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Lt. governor visits Boone business
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| By Chuck
Hackenmiller, Boone Today |
May 07,
2004 |
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| BOONE - Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson visited Iowa
Thin Film Technologies here on Wednesday and learned about the
company's anticipated growth. |
BOONE - Lt. Gov. Sally
Pederson visited Iowa Thin Film Technologies here on Wednesday and
learned about the company's anticipated
growth.
Mike Coon, the firm's
chief of operations, told Pederson the company has about 20
employees and anticipates that will increase within two to five
years. A majority of the employees are engineers or those with
science-based careers. About half are Iowa State University
graduates.
Frank R. Jeffrey
founded the company in 1988. It's located on the eastern edge of
Boone County. It develops, manufactures and sells integrated
semiconductors on a flexible polymer substrate. It sells its solar
products for lightweight, portable, remote applications, including
air and space
applications.
The company's
PowerFilm has been sent to NASA for several projects, including the
Mars Flyer prototype and demonstrations of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Last November the company launched PowrFilm Air and Space Series
products for solar powering and recharging air and space
vehicles.
Pederson said the
governor's office has made job creation and economic development a
top priority. It hopes to expand the state's energy production
through boosts in ethanol production, soy diesel products and solar
energy.
Pederson also talked about the state creating a capital
fund to help new businesses grow, investing in cultural and
recreation projects through Vision Iowa and other
sources.
"We've worked to put
in place some help for companies such as Iowa Thin Film Technologies
to grow," she said. "We also have to remember to make Iowa a state
where people want to locate because of the cultural and recreational
side of it.
"At times,
people don't realize what Iowa has to offer. We have an image
problem that we have to undo. Companies like this help us change
that image."
Pederson's tour
through 10 Iowa cities and surrounding areas during the last few
weeks has focused on Iowa businesses that are growing and expanding.
The businesses, she said, have high potential for creating
high-wage, highly skilled jobs. They also provide opportunities for
young people or graduates to stay in Iowa.
Chuck Hackenmiller of Boone
Today can be reached at 515/432-6694 or by e-mail at
chackenmiller@boonetoday.com
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| ©Ames
Tribune 2004 |
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