Ref. 3183

Converted Dodge Charger

The newest addition to the entrepreneurial community at the North Iowa Business Incubator is Flex Fuel U.S. The Chicago based company was formed in 2006 to develop the first EPA certified product enabling existing cars and light duty trucks to be converted to run any combination of gasoline or E85. Locating an office in North Iowa enables Flex Fuel to explore relationships in the heart of the largest corn and ethanol producing state.

"We are excited to grow our business operations in Iowa," said Don Althoff, CEO of Flex Fuel US. "The North Iowa Business Incubator has outstanding capabilities that are a perfect match for our business needs. We also see great opportunities to partner with the automotive service program to train installers and build new applications.  With board member Ron Laudner, CEO of OmniTel, and Gregg Gillman, of The North Iowa Corridor, we investigated several options to expand our business into Iowa and nothing compared to NIACC.”

Flex Fuel U.S. provides a great example of how start-up companies in the Midwest can look at North Iowa and find an effective and efficient way to initiate their presence with little risk.  Other companies from places like Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee or elsewhere may look at North Iowa and its incubation system as a great place to start and grow their businesses.

“Attracting Flex Fuel U.S. to Cerro Gordo County and specifically to the JPEC Incubator is a major victory for our area,” NICEDC Executive Director Gregg Gillman said.  “This is an exciting company, and we look forward to working with our partners at NIACC to help them grow into a larger presence over the next 1-2 years.” 

“We are very committed to business growth opportunities in North Iowa,” noted Ron Laudner, CEO of OmniTel Communications.  “Flex Fuel is an exciting venture and works toward expanding ‘green’ alternative energies while spurring growth in our local economy. The partnership with NIACC, NICEDC and North Iowa Incubator has been tremendous.”

“There is an incredible synergy between Flex Fuel’s needs and North Iowa’s capabilities,” noted Mark Olchefske, Incubator/Accelerator Director for the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.  “In addition to the business incubator, NIACC has a first rate automotive service program to train installers, there are experienced suppliers, assemblers and call center staff readily available.  This is a great way for FlexFuel to discover their future here in North Iowa.” 

With extensive backgrounds in custom car building, high performance racing and aftermarket sales, FlexFuel’s founders created a product that is innovative as well as high quality; installation retains the automaker’s full factory warranty.  The product resembles Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) components as installed but has superior performance characteristics when compared to today’s Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs).  FlexFuels U.S. initiated a fleet test, converting 25 Chicago Police Ford Crown Victorias.  www.flexfuelus.com

"The addition of Flex Fuels to North Iowa once again illustrates the success of our region's collaborative approach to economic development.  Economic development is everyone's job, and North Iowa's edge is our history of collaboration,” Dr. Deb Derr, NIACC president, said.

The national NACCE Innovation Award winning NIACC JPEC provides college level courses and degree programs in entrepreneurship, as well as comprehensive consulting services for business start-ups, existing industries and owner transitions in the North Iowa region.   Space is available for start-up businesses in the North Iowa Business Incubator. For more information, contact the NIACC JPEC at 641-422-4111.

#####