Vermeer Corp. leaders on Thursday broke ground for construction of a new 312,000-square-foot parts distribution center at the company’s campus in Pella. The expanded distribution center will add 100 jobs to the area and is a response to increased demand for Vermeer equipment and parts, the company said in a press release. The Iowa Economic Development Authority board in July approved more than $2.2 million in tax refunds and credits for the project, which represents a capital investment by the company of nearly $44 million. In addition to the new facility, the project calls for renovating the existing parts distribution center into a facility dedicated to team member training, and to equip a building currently being rented to another Pella-based manufacturer, Lely North America, to house customer and dealer training events. “In 2021, we are at nearly three times the parts sales we were just a little over a decade ago,” said Mark Core, Vermeer’s chief marketing officer. “With all this growth, we understand the stress and pressure put on our team working in the footprint of our current Parts Distribution Center. This is why we’re excited to invest in and expand the team.” Expected completion is September 2022. Contractors for this project include Jensen Builders, Baker Group, ABC Electric, PDM Precast and Hopkins Roofing.