In 2026, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company® expanded its offices by relocating to a new location in Downtown Des Moines. The relocation occupies over 200,000 square feet, across seven floors, and provides a modern workplace designed to support collaboration, employee engagement and future growth. The headquarters includes a range of employee amenities, including company-paid covered parking, a full-service cafeteria, onsite coffee shop, fitness center with showers and lockers, conference and training spaces, 24/7 security, free DART bus passes and collaborative workspaces throughout the building.
The relocation represents a significant investment in American Equity’s future and the Greater Des Moines region, with nearly 750 employees in the Downtown office each day. The headquarters was designed with capacity to accommodate the company’s continued workforce growth.
American Equity believes retirement should be a time to thrive. They provide industry-leading fixed index annuities designed to protect and grow retirement income with guaranteed outcomes. Their mission is to deliver dependable products backed by exceptional service and lasting financial strength, so Americans can achieve financial security and peace of mind that lets them sleep easier.
The company partners with 40,000 independent financial professionals across the country to help contract owners find the right solution for their retirement goals. American Equity has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and holds 'A' ratings from AM Best, S&P Global, and Fitch. American Equity is part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, which has more than $143 billion in insurance assets and a 125-year heritage of disciplined investing.
Jennings Kallen Advisors Entrepreneurial Award
Elevator is a Midwest-based workspace company that combines flexible warehousing, private offices, coworking, logistics support, and a community of entrepreneurs under one roof. Founded in 2021 after Shannon and Emiliano Lerda’s e-commerce business outgrew their home, Elevator helps small businesses move beyond garages, basements, and rigid commercial leases.
In 2025, Elevator opened its second location at 204 12th Street in Downtown Des Moines, transforming a 39,885-square-foot building into flexible warehouse and office units, coworking and meeting areas, shipping infrastructure, and shared business amenities. The project represented more than $4 million in capital investment and created three local jobs. It also established the capacity to support up to 85 entrepreneurs, makers, creatives, service providers, and growing product-based businesses.
The Des Moines expansion validated Elevator’s model beyond Omaha and marked an important step in the company’s regional growth. For local businesses, it addresses the gap between working from home and taking on an expensive, inflexible commercial lease. Month-to-month memberships, daily carrier pickups, shared equipment, and on-site support allow members to scale with less overhead while strengthening Downtown Des Moines through small-business activity, collaboration, and job creation.
About the Jennings Kallen Advisors Entrepreneurial Award: Jon Kallen, Managing Partner at Jennings Kallen Advisors, received the “Entrepreneurial Champion Award” at the 2022 Economic Impact Awards event and has continued to support Greater Des Moines’ entrepreneurs by sponsoring this award each year.
Holmes Murphy is one of the nation's largest independent insurance brokerages, providing employee benefits, property casualty, and risk management services to businesses across the country. Headquartered in Waukee, Iowa, the company employs more than 1,400 people across 17 offices and continues to invest in Greater Des Moines.
Driven by sustained business growth and workforce expansion, Holmes Murphy expanded in the Des Moines metro by leasing approximately 75,000 square feet in the newly renovated Arcadia building in West Des Moines. The additional space accommodates roughly 270 employees and supports continued hiring while maintaining the company's collaborative, people-first culture.
This expansion represents a capital investment of $12.5 million and supports the creation of more than 100 new jobs. The growth reflects the company's Power of Independence, which enables Holmes Murphy to make strategic investments that fuel growth, strengthen culture, and deliver exceptional care for clients and communities. As the company outgrew its headquarters footprint, additional space became essential to attract talent, foster collaboration, and support development. The expansion positions Holmes Murphy for continued growth, enhances its ability to meet increasing client demand, and reinforces Greater Des Moines as a hub for innovation, investment, and high-quality jobs.
Lawmark Capital Inc. is a real estate investment and development firm focused on transforming underutilized properties into vibrant destinations that strengthen the communities they serve. Its flagship Des Moines project, Mezzo on Walnut, is the adaptive reuse of the iconic Financial Center into a 209-residence lifestyle community featuring premium amenities, walkable downtown access, and new retail and restaurant opportunities. The project reflects Lawmark's long-term confidence in Downtown Des Moines and its commitment to preserving historic landmarks while reimagining them for the future.
The redevelopment has already generated significant economic impact across Central Iowa. For more than a year, the project has supported a local general contractor along with dozens of independent contractors, skilled tradespeople, suppliers, consultants, and construction professionals. That investment continues as work progresses toward completion, creating jobs, supporting regional businesses, and strengthening Downtown infrastructure. Beyond the building itself, Mezzo on Walnut is helping bring new residents, increased activity, and sustained economic vitality to the urban core, reinforcing Downtown Des Moines as a thriving place to live, work and invest.
Since 1933, Merchants Bonding Company has grown from a founder-led startup into a national surety leader, all while staying rooted in the Des Moines area. That legacy continues with a 34,000-square-foot expansion of its headquarters in West Des Moines, set to be completed in December 2026. This multimillion-dollar home office project reflects Merchants' growth, and an ongoing investment in the greater Des Moines community.
Merchants Bonding was founded in Iowa during the Great Depression to help small contractors and tradespeople get bonded. The company has focused exclusively on surety bonds ever since, holding an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best since 1958. Merchants now ranks #7 among the top 100 U.S. surety writers, reflecting nearly a century of profitable, national growth.
Graham Construction and OPN Architects are collaborating on the redesign and expansion, with support from Sidekick Development. The new addition gives Merchants room to keep growing and is a direct investment in the talent pipeline and local economy.
Since moving into its current headquarters in 2015, Merchants has grown its home office staff by nearly 40% to 160 associates, with plans to add at least 80 more over the next decade. Merchants also employs more than 100 associates in approximately 30 remote locations throughout the country.
The company’s profitable growth regularly receives national recognition, with honors including top placements on the Ward's 50 list every year since 2020. Merchants is proud to be named a certified Great Place to Work since 2021, and has earned national recognition as a “Best Place for Working Parents” since 2022. Beyond the workplace, the company continues investing in the community through the Merchants Bonding Company Foundation, donating associate time, talent and over $3 million dollars to non-profits and charitable organizations since 2008.
Merchants Bonding’s vision is to become twice the enterprise through innovation and responsible growth. This expansion is a step toward that goal, carrying it into the next 90 years: more room to grow and more capacity to serve agents and their customers.
Tension Envelope & Print’s recognition reflects the dedication of their associates, the strength of their community partnerships, and long-term commitment to the Greater Des Moines region.
Since opening in 1924, Tension’s Des Moines operation has contributed to the region for more than a century. That legacy continues through recent investments in high-speed folding equipment designed to improve efficiency, expand production capacity, and support evolving customer needs.
To help associates successfully operate the new technology, Tension received an Iowa Workforce Development 260F grant to support employee training. This investment strengthens workforce skills, creates professional development opportunities, and positions the facility for continued growth.
Tension also values its relationship with the Vietnamese American community in Des Moines and has supported its annual event as part of a broader commitment to meaningful community partnerships. The community represents an important and valued part of Tension’s workforce.
Together, these investments in equipment, people, and community relationships demonstrate Tension’s commitment to innovation and long-term economic impact. Tension is proud to build upon its century-long Des Moines legacy while contributing to the region’s continued strength and success.
United Mutual Insurance Association (formerly Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association) was founded in Grinnell, Iowa in 1875. Over the past several years, the company has experienced significant strategic growth while navigating a very difficult period for Property Insurance carriers – particularly in the Midwest. In 2020, the company began expanding its territory and established new agency partnerships across Iowa. Following successful mergers in 2022, 2024, and 2025, United Mutual has grown into one of the largest and strongest Farm Mutual Insurance Associations in the Midwest. In the past six years, revenue has grown 20x and the number of staff members has increased from eight to 45.
To support continued growth, United Mutual plans to expand its Grinnell headquarters in 2027 through a major facility investment that will create capacity for additional employees, enhance collaboration, and improve operational efficiency. This expansion reflects the organization's long-term commitment to Grinnell and its dedication to serving policyholders across Iowa.
The growth was essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organization. Leadership recognized that remaining stagnant posed a strategic risk despite having the financial strength and opportunities to expand. The new facility will address space limitations, support future workforce growth, and position United Mutual to meet the evolving needs of Iowa's insurance industry while continuing to contribute to the strength of the regional economy.
Strategic Headquarters Investment Award
Vylor is an advanced seed and genetics company that has, for more than a century, been focused on delivering groundbreaking innovation to farmers. Anchored in the agriculture industry’s most elite germplasm and transformative biotech, Vylor leverages its scientific expertise to deliver next generation technology to help farmers around the world boost yields.
In 2026, Vylor selected Johnston, Iowa to be its global headquarters location. Johnston is home to Vylor’s flagship Pioneer brand and has experienced more than a century of innovation at that location. The headquarter location ensured that more than 2,000 jobs remained in the Greater Des Moines region and was a testament to the region’s collaborative nature and regional teamwork.
With its expertise in advanced science, leading routes-to-market and an expanding licensing business, Vylor drives value and delivers growth for farmers, customers and shareholders – and in doing so, helps feed, fuel and clothe the world.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving multiple counties in Greater Des Moines. Working with The Partnership gives businesses leading expansion and development projects a single point of contact within the region. With 140+ years of combined economic development experience, The Partnership team can offer expert business support in a number of areas. Learn more about our economic development services.