138 quality manufacturing jobs in Canby have been preserved through the successful retention effort of ICC Northwest, which had reportedly been looking at a possible relocation and expansion outside the state.
Thanks to the work of the cities of Canby and Tualatin, Business Oregon and a $200,000 grant from the state’s strategic reserve fund, the Canby-based manufacturer of stainless steel tanks, mixers and systems will instead be expanding with a new location in Tualatin, adding an additional 66 jobs to its payroll — average wage: $66,000 a year.
Mayor Brian Hodson announced the successful effort at the last city council meeting.
ICC in the company formerly known as JV Northwest, a manufacturer of tanks and systems for beer, wine, cider and other industries. ICC Group, a firm based in St. Louis, acquired JV a little over a year ago amid challenging financial times for the 37-year-old, family-owned company.
JVNW was established in 1981 and named after its founders, Don Jones and Ken Verboort. It was born out of one of those funny little quirks of history: a depression in the timber industry had created an excess of stainless steel — which had been intended to make saws for the lumber mills.
Instead, Jones bought some and started making tanks for the beverage industry at a time when the wine boom was just beginning in the Pacific Northwest. Within a few years, the beer industry experienced a resurgence and the company was soon making the first brew systems for pioneers like Bridgeport, Deschutes, Full Sail and Widmer.
Jones continued to be involved with the company as chairman of the board, though the day-to-day operations as CEO were ultimately assumed by his son, David Jones.
Today, the company remains a leading custom manufacturer of stainless steel tanks for the food processing, beverage, pharmaceutical, cannabis, pure water and chemical industries, some of them as big as 50 feet tall.
Photo courtesy ICC Northwest.