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United Equipment Accessories pitches $1.5M expansion in Waverly; council backs IEDA application
Summary
United Equipment Accessories told the Waverly council it plans to buy and renovate an industrial facility, invest more than $1.5 million and create about 18 full‑time equivalent jobs; the council approved a resolution of support for the company’s Iowa Economic Development Authority application.
United Equipment Accessories (UEA) presented a proposal March 16 to expand its Waverly operations by purchasing and renovating a recently vacated industrial facility in the Waverly Unified Urban Renewal Area, and the City Council approved a resolution supporting the company's application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Business Incentives for Growth program.
Planning and development specialist Connie Tobin told the council the project "represents a capital investment in excess of $1,500,000 and is anticipated to create 18 new full time equivalent jobs offering competitive wages and benefits." The company’s CEO, Deb Malik, said UEA currently employs about "184 UEA employees, and we have ... 160 of them here in Waverly," and described plans to expand engineering and manufacturing staff and recruit locally.
Why it matters: the resolution is the city‑level letter of support IEDA requires as part of the state review; IEDA was scheduled to consider the application at its March 20 meeting. Tobin said the council will later be asked to consider a separate local incentive proposal if the state application advances.
Council members thanked staff for preparing the background memo and asked questions about local hiring and school‑based recruitment; Malik said the company participates in local high‑school career fairs and emphasizes growing skilled trades locally. No public opposition was recorded during the presentation.
The council moved, seconded and approved Resolution 26‑59, the formal city resolution of support. According to staff, the resolution does not itself commit the city to any local financial incentive; any such local support would be considered at a future meeting if the state process advances.
Next steps: IEDA will consider the company’s application on March 20; if the state board acts favorably, the council may review a proposed local incentive at a future meeting.
