Existing Industries
Lee County sits at the crossroads of manufacturing strength and Mississippi River logistics, anchored by the commerce hubs of Fort Madison and Keokuk. This strategic location creates an environment where businesses can grow with confidence. These advantages have helped shape a diverse and resilient economy, with particular strength in key sectors that rely on efficient transportation, skilled talent, and scalable operations. From production and processing to distribution and innovation, Lee County has built a foundation that supports industry growth at every stage.
Today, that foundation is reflected in a focused group of target industries driving the region’s economic momentum. Learn more about these industries and the companies that comprise them.
Target Industries
Agribusiness
With a strong and established agricultural community, Lee County Iowa is an ideal location for your agribusiness.
ChemGro
Providing agricultural services since 1964. Supplying grain storage, fertilizer, and chemicals. Also offers custom application, agronomy specialists, global position testing and grain seed.
Conrad American
Leader in the manufacturing of America's finest grain management systems. This includes grain storage, drying and handling equipment. They also manufacture bulk tanks and wet holding tanks.
Decker Manufacturing
Premier supplier of top quality American-made agricultural and equine products available. Producing agricultural products, specializing in horse, cattle, and pet curry combs, grooming brushes, and hog rings.
Hawkeye Steel
Leader in the manufacture of livestock equipment under the trade names of Pride of the Farm and Brower. Specializing in the areas of the hobby farm enthusiasts for poultry, cattle and swine.
J.J. Nichting Company
The longest running farm equipment dealership in America. For over a century, they have been committed to communities and customers by providing service, parts availability, and leading edge technology.
Koch Fertilizer
Delivering innovative plant nutrient solutions designed to boost yield potential and reduce environmental impact. Their global team creates technologies that can optimize fertilizer investments.
Merschman Seeds
A seed company, located in West Point, IA, that develops and sells the highest quality treated seed. Merschman Seeds result in top yields. Seeds for sale include: corn, soybeans, alfalfa & wheat.
Scotts Miracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro liquids production facility in Fort Madison, IA, produces over 210 variations of Ortho, RoundUp, Scotts and Miracle-Gro branded products which are shipped throughout North America.
Chemical Processing & Biotechnology
Providing talent and resources, Lee County is well-positioned for success in the Chemical Processing industry; companies can lower their costs, take leaps in innovation, and secure their business advantage.
Axalta Coating Systems
Axalta is a leading global coatings company dedicated exclusively to the development, manufacture, and sale of liquid and powder coatings. The company partners with customers in automotive, transportation, general industrial, and architectural and decorative markets, delivering innovative formulation, color, and finish capabilities. With a focused portfolio spanning protective, decorative, and performance coatings, Axalta supports manufacturers and finishing shops worldwide, helping them improve durability, aesthetics, and productivity in a wide range of applications.
Climax Molybdenum Co. Ft. Madison Conversion Facilities
Climax Molybdenum Co., a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, is the world's leading molybdenum producer and supplier. Its Fort Madison Conversion Facilities are the world’s largest and highest quality producer of lubricant grade molybdenum disulfide, sublimed pure molybdic oxide, calcined pure molybdic oxide, ammonium dimolybdate, ammonium heptamolybdate, ammonium octamolybdate, and sodium molybdate, enabling national and international industrial applications.
Cryotech Deicing Technology
Cryotech stands as a world leader in deicing technology for runways, aircraft, and commercial operations worldwide. The company designs, manufactures, and markets a broad line of products that deliver effective ice and snow removal while prioritizing environmental responsibility. Cryotech's deicers are formulated to minimize corrosion of aircraft and airport infrastructure, offering reliable performance with safer handling and reduced environmental impact across diverse winter weather applications.
Dupont
Located in Fort Madison, Iowa, manufactures a diversified portfolio of products. Most of the production is focused on inks for several different digital printing markets. Included in these inks is the DuPont Artistri® inks produced for textile printing. Besides manufacturing inks, the Fort Madison plant also produces several semi-finished products that support other DuPont business such as Nomex®, Kevlar®, and Tedlar ®. Tedlar® is a material used in the manufacturing of aircraft and solar panels.
Food Processing
Food processing companies can thrive in Lee County, Iowa with the area’s centralized national location and proximity to thriving agribusinesses making Lee County an ideal location for food processing.
Allied Blending
From its Midwest facility in Keokuk, Iowa, ABI operates eight different process lines that produce dry and liquid products for the food, industrial, pharmaceutical and nutritional markets. The facility maintains rigorous quality assurance practices to ensure product safety, consistency and regulatory compliance.
Conagra
Leading producer, marketer, and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Some of our leading brands at the Fort Madison facilities include Armour Chili varieties and meats, Cream Corn Starch, Nalley Chili w/Beans, Brooks Chili Beans, plus additional private label brands.
Roquette America
Leading producer of starch products, syrups, and polyols (sugar alcohols). Roquette transforms renewable resources, such as corn at the Keokuk plant, into an extensive line of high-quality ingredients for a wide range of food and non-food industries throughout the world.
Manufacturing & Advanced Technology
A pro-business climate and highly productive workforce makes Lee County a leader in manufacturing technology. Lee County EDG assists manufacturers in streamlining their processes, maximizing productivity, and accelerating revenue growth.
Bartlett Instruments
Manufacturer of temperature control products, primarily for the ceramic kiln market, but also offering affordable temperature control units customized for the greenhouse market. Our products emphasize precision, reliability, and intuitive operation. We also provide ongoing technical support, spare parts, and flexible integration options to fit a range of automation setups.
Gregory Design & Manufacturing
Designs and manufactures material handling equipment for Industry. Specializing in the storage and transport of product, Gregory’s engineering and common sense design ideas enable Gregory's to create cost-effective ways for businesses to meet their material handling needs, consistently enhancing safety, efficiency, and productivity.
Griffin Wheel
A division of Amsted Rail, produces wheels for the railroad industry with the Keokuk plant as the only Griffin Wheel facility producing diesel wheels. The facility emphasizes precision engineering, rigorous quality control, and durability in every wheel produced. Leveraging Amsted Rail's global network, it provides reliable delivery and technical support to its customers.
Henniges Automotive
Provides world-class vehicle sealing solutions for the global automotive industry. The Henniges Keokuk plant will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Lee County in 2015. The facility produces EPDM rubber compound for most of Henniges Automotive’s North American Operations in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The facility has the capacity to provide over 90 million pounds of high quality mixed rubber per year.
Huffman Welding & Machine, Inc.
A premier jobshop specializing in process equipment, manufacturing, and maintenance repair. Services include; fabrication, machining, sheet metal, engineering, and integration. HWMI includes an industrial supply and farmstore division.
Pipeline Cleaners
Leading pipeline brush and pig manufacturers in the United States designed to remove dirt, sand, wax, scale and debris. Specializing in pipeline brushes and pigs for the oil and natural gas industries.
Siemens Gamesa
Our passion is to help society, companies and people work and live better through intelligent infrastructure, reliable transportation, sustainable energy and advanced manufacturing. The Fort Madison facility manufacturers wind blades for wind turbines.
Steffensmeier Welding & Mfg. Inc.
Provides quality fabrication and specialty repair services. Other services include welding, laser cutting, metal cutting, machining, powder coat painting, and much more. Our facility also offers a wide selection of parts and various types of steel and metal on site.
Stuke Iowa
Operating on approx. 30,000 square feet, Stuke Iowa offers a variety of manufacturing processes such as extrusion, injection-molding, 3D printing, assembly as well as in-house painting. Plastic is one of the most versatile materials of our time and it has many new and exciting possibilities.
Packaging & Logistics
With a convenient, central location and access to 4-lane highways, railroads, and barges, Lee County is an ideal location for your logistics/warehousing company.
Carry Transit
Transportation company with drivers, tank washers, trucks, trailers, transloading facilities, and non-asset offerings like VisiShip, our transportation management system (TMS). Offers full service truck terminal with maintenance, Sanicare Wash Systems™ tank trailer food grade cleaning and sanitization, HACCP food safety procedures, ISO 9001-2008 quality system certified site.
Hall Towing
Towboats that service the elevators on the Mid-Mississippi River also offer dry-docking and topside repairs at our terminal, ranging from hull repair to full-service machine work on towboats. Our certified technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and best practices to ensure reliability and regulatory compliance. We also provide preventive maintenance programs and 24/7 emergency support.
PaperPak
Leading global manufacturer of paper and packaging solutions, manufacturing a variety of products used in various applications including medical and food packaging and papers and many industrial grade papers. We are committed to innovative, sustainable packaging solutions and continuous improvement across all operations.
Silgan Containers
Largest provider of metal food packaging in the United States. We offer a broad portfolio of cans, ends, lids, and closures, supported by a nationwide manufacturing network and strict quality controls. Our solutions emphasize reliability, product protection, and sustainable packaging to meet evolving customer needs.