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Maytag Plans Job Expansion Jan 21, 2005 |
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Newton, IA, U.S.-based Maytag Corp. announced its plans of a U.S. $65 million expansion at its Amana refrigeration plant that will bring 200 new jobs to northeast Iowa.
The appliance maker said it will make a new refrigerator product in Amana but declined to provide details, citing competitive concerns.
Iowa beat out a foreign competitor for the project, the Des Moines Register reported. Maytag declined to say where it was considering taking the production, but added that it always weighs the cost-effectiveness of production at its U.S. plants against its plants in Mexico and outsourcing with foreign manufacturers.
State economic development leaders approved the plan and gave Maytag $1.5 million in tax breaks for the project, but cited concerns about wages. New Amana workers will receive an average of $12.33 an hour. Workers at the plant now receive about $15.39 an hour. (Des Moines Register)