Albert Lea companies in the Jobs Opportunity Building Zones program created 907 jobs since 2004, according to an audit released last week from the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.

The numbers come at the close of the program, which offered local and state tax exemptions to qualified companies that start up or expand in targeted areas of Greater Minnesota.

“Clearly the JOBZ program has been successful for Albert Lea, Freeborn County and the state of Minnesota,” said ALEDA Board President Mark Heinemann.

Locally, there were seven participating businesses: Agilis, Alamco, Albert Lea Select Foods, Bridon Cordage, Larson Manufacturing, Trail’s Truck Service Center and Zumbro River Brand.

The audit recorded Agilis as having created 188 jobs; Alamco, 24; Albert Lea Select Foods, 487; Bridon Cordage, 9; Larson Manufacturing, 72; Trail’s Truck Service Center, 34; and Zumbro River Brand, 93.

Of the 907 jobs, 69 were created in 2015. Seeing job growth in 2015 were Agilis, Larson Manufacturing and Zumbro River Brand.

The seven companies initially agreed to create a total of 134 jobs over the span of the program. They invested a total of $62.4 million — with $4.05 million of that coming in 2015.

ALEDA Executive Director Ryan Nolander said the investment not only helps stimulate the local economy, but provides long-term tax base growth.

“Without the JOBZ program a few of these projects would have located in other states, and coming off the packing plant fire in the early 2000s, the JOBZ program was vital to help us replace and exceed the employment that was lost due to the fire,” Nolander said.

New users of the program had two years to meet job and capital investment goals. The jobs measured couldn’t be transferred from an existing operation.

ALEDA audited the JOBZ participants each year for compliance with the program.