Source: Quad-City Business Journal

May 20, 2014 — Deere & Co. plans to invest $28 million to expand the tractor-testing laboratories of its Product Engineering Center in Cedar Falls.

On Friday, May 16th, the Iowa Economic Development Authority approved the project for incentives to retain jobs in Iowa. The Cedar Falls City Council will review the project May 27th.

“The expansion totals nearly 62,000 square feet of additional space and improvements to the existing engineering center’s infrastructure,” said Chris Myers, global director, tractor platform engineering at Deere. “The project is needed to accommodate the continuing evolution to larger agricultural equipment.”

Because of the expansion, Deere will retain nearly 30 full-time positions at the engineering center rather than relocate them to other tractor-test facilities. Positions retained are in the areas of engineering and product development.