Two Ames companies recently received state grants to expand new projects, creating 100 new jobs in Ames.

The grants, totaling $2.5 million, came from the Iowa Values Fund, a division of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

“The awards are just the latest examples of our focused efforts to capitalize on research and commercializing new products here in Iowa,” said State Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames.

Advanced Analytical Technologies Inc., 2901 S. Loop Dr., Suite 3300, received $2 million to help expand its means of production and become a leading global manufacturer of microbiological diagnostic equipment for the military, pharmaceutical, food and clinical industries, said Kathy Schuckert, the company’s marketing manager.

The funds will help the company create 45 new jobs, which will retain approximately 27 jobs at an average wage of just under $25 per hour, Schuckert said.

These new jobs created will be in production, sales, and research and development, she said.

“The benefits to the Ames community from the expansion of our company is really a trickle-down effect,” Schuckert said. “We received money from the state, which we will use to, in turn, create new jobs.”

Advanced Analytical Technologies Inc., also manufacturers all of its instruments in Ames, using local businesses as part of its production process, Schuckert said.

Bioforce Nanosciences Inc., 1615 Golden Aspen Dr., Suite 101, will receive $500,000 to fully commercialize its award-winning NanoArrayer System, a molecular desktop printer. The commercialization is pending additional fund fulfillment, said company president and CEO Eric Henderson.

“The funds will go toward our goal of $8 million, which is needed to finalize our overall expansion,” Henderson said. “Once the additional funds are raised, we will receive the $500,000 award and will be creating the new jobs.”

The company anticipates reaching its financial goal by the end of the year, he said.

With its expansion, Bioforce plans to create 43 new jobs at an average wage of approximately $23 per hour, Henderson said.

“We are in a transition right now; we are a company who has mainly conducted research and development for almost 10 years, and are just recently turning to commercializing products and generating funds for profit,” Henderson said.

Wessel-Kroeschell said the money could help Ames’ already thriving biotechnology field.

“We know that the biotechnology and life sciences field holds great potential for our state and the Ames community,” she said. “Our community is poised to become a leader in biotechnology, and these two projects are leaders in their industries.”