Learn More About 2024 Economic Impact Award Winners

Each year, the Greater Des Moines Partnership awards regional companies for their roles in influencing the local economy in terms of job creation, facility expansion and capital investment. Through their work in the region, these award winners have made a significant contribution to Greater Des Moines (DSM) and are recognized for their efforts in continuing to create a place to live, work and play that increases the economic vitality here.

Learn more about the projects that this year’s Economic Impact Award winners have contributed to the region, from Hy-Vee's Cumming Distribution Center to Ihle Fabrications, LLC’s building expansion. Other Economic Impact Award winners will be highlighted in the future. You can also read about previously posted winners here.

Economic Impact Award Winners

Hy-Vee

Pictured: Steve Venegas, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Transportation

 

Hy-Vee's Cumming Distribution Center, opened in May 2024, represents Hy-Vee’s largest investment in its distribution operations in the company’s history, employs approximately 260 workers and offers more than 560,000 square feet of warehouse space to house Hy-Vee’s growing specialty foods offerings.

The distribution center replaces the existing Lomar facility on the east side of Des Moines as well as two leased facilities and is part of Hy-Vee’s expanding network of fulfillment and distribution facilities that include Perishable Distributors of Iowa (PDI) in Ankeny, as well as distribution centers in Chariton and Cherokee.

The new facility includes not only warehouse space, but also showers and breakroom facilities for inbound freight drivers, a light duty truck shop and truck wash, specialized storage areas for aerosol and flammable products and a temperature-controlled storage area for chocolate and candy products. The location on the south edge of Des Moines represents an ideal location for Hy-Vee in relation to its existing distribution facilities, its corporate headquarters and the crossroads of multiple highways and interstates.

Bud & Marys

Pictured: Lucas Nelson, Group President of Bud & Mary's Cannabis

Bud & Mary’s is Iowa’s first medical cannabis manufacturer and dispensary operator. In 2022, the company recognized that its current capacity wouldn’t be able to serve the needs of the growing medical patient base, so it embarked on a major expansion of the cultivation space, along with packaging, vault storage and office space.

The project was key to making sure the company could uphold the obligation to provide safe, tested and legitimate THC projects from marijuana plants grown in its Iowa facility. It required significant planning to ensure the company didn’t disrupt current operations, and it required all contractors to be cognizant of the state regulations inside the medical cannabis program.

The City of Des Moines was an integral part of the project. The City was able to work with contractors, including GC Estes Construction and MEP providers like Baker Group. Given the intense amount of air handling and electrical capacity an indoor marijuana facility requires, it was important to work with trusted partners including the City, fire department and other inspectors.

Overall, the Bud & Mary’s team has invested more than $10 million into the facility. The company was able to triple its flowering cannabis space to more than 10,000 square feet and through this expansion grow its team by more than 15 people — with more to come. These jobs pay more than a living wage, with full benefits — something still not common in the cannabis industry. The company also transformed its space from an empty warehouse to first class facility that should sustain their business for years to come.

Bud & Mary’s is proud to operate in Des Moines, and it looks forward to providing safe, accessible, legitimate THC products for Iowans in the medical cannabis program.

Ihle Fabrications, LLC

Pictured: Mike Ihle, President of Ihle Fabrications

Ihle Fabrications, LLC’s much needed building expansion of 78,000 square feet includes additional warehouse space, manufacturing space, employee breakroom and restrooms. Along with that was purchases of new equipment which consists of an overhead crane, automated steel loading system, welding area, racking for finished goods/augers/steel/tubes, several dock doors for shipping area, new rollers, a press brake and welding tables. The company also went from 38 employees in 2023 to 55 as of August 2024, with additional openings to be filled yet.

The building expansion was vital to the company’s growth and solved many potential future complications. Expanding capacity has helped Ihle create a higher volume of longer-lasting parts and giving another option aside from the OEM (originally manufactured parts) which continues to help farmers reduce their overall operating costs in the US and internationally. Creating more jobs in the Des Moines area and in our local smaller surrounding communities was just another added bonus for everyone.

The City of Des Moines has also been an integral part of Ihle’s growth plan with its culture, the people and the overall support from the agriculture community.

Ihle hopes to continue to create more new jobs which will certainly have a positive impact for us and the surrounding community, extending the life of agriculture equipment in all agricultural communities and keeping producers up and running worldwide. Ihle parts are built by farmers for farmers, something to be proud of!

Find more information on Partnership awards or sign up to learn more about DSM’s growth by subscribing to Partnership newsletters.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.