Return to Nicholas Johnson's Iowa Rain Forest ("Earthpark") Web Site
 
 

[Note: This material is copyright by the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.]

The four projects, worth at least $24 million, are expected to retain 461 jobs and create 74 new ones.

The council voted unanimously to:

* Approve a development agreement with McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. to build an approximately $18 million, 135,000-square-foot office complex in the Port of Dubuque. The company also agreed to construct a parking lot to be owned by the city, which could be used by the public when not in company use.

The company agrees to retain 276 full-time and 113 part-time employees and add 30 full- and part-time positions within three years. Incentives include a half-price discount on 2 acres and a 10-year tax-increment financing agreement.

"This is really good news; there will be 400 new people working in the Port of Dubuque every day," said Bill Baum, interim director of Greater Dubuque Development Corp. "The company asked Advertisement

their employees where they wanted to be, and they said downtown."

* Approve an agreement with Theisen Supply Inc. to build a $4 million, 110,000-square-foot warehouse/office complex in the Dubuque Industrial Park West. The company agrees to retain 48 full-time jobs and create 10 new full-time equivalent positions within four years. Incentives include a half-price discount on 15.4 acres and a 10-year TIF agreement.

* Approved a development agreement with Kunkel Bounds & Associates to build a $1 million, 9,800-square-foot-office building in the Dubuque Technology Park. The company agrees to create 24 full-time equivalent jobs within three years, which can include some jobs related from its current operation in Mineral Point, Wis. Incentives include a half-price discount on 5.1 acres and a 10-year TIF agreement.

"It's good to see a spade in the ground out there again," said Mayor Roy Buol, referring to the technology park.

* Approve a development agreement with Dubuque Screw Products Inc. to build a $1 million, 30,000-square-foot industrial facility in the Dubuque Industrial Park West. The company agreed to retain 24 existing jobs and create 10 positions within four years. Incentives include a half-price discount on 2.9 acres and a 10-year TIF agreement.

In other business, the council:

* Awarded city's 2006-09 towing contract to Wenzel's Towing, 275 Salina St.

* Awarded the Five Flags Arena Fall Protection Project to Hy-Safe Technology for $82,173.