The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved funds for roadway improvements to help a business in Pella.  D-O-T spokesman Craig Markley says the money will benefit Lely (Lee-lee) North America, which designs and manufactures automated systems for dairy farms. He goes on to say the award of 244-thousand dollars helps keep the company in Iowa.

“Lely has a big presence in Canada as well as other states, and they were looking at moving out of Iowa. Currently, they are co-located with Vermeer Corporation and that lease is not being renewed, so they needed to find a different place,”

Markley says the company will retain six of its 53 jobs and create 15 new ones at a high wage.  He says the design is expected to be completed in April and the road construction in September of this year.