Another Momentous Year for Economic Development in DSM USA

A core part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s mission is to be the premier economic development organization that serves the 11-county region in our footprint. The Partnership strives to cultivate an environment that attracts businesses from across the country and world to relocate here, and helps existing companies expand here.

Economic Development Projects

From 1999 – 2022, The Partnership’s economic development work resulted in 700 expansion or relocation projects supporting a capital investment of nearly $12 billion. This year, we’ve added another 31 projects and more than $2 billion in capital investment to that list. Our efforts have consistently been recognized nationally as being best-in-class. In 2023, we were recognized as the #9 Top Mid-Sized Metro for the Number of Economic Development Projects by Site Selection Magazine, an industry-leading publication. Our team has built lasting relationships with site selectors across the country.

Our economic development efforts serve Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren Counties. Economic development is a team sport, and our work is successful because of our collaboration with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and local economic development groups across the region. Like so many successes in Greater Des Moines (DSM), economic development projects are often the result of strong public-private partnerships.

Recently, The Partnership team undertook an 11-County Listening Tour to hear from Investors, city leaders, chambers of commerce, Main Street business owners and state policymakers to hear what we can do to best help them. A prevailing theme of these conversations with more than 320 attendees was to double down on our focus on economic development. It is clear that we must wake up every day with a mission to be a premier place for businesses.

We must continue to push the envelope on ensuring we are a national leader in this space, and we must continue to develop new, innovative initiatives to stand out to businesses and site selectors.

DSM RFI Ready

In October, The Partnership launched a site readiness program, DSM RFI Ready, which highlights 16 premier sites now available to view for those looking to start or grow a business here. DSM RFI Ready identifies sites throughout the region that have documented the most common criteria required when responding to a “Request for Information (RFI)” on economic development projects, allowing The Partnership team to even more quickly react to business growth opportunities. DSM RFI Ready complements other tools on The Partnership’s website, including a searchable economic development database with more real estate options and communities throughout the region.

View DSM RFI Ready at DSMpartnership.com/growing-business-here/rfi-ready. To inquire about adding an RFI ready site to the website, contact Alex Lynch at alynch@DSMpartnership.com.

We look forward to identifying new opportunities to ensure DSM remains a top place for economic growth.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership Board is made up of Greater Des Moines (DSM) leaders and industry experts. The Board is united in driving economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region.