Rob Sand, Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor, left, Zach Lahn, GOP nominee for Iowa Governor, right.Photo: Eva Basinger
(Des Moines, IA) -- The candidates running for Iowa Governor are sounding off about providing state incentives for a $15-billion dollar steel plant in Southeast Iowa.
Democratic nominee Rob Sand doesn't think the state should hand the money over up front.
"These folks had some real problems in Minnesota. And so we would want to make sure that they're making their investments of whatever money they're bringing to Iowa," Sand said.
Sand says he also wants to ensure the opportunity is real and the state doesn't overpay to protect taxpayers from being fleeced.
Republican nominee Zach Lahn says having the Mesabi Metallics facility in Lee County will help an economically depressed area.
"Having it here in Southeast Iowa is going to provide 40, 50, 60 years of economic prosperity for the region. So, any incentives just need to be aligned with what's the potential gain for the people and I think this one is going to be tremendous, " Lahn said.
Lahn adds his goal is still to have state incentives to go to Iowa businesses. However, he says there is no other economic development project of this scope.
Lahn also says the company is also promising to help reopen a shuttered hospital in Lee County.
Iowa lawmakers will vote on the state incentives Friday during a special, legislative session. The steel plant is expected to create more than 1,700 permanent jobs and pump billions into the national economy.
Production is not expected to begin until 2030.
Both Sand and Lahn held campaign events in Des Moines on Wednesday.