French yeast company considering Cedar Rapids expansion

A French company is considering expansion of its manufacturing facilities in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The Lesaffre Group has plants operated by three companies: Lesaffre Yeast Corp., Bio Springer North America Corp., and Red Star Yeast. The latter is a joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland, with a corn processing plant in southwest Cedar Rapids that produces high fructose corn syrup and ethanol.

Lesaffre, a global provider of yeast, yeast extracts and other fermentation and related products, said the expanded capabilites and capacity would create 30 jobs with a capital investment of $50 million.

The Cedar Rapids City Council will consider sponsoring an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for financial assistance in the form of investment tax credits. The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance assisted in preparation of the IEDA application.

The projects could begin later this year, pending approval of the state application and a final decision by Lesaffre.

'We are extremely pleased that Lesaffre has chosen to expand as well as bring new operations to Cedar Rapids, which will add high quality jobs for our citizens as well as strengthen our tax base,' said Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz in a news release.