Business & Industry in Van Buren County

Van Buren County has many opportunities available for new and/or expanding businesses & industries. Buildings for light manufacturing can be readily available, built to your specifications. Many of our communities have land available for industrial development with utilities on the property or adjacent to these parcels of land.

All of our communities have an Urban Revitalization Tax Abatement program in effect. Land or existing building(s) must be improved at least 15% and an abatement will be allowed on the new/improved structure. Length of abatement varies by community. Applications are available through the individual city clerks.

Van Buren County also has a Rural Revitalization Tax Abatement program. This is a 3-year 50% abatement on new/improved structure(s). Applications can be obtained by emailing the county assessors office. Deadline is February 1.

Indian Hills Community College offers employers and employees enhanced training in important job skills. IHCC's Business & Industry Resource Center promotes individual business growth and regional economic development by providing training, consulting, and workforce support programs. The Indian Hills Business & Industry Resource Center can assist in providing opportunities to enhance employees' skills and knowledge to help your company keep pace with the competition. For more information call 641-683-5227.

Rathbun Rural Water Association supplies all of Van Buren County with water service.

Utility service is provided by Alliant Utilities, Southern Iowa Electric Coop , Access Energy & Keosauqua Light & Power Co.

The latest telecommunication technology is available to all of our communities through Van Buren Telephone Co. or Windstream Communications.

Low-interest loans for business and industrial development/expansion are available through Area 15 Regional Planning.

There are four types of business assistance programs available for Van Buren County:

  • For business start-ups or expansion the REDI (Regional Economic Development Investments) RLF loans $5,000 for each job created or retained, up to a maximum of $125,000. The application is available at Area 15 Regional Planning Commission.

  • Southern Iowa Electric Coop has a Revolving Loan Fund available for small business, including retail, with low-interest loans up to $100,000.

  • Access Energy Coop has a Revolving Loan Fund with a $10,000 minimum loan for business start-up or expansions, including retail. At least 50% of the project must be funded from other sources.

  • Keosauqua Light & Power has established a Revolving Loan Fund with a minimum loan amount of $10,000 and a maximum of $100,000 with interest rates determined on a case-by-case basis. This RLF is only available to locations in Van Buren County, Iowa. Download KEO RLF Guidelines & Application.

    Keosauqua Light & Power is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online here, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

The State of Iowa also has several programs available to assist large & small business development.

Local Financial Institutions

Existing Industry

Barker Wire Co, Keosauqua 319-293-3179

Barker Wire Products, a division of Angola Wire Products, Inc., is a manufacturer in the commercial display industry. Producing products such as: Wire Displays, Display Racks, Wire P.O.P. Displays, Retail Displays, Wire Shelves, Wire Baskets, Wire Dump Bins, Sidekicks and Powerwings, Wire Literature Holders, Brochure Holders, Bag Racks, Bag Merchandisers, Wire Spinners, Wire Benches, Crossbars, Wire Shapes, Wire Forms, Shelf Fencing and Dividers, Counter Displays, Display Fixtures and more!

Barker Specialty Products by Hill Phoenix (f.k.a. Barker Company Ltd.), Keosauqua   319-293-3777

Van Buren County's largest light manufacturing employer. They specialize in custom design and construction of refrigerated display cases used in grocery stores and delis across the nation.


Tigerhawk Industries (formerly Eagle Plastics/Plaza Enterprises), Keosauqua 319-293-6134

Specilizing in custom profile plastic extrusion. TigerHawk produces many products for a variety of industries including refrigeration, office furniture & accessories, marine, medical, appliance, and agricultural markets. 


Mid States Manufacturing, Milton 641-656-4271

A major manufacturer in the material handling industry. Mid-States resides in a 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Milton, Iowa and employs over 50 people. Mid -States’ in-house engineering and sales departments have the knowledge to custom design and engineer products to meet your specific needs in the material handling industry.

Riverside Plastics, Bonaparte 319-592-3166

Riverside Plastics, Inc. is a custom injection molder of thermoplastic resins.This process is used to produce parts which range from the very simple to the highly complex. They are located in a 70,000 square foot facility which houses two molding rooms with presses ranging from 30 tons to 730 tons, a 11,000 square foot toolroom and an in-house engineering & design staff.