Another year of Success in DSM USA

As I wrap up my term as 2023 Board Chair of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished, together – not only this year, but for the past several decades.

Greater Des Moines (DSM) is strong because we have prepared and put ourselves in position for success. We have cultivated relationships as business, community, nonprofit and elected leaders across jurisdictional boundaries, and we have identified community priorities and worked toward them with a common purpose. This has led to significant growth and national and international recognition.

In 2023, The Partnership went through a leadership change, and we had the obvious choice in Tiffany Tauscheck ready to take on the President & CEO role. Tiffany prepared for many years to step into the position, and our community will be stronger because of her leadership.

2023 Greater Des Moines Partnership Accomplishments

I believe our collective accomplishments in 2023 will continue to prepare us for success in future years. Here are a few things we have accomplished as a Partnership and as a region in 2023.

• 11-County Listening Tour: Tiffany and members of The Partnership team met with more than 360 business and community leaders, small businesses, city leaders and elected officials to hear what The Partnership can do to better serve them. The results of the listening tour will be woven into The Partnership’s 2024 goals and work, including a continued emphasis on economic development and talent attraction and development.
• Economic Development:
  • Worked on 31 business location and expansion projects, including Apple, Clow Valve Co., Ihle Fabrications, LLC, Maverik, Meta, Microsoft, OpenLoop Health, Toggle, Vermeer Corporation and more.
  • This has resulted in more than $2 billion in capital investment.
  • The Partnership launched DSM RFI Ready, which highlights sites across the region that are ready for development.

• National Marketing Campaign: The “Do Something Greater” talent and economic development marketing campaigns have garnered:
  • More than 275,000 web users.
  • More than 27 million impressions.

• Talent Attraction, Retention and Development:

• Hosted the Future World of Work Summit with more than 100 people in attendance.
• Created new Future World of Work Innovation Awards to honor local organizations completing best practices.
• Launched a new, updated Career Center that lists job openings throughout the region.

• Major Placemaking Projects:

• The Des Moines International Airport new terminal project, which has been identified by Partnership Investors as the #1 most needed game-changer in the region. The airport held a groundbreaking in 2022, and Polk County voters overwhelmingly voted to support the project through a bond referendum.
• Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails held a groundbreaking at Scott Avenue.
• Several projects continue to take shape and be completed across the region, including the Market District in Des Moines, the Des Moines Public Schools Community Stadium at Drake University, Sapphire Lake in Grinnell, the Johnston Gateway District, the Veterans District in Knoxville, the 13th Street District in Marshalltown, Legacy Plaza in Newton, the Urbandale Community Recreation Complex, the Des Moines University campus in West Des Moines and many more.

• Small Business Support: Supported 51 small businesses through Scale DSM and Spark DSM programming as well as other services and training.

• Iowa Caucuses: Launched the Iowa Caucus Consortium and Media Center, which will welcome hundreds of national and international media members in January.

• Downtown Des Moines (DSM) Momentum:

• Downtown DSM averaged 30% higher workday foot traffic levels over 2022. Workday foot traffic was up to 66% of pre-pandemic levels, higher than the national average of 49%.
• Overall Downtown foot traffic was up 8% over 2022 and was up to 84% of pre-pandemic levels.
• The Downtown DSM: Future Forward Vision Plan & Action Plan was passed unanimously as part of the City of Des Moines comprehensive plan, and went on to win international and local awards from the International Economic Development Council and the American Planning Association Iowa Chapter.

• Inclusion

• A total of 41 people completed the DEI Management Certification Program and The Partnership assisted 22 companies 1-on-1 with inclusion-related strategies and presented at three chamber of commerce events to reach 41 more companies.

• Public Policy

• A total of 177 people attended the DMDC advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. and hundreds of people attended advocacy events including Lunch on the Hill and the Iowa Legislative Slow-Pitch Softball Game.

We achieved these accomplishments together, and they were the result of strong, collaborative preparation and execution. I am confident in continued success for our region in coming years. We invite you to join us to celebrate 2023 and look ahead to 2024 during The Partnership’s Annual Dinner on Jan. 25, 2024. I hope to see you there.

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.