Local startup pivots from ethanol tech to LED lights in state funding bid
Walter Emig and his AgSugar International team spent months courting Cedar Rapids officials, securing about 600000 in state aid for two Missouri inventor Ted Lewis biotechnologies. By mid project they dropped Lewis machines, shifting to LED office light assembly, leaving taxpayers tied to the evolving dream.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Walter
Skip” Emig
AgSugar International
Missouri
Ted Lewis
America
Emig
Dan Kazanas
St. Louis
Lewis
AgSugar International pivots from biotech aid to LED plant in Iowa
AgSugar International secured state assistance for a Cedar Rapids biotech project but after testing setbacks and a missing machine component by September the company severed ties with inventor Lewis. It rebranded as Vertecra Inc and shifted to LED office lighting assembly. Iowa officials signed the state aid contract in October with Kazanas and Pomeranz, and aid was released November 22.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lewis
Vertecra Inc
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Kazanas
Jeff Pomeranz
Branstad Sees Fast Start and Ambitious Goals for Iowa
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, in Cedar Rapids, outlines four goals for his new term including 200,000 jobs, 25 percent higher family incomes, top education ranking, and 15 percent lower government costs. He notes unemployment falling to 5.7 percent and claims his administration is moving faster than the prior Democratic era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Q. Lynch
Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Terry Branstad
Branstad
Boone County Republican
Branstad Promises and Goals Under Review
A closer look at Governor Branstad’s campaign promises and progress toward stated goals. The feature assesses execution, public impact, and remaining hurdles as of this reporting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Branstad
Also Mentioned on This Page
Rick Smith
Cde
Ccdar Rapide
AgSugar International, Inc
Weing Rd
Ratte
C.R
Agsugar.ihoststudio
Vertecra
AgSugar
Diamond V Mills
Don Ross
Accent Books
Lia
Gazette Mobile
St. Luke's ER
Linn County
St. Luke's
ST. Luke’s Hospital
Iowa Health Systex
Stlukescr.org
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