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Culver To Help Keokuk Land Hydroelectric Company

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-883855.mp3

Keokuk, IA – ATS Corporation is considering Keokuk as the location for a new manufacturing plant. Steve Bisenius with the Lee County Economic Development Group says this is a new start-up business with enormous growth potential.

Bisenius says ATS Corporation wants to build hydro-electric turbines. He says the size of these generators would allow them to be moved easily, even after installation, as opposed to many in use today.

LCEDG has been working closely with ATC Corporation for months. Lee County loaned Bisenius' group $150,000 to help in the recruitment.

Governor Chet Culver (D-IA) says he will help in those efforts. He said, during a stop in Keokuk, that he will meet with the Head of the Department of Economic Development to discuss ATC Corporation.

"I am going to encourage the director to work with his team and local officials here to see if we can make this project a reality," says Culver, "if there are concerns and questions, lets deal with them head on and address any issues and try to move forward."

One issue appears to be a delay by the Iowa Power Fund in acting on a funding request from ATS Corporation. The board tabled the request, in November, so a study could be conducted on hydro-power in Iowa.

Former Keokuk Mayor Dave Gudgel implored Culver for help in making that funding a reality.