CEO Guide to Site Selection

Iowa

DOING SOMETHING GREATER

The Greater Des Moines Partnership (GDMP) notes strong success in attracting new projects to Iowa in recent years. Apple, Microsoft, Maverik, Vermeer Corporation and Meta are just a few of the companies that have invested in the state in the past couple of years. Daisy Brand announced in April 2024 more than 100 new jobs and a $626 million expansion of its operations in Boone. Insane Impact, a national supplier of audiovisual equipment, is constructing a new 55,000-square-foot headquarters, with office and warehouse space in Des Moines. GDMP is now fueling the momentum with new priorities focusing on quality-of-life placement projects, a regional talent study and collaboration with regional partners. One initiative is the Do Something Greater campaign, which uses storytelling, quality-of-life information and job connections to encourage people to move to the region and grow their careers and businesses there.

“Daisy Brand’s investment in Iowa further reinforces our standing as a manufacturing powerhouse and reputation for fostering an environment where businesses succeed and grow…. With a third of the nation’s top food manufacturers located in Iowa and 26 percent of our manufacturing industry attributed to food processing, Iowa and Daisy are a perfect fit. From our dairy industry and farmers to our skilled workforce, there is no better place for Daisy to expand, and I am confident the company will continue to flourish in our great state.”
Kim Reynolds
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2020 and 2023

KEY INCENTIVES

New Jobs Training: Provides tax credits for businesses that provide additional training to employees and expand their workforce.

High Quality Jobs: Offers financial assistance to offset the cost incurred to locate, expand or modernize an Iowa facility.

Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit: Incentivizes the production of high-value chemicals derived from biomass feedstocks.

Research Activities Tax Credit: Offers an additional tax credit for companies that meet the qualifications of the federal research credit for research and development investments.

EDCs

Iowa Economic Development Authority
iowaeda.com

Iowa Area Development Group
iadg.com

Des Moines Partnership
dsmpartnership.com/growing-business-here

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
cedarrapids.org

Grow Cedar Valley
growcedarvalley.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The state’s Do Something Greater campaign is a new national talent marketing campaign designed to attract workers to the state. It uses quality of life information, storytelling and job connections to encourage people to move to the region and grow their careers and businesses there.

BIG DEALS

  • Nestle Purina PetCare Company announced in February 2024 a $175 million expansion and 50 new jobs in Fort Dodge.
  • Feldmeier Equipment announced in February 2024 a $23 million facility and 25 new jobs in Shell Rock.
  • Food manufacturer Daisy Brand announced in April 2024 a $626 million expansion of its facilities and up to 255 new jobs in Boone.
  • Generation Repair and Service announced in October 2024 a $17 million expansion in Story City.

BIG COMPANIES

Two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state:

  • Casey’s General Stores
  • Principal Financial
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.