The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board today (Friday) awarded direct financial assistance and tax benefits to four companies for job creation and expansion projects. Among them was a logistics company that plans to acquire a site in Council Bluffs. XTL, Inc. is a leading customized logistics solutions provider that utilizes state-of-the-art robotic warehousing and inventory control for commodities and finished goods.

The company specializes in providing capacities to primary processors and employees in order to maximize on-site production while using off-site logistics resources. This $62 million capital investment project was awarded tax benefits through the HQJP to create 50 jobs, of which 16 are incented, at a qualifying hourly wage of $17.06.

Today’s awards will assist in the creation of 156 jobs, retain 89 jobs and will result in over $157 million in new capital investment for the state. The board also approved innovation funding to six startups.

Changes in health insurance raise many questions for consumers. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a free on-line workshop to help local residents understand how to make Smart Choices for purchasing health care coverage. The free workshop will take place Wednesday, December 10th from 6-8 p.m. To register for the workshop go on-line to http://tinyurl.com/pvmceb7. Once registered, participants will receive a website link for logging in to join the workshop from their personal computer as well as a link to access handouts.

Brenda Schmitt and Joyce Lash, Human Science Specialists in Family Finance will facilitate the workshop. Participants will understand key health insurance terms and concepts, learn to identify personal health care needs and priorities, understand key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and examine the pros and cons of hypothetical insurance plans.

The workshop is intended for both current health insurance consumers and those who are newly eligible through the Affordable Care Act. The Smart Choice workshop will not offer one on one assistance or advice for enrolling in a particular insurance plan. Questions about the on-line program can be directed to Brenda Schmitt at 641-512-0650.

Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday afternoon, arrested a man wanted by court order (mittimus) on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. 33-year old Alan Joe Turpen was taken into custody at around 3:15-p.m. in the 500 block of east 5th Street, in Villisca. Turpen was brought to the Montgomery County Jail to serve a two-day sentence required to satisfy the court’s order.

An Audubon County manufacturer has announced its workers were given notice earlier this week that their jobs are being eliminated. California-based Anthony International,  the world’s largest manufacturer of specialty glass, commercial glass refrigerator & freezer doors, case lighting, and display & merchandising systems said Monday, 61 of its employees in Audubon were given notice that as of January 16th, they will be out of a job.

Shawn Simmons, Vice President of Human Resources for Hillphoenix, Anthony’s parent company, stated that some of the Audubon employees will have the opportunity to relocate to Richmond, Virginia for roles in which they qualify and that they will be working to provide support to all Audubon employees during the transition.

Anthony opened in Audubon in 2010, after the acquisition of Trausch Industries. At that time, 118 people were employed at the Audubon Plant. In 2012, Dover Corporation, acquired Anthony International, merging it with Hillphoenix. Monday’s announcement came as a surprise to both the workers at the business as well as officials with Audubon County Economic Development.

(KNOD/Harlan)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluffs officials are planning a nearly $1 million restoration of the historic Fairmount Park with the help of $100,000 from a Rotary club. Mayor Matt Walsh announced the project Thursday. The 90-acre park features a greenhouse, ice skating, sledding, a petting zoo and an old bell tower. But the Daily Nonpareil reports the park’s forest is overgrown and its facilities need renovation.

Officials say the project will restore the woodlands and establish new trails to improve pedestrian access from nearby neighborhoods. The project also calls for a plaza on the site of the former Fairmount Lodge.

Mick McKinley, the former president of the Rotary Club of Council Bluffs, says the group was looking for a service project to help fund to commemorate its 100-year anniversary.