DECORAH - The city of Decorah will support a $2.9 million Acument expansion project with a $9,000 contribution through tax abatement.

The city¹s support is necessary for Acument to be eligible for a $45,000 Iowa Department of Economic Development grant.

Tim Norman, Acument engineering manager met with the Decorah City Council Monday night to explain the planned addition that includes a new "heat treating" furnace for its construction products. The addition will be located on the northeast side of Acument¹s Decorah facility adjacent to the former Wal-Mart.

The project, which is estimated to take 18 weeks to complete, should create about 15 jobs, according to Norman.

The cost of labor associated with the project is $333,000 and local contractors will be utilized as much as possible, he said.

"The new construction will increase our capability for increasing growth over time it allows us economies of scale," Norman said.

After approving the five-year tax abatement, council member Rachel Vagts commented, "I think this is great."

"This is good news in a down- turning economy," council member Karen Tjossem added.

Acument, formerly known as Camcar Textron, has 443 employees and is Decorah's second largest employer.