A development agreement with a pontoon boat manufacturer could bring 50 to 55 jobs to Chanute if it receives approval at Monday’s city commission meeting.
In exchange for the jobs, the city could provide a vacant building for as little as $9,000 and three residential lots.
Denali Marine Group, doing business as Coach Marine Group, is the parent company of two pontoon boat companies, Coach and Xcursion. Both companies’ products are manufactured in Fort Dodge, Iowa, by a third-party builder, the Misty Harbor company.
By moving to Chanute, Xcursion will take over its own manufacturing, Chanute Regional Development Authority Director Matt Godinez said. Plans are for Coach to move later to Chanute also, and Misty Harbor will continue to produce other boats in Iowa for other companies.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)