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Companies capitalizing on greater des moines' momentum

Population growth, a prime location and a low cost of doing business make a compelling case for companies looking to grow. These factors are why companies in key industries ranging from agriculture to advanced manufacturing to technology are choosing Greater Des Moines (DSM). The region is the fastest growing major metro in the Midwest, at the crossroads of country-spanning Interstates 80 and 35 and a cost of doing business that’s 14.6% below the national average. These are just eight of the companies, among many recent development projects, leveraging this momentum:  

  • Ag Express Electronics has been offering repairs, parts and solutions for agriculture producers, dealers and manufacturers for over 30 years. The company recently added 14,840 square feet to its DSM facility to allow the company to add 15 new positions immediately and 25 more jobs in the future.
  • CO2 Refrigeration Systems purchased an existing 34,000-square-foot building in Marshalltown, a community where companies like Lennox, JBS and Emerson have operations. Founded in 2022, CO2 Refrigeration Systems manufactures the next generation of CO2 refrigeration and heating systems, and their Marshalltown facility will expand production and operations into the United States. The company plans to invest $4 million into the facility and add 48 new jobs over the next three years.
  • Cologix, a network-neutral interconnection and hyperscale edge data center company, entered the Des Moines market with the purchase of Connect Des Moines LLC. The Denver-based company provides carrier and cloud-neutral digital edge and hyperscale edge data centers and services across North America and operates more than 40 data centers. The company’s initial space includes the carrier hotel in Downtown Des Moines.  
  • Microsoft continues to invest in DSM, which is an “epicenter” for advancing artificial intelligence. The Azure supercomputer Microsoft built for artificial intelligence research company OpenAI is housed in West Des Moines, a suburb community in DSM. In 2024, Microsoft purchased land in West Des Moines and nearby Van Meter, a community of over 1,700 people and a 20 minute drive from the Des Moines metro, for its sixth and seventh data center sites in the region. The Van Meter site was part of the DSM RFI Ready program and an Iowa Certified Site. 
  • Tension Envelope has operated in DSM for over 100 years and the location supported the growth of the Kansas City-based company into one of the largest envelope manufacturers in the world. In 2024, the company announced a large capital investment in automation at its DSM facility. The new equipment will significantly increase the company’s production capacity. 
  • Tumbleweed, an end-of-life planning company, was “born in Iowa” says co-founder Paul Richardson. Living in California at the time, Tumbleweed was in its early stages when he traveled to Iowa to memorialize his grandparents. A TechStars Startup Weekend in Iowa got his attention and he connected with another entrepreneur who was pitching a similar concept. From there, Richardson moved himself and his idea to DSM to build his life and company, and recently secured $100,000 in funding and became part of the 2024 Global Insurance Accelerator cohort. 
  • Kraus-Anderson, headquartered in Minneapolis, saw potential in their neighbor to the south and opened a regional office in the Historic East Village in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). KA’s work in Iowa dates back more than 40 years to 1981 and the company has worked on 184 projects in the state. The Des Moines office is one of three new regional offices the company opened in 2024 and it joins counterparts in Phoenix, Ariz. and Fargo, N.D. 
  • Elevator, a co-warehousing and community concept for small businesses, creatives and entrepreneurs, chose DSM for an expansion location and is backed by $1.6 million in new funding from its latest equity round. The DSM Location is slated to open in spring 2025.  

About DSM and the Greater Des Moines Partnership

These expansions are supported by a network of economic developers and community stakeholders in the DSM region, which spans 12 counties in central Iowa and is home to urban, suburban and rural communities. The Greater Des Moines Partnership serves as a single point of contact for businesses looking to expand in the region. The organization can connect businesses to local, state and federal government officials, utility providers, real estate professionals and other entities that interact with the economic development process. The Partnership also collaborates with economic development partners across the region working toward shared goals for economic growth and community vibrancy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about doing business in DSM, connect with Sid Juwarker, Vice President of Economic Development, (515) 286-4964 and sjuwarker@DSMpartnership.com.