L.S. Council learns of proposed $7 million Upper Iowa Beef project

LIME SPRINGS - The City Council of Lime Springs learned at its Aug. 6 meeting that Upper Iowa Beef is planning a $7 million expansion! 

The beef processing business is working on a two-phase project that will about double the size of the facility. Currently, a roof is being put over the pen area to the back (east), and an addition for a cardboard assembly area will be added toward the front facing Hwy. 63. That is just the first part, costing around half-a-million dollars.

The second phase of the project will go toward Casey’s to the north and will mostly be refrigeration. 

Ed Greiman, general manager, attended the meeting. He said there are 100 on the payroll, and every day about 75 are on the job. “We are doing 500 head a week or 100 per day. We don’t have room to hold the product. We need more refrigeration.”

With the expansion, Greiman is anticipating needing another 100 employees. The problem with that, he noted is what every area of Howard County is facing — housing. “I need apartments for the workers. Right now we have one bus that comes from Postville. The workers need apartments and daycare. We have a lot of husbands and wives who work here.”

He said Upper Iowa Beef products are sold through Martin Bros. and other distributors. The goal after the new construction is to handle 300-350 head per day.

Look for more on this story in a future issue of Times Plain Dealer.

• Going hand-in-hand with the expansion of Upper Iowa Beef and other businesses, as well as new residential construction, is offering tax rebatements or incentives to build or expand in Lime Springs.

Council members have been discussing what the City can offer to those wanting to improve their property. The first suggestions were letting customers get hooked up to sewer and water for free.

Jason Passmore, of Howard County Economic Development, explained although it was a nice effort, that may not be enough to entice someone to choose Lime Springs. He said allowing a tax rebatement for up to 10 years could make builders take a second look. He mentioned the City of Cresco gives a three-year rebatement for residential construction for the first $75,000 of actual value added.

“It isn’t like you are losing money by giving a rebatement. You didn’t have that money in the first place. But if someone builds here, you will eventually have that tax money long after we are all gone,” Passmore said.

In regards to Upper Iowa Beef, he added, “The State of Iowa would love to help Upper Iowa Beef grow. They’d love to help the town of Lime Springs. Also, Ed will be using local contractors for some of the construction.”

A workshop was set up with council members for Aug. 20.

• Passmore also noted the housing study for Howard County was complete. It can be found online at Howard-county.com, under Workforce/Wages/Studies.

“In Howard County, we need rentals. We need senior housing. We need every kind of housing there is,” he said.

He added Revolving Loan Funds are available for expansions and purchasing of new businesses.