Northwest Iowa — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg were in northwest Iowa on Friday, October 6th.
They started the day with a tour of NIPCO Fiber Optic Systems in Craig, Iowa. Then it was on to Rock Rapids where they toured an ambulance factory at Arrow Manufacturing.
Governor Reynolds tells us why they are touring manufacturing facilities in the state.
Arrow Manufacturing owner Craig Roths told Reynolds about one of the barriers they face. He says that due to a franchising law, those who make ambulance bodies or other kinds of bodies, such as feed delivery trucks at Sudenga Industries cannot sell a completely new truck — cassis, body, and all at a competitive price, which he says forces some would-be customers to buy out-of-state or even internationally.
Roths says that while they do sell new ambulance modules to go on new chassis, much of what they do is remounting and reconditioning. The governor says it’s a great idea.
Reynolds tells us what she’s heard on this trip.
After their tour in Rock Rapids, the governing pair were at Coveris in Sibley. Then it was on to DK Plastics in Archer. After that, Cherokee was next on the agenda, where they were to hold a “Building a Better Iowa: Economy” roundtable with Cherokee County Manufacturers.
Upper photo caption from left: Iowa State Representative John Wills, Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Arrow Manufacturing General Manager Terry Dieren, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Rock Rapids Mayor Jason Chase (in grey shirt), Lyon County District 3 Supervisor Mark Behrens, Arrow Manufacturing owner Craig Roths.
Middle photo caption from left: Arrow Manufacturing owner Craig Roths, Arrow Manufacturing General Manager Terry Dieren, Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
Bottom photo caption from left: At DK Plastics In Archer — Home Improvement Coordinator Jeff Dekok, DK Plastics Vice President and General Manager Scott Dekok, Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, DK Plastics CNC Operator Noah Dekok, DK Plastics Freight Coordinator Steve Dekok, DK Plastics President and Head Owner Dave Dekok
