Alton, Iowa — Here in northwest Iowa, when someone mentions the word “farm” we tend to think of corn and soybeans, cattle, and hogs. But a new Alton company will soon be manufacturing equipment for fish farms.
Brian Schutt of Global Aquaculture Supply Company, LLC, says the company will be manufacturing and distributing aquaculture equipment later this year.
Schutt says he and his partners are currently involved in shrimp and fish farming, but were having problems acquiring some of the equipment they needed.
He says the company has already had other fish farmers calling, wanting to know when they can acquire the products that GASC will manufacture.
Late last week, the Iowa Economic Development Board voted to award Global Aquiculture Supply Company, LLC $64-thousand in direct financial assistance as well as tax benefits for GASC’s $3-million capital investment. The Iowa Economic Development Board said the project was expected to create eight jobs at a qualifying wage of $19.60 per hour, but Schutt says the business should employ even more than expected.
He says ground has been broken for the facility, which will be located in Alton’s Industrial Park.
In case you were wondering, “aquaculture” is a term that has to do with farming animals normally found in the sea.
