East Central Iowa News

During its Feb. 21 meeting, the Oskaloosa City Council heard a presentation from Clow Valve requesting a tax exemption program for a large planned expansion.

The presentation was made by Mark Willett, vice president of Clow Valve, a local business in the city that has produced waterworks valves and fire hydrants for more than 130 years. He showed a map outlining a 36,000-square-foot planned addition and also explained that the business will be retaining 430 jobs over five years. The project plans have already gone through various commissions, and the hope is to start the project this month and complete it by January 2025. Much of the expansion project is to replace and upgrade existing equipment without doing a full shutdown.

“That puts us in a position we’re in today, that we really need to look at doing something different out there,” Willett said in the meeting. “Without this replacement, it really puts things in jeopardy for our entire organization. Some of the additional benefits—this is very Clow-selfish—but it allows us to internalize existing outsourced tasking. So we are purchasing these from outside of the Clow...and it allows us to take control of our own destiny. And over the last two and a half years, being in control of your own destiny is extremely important. I learned the hard way in some cases.”

Many pieces of equipment are at the end of their lives, as some—like the main molding line—date back to 1985. Some equipment will be as much as 60 years old by 2025.

“Several of these pre-date my existence,” Willett said of the equipment in question.

Willett further told the council that the improvements would increase efficiency and environmental impacts as well. He also noted that there are an endless number of ergonomic improvements, including core setting and pouring.

The business applied for the Iowa Economic Development Authority High Quality Jobs Program, in which the state of Iowa offers a 10-year tax abatement program. The business will likely qualify for the match program as the planned improvements will increase the property’s value. The current value is at $1.7 million, and it is expected to go up at least 15%. Construction will cost an estimated $68.5 million.

The council asked Willett various questions, one being whether the expansion would ramp up production. Willett said it would create an opportunity to upscale employees—new positions would not be created exactly, but production would most likely increase. He also said the project would not put a strain on the city’s infrastructure in terms of trucks used.

The council approved the plan and thanked Willett and Clow Valve for keeping jobs and business in the city.