WATERLOO -- The city is expanding a special tax district in the former Rath Packing Co. area to help lure a company that markets pet products and environmentally friendly de-icer.

Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously Monday to approve expanding the Rath area tax increment financing district, stretching it easterly to the Evansdale city limits and absorbing land along Lafayette Street and Dubuque Road.

Last month, council members approved a development agreement with Secor Investments, which would redevelop and expand in the former Windor Inc. building at 3215 Lafayette St. By including that site in the Rath TIF, the city can use property taxes generated within the district to pay for the Secor incentives package.

"The expansion presents a proposal for the improvement and location of commercial and industrial development and provides for public improvements in order to increase the tax base and employment opportunities in the Rath area," Waterloo City Planner Aric Schroeder said.

Schroeder noted the current Rath TIF has seen improvements ranging from the construction of a new 18th Street bridge to expansions at Crystal Distribution, Powers Manufacturing, Black Hawk Machining and Selesky Manufacturing. A California developer is also planning to renovate the former Rath Administration Building.

"Despite these recent successes, it is evident that there exists ¦ the continuing need for programs to alleviate and prevent conditions of unemployment," Schroeder said, noting the TIF expansion will help retain and attract new business enterprises.

The driving force to expand the TIF now was the development agreement with Secor Investments, which is buying the former 58,000-square-foot Windor Inc. building and plans to add another 20,000 square feet of building space on the property. The entire project is expected to add $750,000 to the tax base over time.

Secor Group is located on Center Street in Cedar Falls and markets projects for cats, dogs, horses, llamas, goats and chickens. It also manufactures Promelt, an eco-friendly de-icer.

As part of the development agreement, the City Council agreed to grant the company $104,400 to help purchase the existing building and will design and construct a 600-foot rail spur to serve the property. Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson said the city will seek a state grant to help offset the rail spur costs.