Soy Basics LLC

Pictured here are samples of the soybean wax candles manufactured by Soy Basics LLC of New Hampton, Iowa. These candles burn more slowly, while limiting the harmful emissions of traditional paraffin wax candles. Soy Basics is a new venture that experienced great success increasing its customer base nationwide. They needed to increase manufacturing capacity to keep up. INRCOG, on behalf of the City of New Hampton, wrote and is now administering a $120,000 Economic Development Set-Aside (EDSA) award from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The result is a new building in the city's industrial park, and the promise of 40 new jobs to be created within two years. Because funding from the EDSA program must be used to benefit persons from low or moderate income (LMI) households, at least 51 percent of the persons hired must meet that criteria. In Chickasaw County, a family of four with an income of less than $40,950 in 2002 would be considered LMI employees.