Intermec Inc., 550 Second St. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids, is one of three companies that announced plans Thursday for new buildings in Cedar Rapids.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids scored a triple play Thursday as two existing businesses — Intermec and Raining Rose – and a newcomer – AgSugar International — announced plans for new buildings in the community.

Priority One, the economic development division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, said the three projects represent a total capital investment — including equipment and research and development — of about $40 million.

Intermec has applied for state and local funds to assist with the proposed construction of a two-story, 78,000 square-foot facility at 601 Third St. SE .  The new $10.5 million building  would replace the company’s existing location at 550 Second St. SE. 

The Intermec building, which would house about 252 employees, is the first new privately-financed building proposed for the core downtown area since the June 2008 flood. TrueNorth Companies is renovating the former Cedar Rapids Public Library building at a cost of $7.5 million.

Priority One and city officials have been in talks with Intermec officials for close to two years about the Everett, Wash., company’s facilities in Cedar Rapids.

“As Intermec continues to review its global footprint, it is clear that Cedar Rapids is a strategic location for skilled work force,” said Pat Byrne, president and chief executive officer of Intermec.  “We are excited for the opportunity to provide our employees a new world-class design and test center.”

The Intermec project is contingent on formal approval of state and local incentives, including tax credits and indirect financing.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett noted that Intermec’s building was among those affected by the 2008 flood.

“We are extremely pleased that Intermec has chosen to remain in downtown Cedar Rapids,” Corbett said. “We are grateful for their commitment to helping rebuild our downtown community.” 

Raining Rose, a manufacturer of organic lip balm and other personal care products, has applied for state and local funds to assist with the proposed construction of an $8.5 million, two-story, 122,000 square-foot manufacturing facility at 3015 First Ave. SE.  The new building would replace Raining Rose’s existing facility at 407 Ninth Ave. SE, as well as leased space in other buildings.

Chuck Hammond, owner, president and CEO of Raining Rose, said the company will demolish a dilapidated former Allis Chalmers plant on the site before beginning construction. 

“With our rapid business growth, we need to ensure that we continue to provide quality products to our customers in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Hammond said. “We’re currently spread out over three separate locations.  Being under one roof will allow for even greater productivity and improved customer service.”

Raining Rose employs 97 people in Cedar Rapids.  Hammond said the expanded plant capacity will provide for a significant increase in jobs at the company over the next three years.

The project is contingent on finalized property acquisition, as well as formal approval of state and local incentives, including tax credits, job training, and indirect financing.

AgSugar International, a relatively new St. Louis-based company, has applied for state and local funds to assist with the proposed construction of a $1.68 million, 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, data center and executive office on the southwest corner of J Avenue and Wenig Road NE. The project will create 24 jobs over the next three years.

AgSugar is an industrial biotechnology company that specializes in the manufacture of equipment for bio-based materials.  The proposed manufacturing facility would develop Cellulose Conversion Modules, equipment that can convert cellulose to soluble sugars pure enough for fermentation at a much lower cost than currently available.

Dan Kazanas, chief operating officer of AgSugar, said a variety of factors made Cedar Rapids the choice over other potential locations in the Midwest.

“Cedar Rapids provides AgSugar with unparalleled benefits for its manufacturing and training facility,” Kazanas said. “Cedar Rapids has an educated work force, resourceful local vendors, and synergy opportunities for AgSugar with stalwart businesses in Eastern Iowa already involved in biobased products.”

The AgSugar project also is contingent on formal approval of state and local incentives, including tax credits, job training and indirect financing.

Priority One President Dee Baird noted that the three businesses are representative of existing industry clusters in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Technology Corridor.

City Manager Jeff Pomerantz said the Cedar Rapids City Council will consider the requests for assistance from Intermec, Raining Rose and AgSugar when it meets Tuesday.

“We don’t expect any bumps,” Pomerantz said. “We have a great team and a great plan in place to grow jobs and industry in the community.

“We have more than $560 million of public and private projects planned for Cedar Rapids over the next several years. I think if you look around the state, you won’t find any other community with that kind of capital investment in these troubled economic times.”

Pomerantz noted that all three projects fit with the city’s goal of “infilling” existing locations where all utilities, roads and other amenities are already in place. The Raining Rose project will redevelep a former industrial area along First Avenue SE, the Intermec building will be located on the site of a former concrete plant and the AgSugar building will be built near SunOpta and the city’s water treatment plant.