CEO Guide to Site Selection

Iowa

HACKING AWAY TAXES IN THE HAWKEYE STATE

The Cato Institute recently gave Gov. Kim Reynolds a grade of “A” for fiscal policy as one of the governors who cut taxes and spending the most. Reynolds’ tax reforms date back to 2018, when she cut the corporate tax rate from 12% to 9.8%. She pursued further reforms in the following years, and then, in 2022, approved a bill to consolidate individual income taxes into a single rate structure of only 3.9%. As of press time, existing legislation would phase down the corporate tax from 9.8% to 5.5% if revenue targets were met. “Corporate tax levels directly affect economic activity in states, and those with more competitive structures and rates are in much better positions to grow existing businesses and attract new ones,” said Reynolds.

“We cut taxes! We kept our economy open! Applied common sense and responsible budgeting! Chose growth over government! And the results are in: Here in Iowa, America still works!”
Kim Reynolds
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

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 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

High-Quality Jobs Program: 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 developmentinvestments.

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

EDCs

Iowa Economic Development Authority
iowaeda.com

Iowa Area Development Group
iadg.com

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

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
cedarrapids.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Announced in May 2022, the Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program encourages employers to offer child-care as a benefit to their employees. It provides a total of $25 million to support childcare programs across the state to include partnerships with existing centers and even development of an on-site childcare center.

BIG DEALS

  • Dee Zee announced in September 2022 it will manufacture structural components for new electric vehicles at its facility in Des Moines. The new programs will add 105 jobs by Q3 2023.
  • Ancient Brands Milling broke ground in October 2022 on a $26.5 million investment to relocate and expand a manufacturing plant in Dyersville.
  • Qore, a joint venture between Cargill and German chemical company HELM, broke ground on a $300 million chemical plant in Eddyville.
  • Collins Aerospace broke ground in July 2022 on a $14 million expansion of its additive manufacturing facility in West Des Moines.
  • Google announced in October 2022 a $600 million expansion and 31 new jobs at its data center in Council Bluffs.
  • Oracle Aviation broke ground in November 2022 on a new aviation center in Sioux City.
  • BAE Systems opened in November 2022 a $100 million state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing center of excellence in Cedar Rapids.

BIG COMPANIES

  • Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500 headquarters)
  • Casey’s General Stores (Fortune 500 headquarters)
  • Dotdash Meredith
  • American Equity Investment Life Holding
  • Winnebago Industries
  • Renewable Energy Group
  • HNI
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.