Corridor companies get state assistance

Three Corridor companies received state financial assistance from the Iowa Economic Development Authority on Friday.

Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Winery and Distillery, located in Swisher, will undergo a $1.1 million expansion, adding 3,000 square feet.

The state approved $40,700 in tax credits for the Cedar Ridge expansion, which will allow the company to source and process more local grains. The company hopes to expand outside the state of Iowa, according to state documents.

'Our focus is on meeting growing demand, especially for our whiskey products,” said owner Jeff Quint. 'We continue to enter new markets and this expansion will ease constraints on our production and warehousing.”

Cedar Ridge produces 15 types of spirits and liqueurs and more than 20 wines.

The expansion will more than double production capacity with the addition of a third still with a 175-gallon capacity.

The state also approved $39,250 in tax credits and $125,000 in direct cash assistance for Gott Ice Cream?, producer of David's Famous Gourmet Frozen Custard. The custard is sold in 18 locations between Iowa and Minnesota.

The company plans to build a large-scale production facility in Tipton. The $1.2 million project will convert a 10,000-square-foot agriculture building into a production and warehousing facility.

'This was the result of the right location at the right time and we can't wait to get started,” said owner David Gott. 'We're currently producing our product in Minnesota, and the new Tipton location will allow us to aggressively expand in the Midwest.”

Trucking company CRST International was the third Corridor company to receive state financial assistance. The company is planning an 11-story headquarters in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The state approved $1.75 million is tax credits for the $36 million project.

The building will have three levels of parking and eight levels of office space.

CRST Board Chairman John Smith told The Gazette earlier this week that the time just felt right to come downtown.

'I think it would be good for the city,” Smith said. 'It just seems like the right thing to do.”

Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@sourcemedia.net