists of Home Base Iowa Business and Home Base Iowa Communities.

HBI Communities offers additional incentives above and beyond the statewide benefits. The communities have at least 10 percent of area businesses committed to hire veterans. Additionally, HBI communities offer resources from local veteran organizations, businesses, economic development organizations and schools to assist veterans and their families feel at home. Approval of the Resolution makes Cass County the only county in the area to become a Home Base Community. None of the contiguous counties are part of the program.

The Board also approved a resolution approving a contract among the County, Farmers Energy/Cardinal, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority, for a High Quality Jobs Program.