Iowa considers further aid for fertilizer plant
Egyptian company seeks further state aid for southeast Iowa fertilizer plant
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa economic development officials are considering whether to give an Egyptian company additional tax incentives for spending nearly $2 billion to build a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is scheduled Friday to consider an additional $25 million in tax credits for Orascom Construction Industries.
The state and local governments already have promised more than $200 million in incentives including loans that do not have to be paid back if the promised jobs are created and tax credits.
The company also is allowed to finance more than $1 billion of the cost of construction through the specially authorized federal Midwest Disaster Area Bonds saving million in interest costs.
Construction of the plant will be located just off U.S. Highway 61 between Fort Madison and Burlington.