Frontier Natural Products planning 3 expansion projects

Frontier Natural Products is getting some state financial assistance for three expansion projects.

The Iowa Economic Development Board on Friday approved a $41,250 forgiveable loan and a five-year loan for the same amount at no interest for an $8.7 million project at the company's main facility in Norway.

Frontier plans to increase capacity by adding a new bottling line and renovate 8,000 square feet of its food and flavorings facility. The project also will allow Frontier to keep up with new food safety and sanitation regulations.

The IEDA board awarded the company $82,500 in direct financial assistance as well as tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program to create 23 new jobs, 11 of which are incented at a qualifying wage of $19.54 per hour.

Frontier will finance the remainder of the cost with a five-year, $16,500 loan at zero percent interest from Benton County and $8.6 million of its own money.

In Belle Plaine, Frontier will spend $2.8 million to purchase a 10,070-square-foot building that formerly housed an auto parts plant. The facility will serve as a warehouse and distribution center for the company's Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands.

The board approved tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program for the project, which will create 16 jobs, with two incented at a wage of $15.76 per hour.

Frontier is planning an addition to its Urbana production and warehousing facility that will house a 150-foot-by-150-foot heated and cooled space for warehousing bulk oils and related consumable items. The project also will include an additional bottling line for essential oils and the purchase of a fork truck.

The $4.4 million project, which Frontier will finance with its own money, was approved for tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program for the creation of six jobs, with one incented at a qualifying wage of $17.01 per hour.

Frontier, which began operations in 1976, specializes in natural and organic products such as herbs, spices, foods, teas, and body care products.