Danfoss Power Solutions campus in Ames is undergoing an expansion project that will double the space for engineers to do work on innovative solutions with a focus on sustainability. Known internally as Americas Application Development Center (ADC), the area will focus on research and development and will be available to…
Empire Reality, LLC will be constructing eight market rate rental units on four infill lots in West Boone. The Ringold Estates project will consist of four twin homes. Josh and Heidi Walters, owners of Empire Realty, LLC explain, “This State of Iowa funding is critical to move our Ringold Estates project forward. We…
In a Statewide announcement made Friday, August 11th the following Ames MSA housing projects were awarded Workforce Housing Tax Credits from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Awarded $1.0 M in state funding assistance, Nevada Flats, LLC will add sixty market rate apartments in the Nevada community when complete. The proposed…
YSS celebrated their ninth Kids Club location with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 1 at the Colo-NESCO Middle/High School. “It’s been a year’s worth of planning and pulling things together and we’re really excited to kick this thing off,” said Marc Snavely, Colo-NESCO Superintendent and Elementary Principal. YSS Kids…
The Iowa Economic Authority (IEDA) has announced funding for two companies in the Ames MSA. State funding has been approved for M.H. Eby, Inc. in Story City and Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication in Nevada. M.H. Eby, Inc. M.H. Eby was founded in 1938, as a manufacturer of wood livestock…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Ottie Maxey to the team as Director of Business Retention & Expansion. “A large part of job growth in any region is the result of businesses and companies growing and expanding,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber…
The President & CEO role of many organizations must look at the “big picture,” or serve as the visionary leader. Part of that is focusing on the culture of the organization, establishing and maintaining relationship with stakeholders, putting into place a strong team, and moving forward the big rocks that…
Earlier this month, the State of Iowa identified and ranked 96 new “Broadband Intervention Zones” for its Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. The status makes areas eligible for “enhanced incentives” and “higher prioritization” for state dollars, according to a news release from the state. These zones identified by local…
Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, has been selected as this year’s Leadership for Iowa Award winner. The award is presented annually to a past participant of the Leadership Iowa program who exemplifies quality leadership both on a community and statewide level and demonstrates a…
Every other month, we have an all-staff meeting where we get together for lunch, laugh on a personal level, and cover a variety of business along the way. Even though we see each other on a weekly basis, these meetings are great ways for us to connect, provide updates, and…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that Emory Widlowski has been promoted to Director of Events. As Director of Events, Emory Widlowski will continue to manage the planning and organization of events on behalf of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations. Widlowski has been with…
(May 5, 2023) – The Ames Chamber of Commerce, Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC), and partner organizations will be celebrating National Economic Development Week from May 8 – 12, 2023 to showcase the contributions of positive economic development and ongoing economic development projects in our communities. “Economic Development Week is…
As July comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the conversations happening across our community. Last week, we shared an op-ed, We Owe It to Ourselves to Consider the Opportunity, regarding the possibility of a data center locating in Ames. I knew it might not be a universally popular position,…
As we close another productive month at the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, I’ve been reflecting on the important role our organization plays in shaping the future of our region. Earlier this month, members of the Alliance team and regional partners joined Governor Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Capitol as…
Every month, the Board of Directors for the Ames Regional Economic Alliance gathers for a Friday morning meeting that begins promptly at 7:00 a.m. Despite the early hour, the room is consistently full. These meetings bring together leaders from across our four-county region to hear updates, discuss emerging opportunities, and…
Leadership transitions are defining moments for institutions and communities alike. They are opportunities to reflect on the past while setting a renewed course for the future. Here in the Ames region, we are experiencing just such a moment with the appointment of Dr. David Cook as the next president of…
As we close out the month, I’ve had the opportunity to stand in a couple of very different places and be reminded that they are all part of the same story. Recently, I joined partners at the ribbon cutting for the Advanced Magnet Facility at Ames National Laboratory. Not long after,…
This April, I will celebrate 20 years as CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. Candidly, when I started in April of 2006, I envisioned staying five to seven years. But life happens. Kids grow up, schedules fill, and you learn quickly what you do not want to disrupt. Before…
As we wrap up the month, I want to take a moment to reflect on one of the most meaningful gatherings of the year to date for the Ames Regional Economic Alliance: our 2025 Annual Awards celebration. Since 1987, this event has served as more than a ceremony, but as…
As we close out another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on one of December’s highlights for our organization. If you attended our Annual Event earlier this month, I hope you enjoyed our keynote speaker, Valerie Grubb, an internationally recognized keynote speaker and author on leadership. I…
As we close out November, I’m reminded that this season naturally brings a sense of gratitude and we have much to be thankful for across the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. We’re in the season of many of our affiliate organizations hosting their annual events, giving us the opportunity to recognize…
As we near the end of another busy month, I’m reminded of a saying I used recently: “Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan.” I’ve been told I have a lot of these sayings. I credit President Kennedy with this one, but it certainly applies to our organization and the momentum…
This past month has been another strong reminder of the incredible role Iowa State University plays in the life of our community and our regional economy. Few things highlight this better than the national attention Ames received when FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff show came to town for the Cy-Hawk football game. The…
Years ago, when I was only months on the job here in Ames, I held one of my first board meetings and timidly outlined a new direction for the organization. I was timid because I wanted to honor the amazing work that had already taken place while instilling new ideas…
Growing Iowa’s Economy will promote the responsible development of new data centers in order to help: Iowa (Monday, August 3, 2026) – Today, a bipartisan group of Iowa labor, economic development, business and issue advocacy leaders announced the launch of Growing Iowa’s Economy. The coalition will advocate for policies to…
AMES, Iowa — Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) and United Way of Story County (UWSC) have released the results of the Story County Child Care Feasibility Study, offering a practical, evidence-based roadmap to improve child care access, affordability, and quality across the region. The study assesses the local child care…
By Dan Culhane, President & CEO, Ames Regional Economic Alliance Few topics have generated as much discussion in our community recently as the possibility of a data center locating in Ames. That conversation can be healthy. Large projects should invite questions, careful analysis, and public input. They should also withstand…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: What has been accomplished? Five years ago, Story County began working on expanding rural broadband throughout the county. As of this year resources have been secured to bring accessible and affordable broadband to 100% of the unincorporated areas in Story County. Much implementation has already been done,…
DES MOINES –The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced Boone, Grinnell, Le Mars and Maquoketa as the 2027–2028 Iowa Thriving Communities, recognizing their innovation and commitment to advancing housing opportunities. “Boone, Grinnell, Le Mars and Maquoketa have gone above and beyond to unite local…
Hamilton County has been selected to join Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Hometown Pride program, a volunteer‑driven community development program that turns local ideas into lasting impact. The program will launch this fall in nine participating communities: Blairsburg, Ellsworth, Jewell, Kamrar, Randall, Stanhope, Stratford, Webster City, and Williams. Each community will work…
Enrollment is now open for Everbrook Academy, a new childcare and early learning education center located at 2310 E. 13th St. on the Danfoss Power Solutions Ames campus. Everbrook Academy is a 16,000-square-foot facility designed to provide convenient access to exceptional childcare for working families. This new school will offer…
June 19, 2026 (Ogden, Iowa) – The City of Ogden has received a $274,000 Community Attraction & Tourism award to support the construction of Phase I of the Ogden Recreation Complex. Funding will support the first phase of a new park development featuring two Little League baseball fields complete with…
Professional Environmental Services for Brownfield Community-wide Assessment Grant The Ames Regional Economic Alliance, hereafter known as “Alliance” is soliciting qualifications and proposals for professional environmental services from qualified vendors (Respondents) to provide grant writing and environmental services to the “Alliance” with the needs outlined in the RFQP. The “Alliance” plans…
Community leaders, residents, and project partners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase 1 of Southside Estates, a new residential subdivision by Keystone Equity Group LLC, in partnership with the City of Roland. Phase 1 of the development will include 18 residential lots as part of the project’s planned 54…
The Ames Regional Economic Alliance is proud to announce that the AREA Podcast has been honored with an Award of Excellence in the 32nd Annual Communicator Awards, the program’s highest distinction. The Communicator Awards recognize excellence, effectiveness, and innovation across all areas of communication. This year’s competition received more than 3,000 entries from agencies,…
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment grants to 39 manufacturers across the state, including three companies in Story County. Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Grant Recipients: The Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Program aims to enhance productivity, efficiency and competitiveness in Iowa’s largest industry. The grants…
In July, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, known to all of us as RAGBRAI, once again visited Ames as an overnight stop. This was the 50th anniversary of the Iowa summer tradition and Ames has been part of it from the beginning. Ames was an overnight stop…
The President & CEO role of many organizations must look at the “big picture,” or serve as the visionary leader. Part of that is focusing on the culture of the organization, establishing and maintaining relationship with stakeholders, putting into place a strong team, and moving forward the big rocks that…
Every other month, we have an all-staff meeting where we get together for lunch, laugh on a personal level, and cover a variety of business along the way. Even though we see each other on a weekly basis, these meetings are great ways for us to connect, provide updates, and…
Next month, May 8-12, we will celebrate Economic Development Week. It is a hallmark week for our organization as we pride ourselves on being a driving force of economic development for our region. In many ways, we have already started the celebration. If you follow our social media accounts, you…
One of the three pillars that leads our work here at the Ames Chamber of Commerce is advocacy, or our ability to publicly support or privately recommend a course of action related to a particular cause. We want local businesses to succeed, and it is our responsibility, and honor, to…
I recently came to the realization that my job has changed. I still hold the title of President & CEO of our organization, but how I spend my time on any given week has shifted. I am not entirely sure when that happened, or necessarily how it happened, but I…
Who will be the next leader of the Ames Chamber of Commerce? It’s an odd question, but one that was proposed to me a few weeks ago by one of our board members. First and foremost, I have no plans to retire or move on from the work that we…
An end of year message can be challenging because it always aspires to condense the year that was, which is impossible. Therefore, I will not attempt to summarize the past twelve months, but rather talk about how our organization connects with our community as we move into 2023. I have…
In leadership, the axiom goes that “you’re only as good as your team.” In my career, I have grown to appreciate and understand how true this is. This week, we welcomed two new members to our Ames Chamber of Commerce team. I am incredibly excited to see what they will…
Earlier this week, the board of directors for the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission met together for a joint meeting. We annually have this joint meeting as a way to bring together the two parts of our organization for not only the business meeting, but a…
Greetings from the Ames Chamber of Commerce! For those in attendance, I hope you enjoyed listening to Brian Dieter, President & CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center, speak at our State of Healthcare event that took place on Friday, September 23. I know I did! He discussed a wide range…
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Ames, Bandshell Park has been a cherished gathering spot and musical landmark for nearly a century. What started as a modest wooden bandstand has evolved into an enduring symbol of the city’s spirit and community pride. The site first became public land when the…
For more than four decades, Hawkeye Molding has been quietly shaping the world from the heart of Iowa. What began in 1979 as a rural custom thermoplastic injection-molding shop has grown into a diversified manufacturing operation supplying components for everything from coffee makers and lighting fixtures to agricultural and industrial…
From the outside, American Athletic’s Jefferson, Iowa, facilities look like any other advanced manufacturing hub in the Midwest. Inside, however, technicians are shaping the future of sports, hand-crafting world-class gymnastics and basketball equipment trusted from high school gyms to NCAA and professional arenas and Olympic stages. American Athletic, Inc. (AAI)…
At the edge of Boone, in a nondescript industrial building, a high-tech revolution is unfolding. Inside Critical Materials Recycling, Inc. (CMR), a small but growing team is pulling precious rare earth elements—crucial for everything from wind turbines to fighter jets—from an unlikely source: old hard drives. “We’re not digging into…
Building a Coffee Culture Windmill Coffee Roasters is quietly shaping a coffee culture across Central Iowa. Founded by Andrew Burgason, Windmill emerged from a family legacy of coffee excellence. Andrew’s father opened Burgies Coffee & Tea in 1997, but as Andrew recalls, the need for a dedicated roasting operation quickly…
Scott Johnson didn’t take a traditional route to leadership. He started at Manatt’s in 2009 as a general laborer on a concrete crew. Today, as General Manager of the Ames Asphalt Division, Johnson oversees a versatile team delivering complex construction projects across central Iowa. “I wasn’t someone who thrived in…
Lincolnway Energy, located just outside of Nevada, Iowa, has surpassed a major milestone, reaching 100 million gallons in annual ethanol production—double the output the plant was originally designed for. This achievement comes through ongoing capital investment, technological improvements, and a relentless focus on efficiency. Founded in 2004 as a 50-million-gallon-per-year facility,…
In the heart of Downtown Ames, nestled among the charm and bustle of Main Street, there’s a boutique that’s more than just racks of clothing and curated styles — it’s a reflection of one woman’s journey, her passion for fashion, and her devotion to community. Meet b.e.good, a boutique as…
On the south side of Ames, across 17 acres of innovation, stands a company quietly making waves in the world of water. Hach, a name recognized by scientists and engineers across the globe, started from humble beginnings—born in 1947 in a garage thanks to the vision of Clifford and Kitty…
For nearly a decade, Express Employment Professionals in Ames has helped local businesses find talent, and helped job seekers find opportunities. Specializing in both temporary and full-time staffing solutions, Express Employment Professionals and its Specialized Recruiting Group work to match job seekers with opportunities that align with their skills and…
Walk into Bluestem Boulders, and you’ll immediately feel the energy—chalk dust in the air, climbers eyeing their next move, and the hum of encouragement from all corners of the gym. This isn’t just a place to work out; it’s a place to belong. Since opening in 2024, Bluestem Boulders has…
As On Track Construction moves into its eighth year, CEO Matt Runge envisions not only continued business expansion but also a deeper commitment to supporting the community. “We like to give,” he says, “but more importantly, we want our contributions to make an impact.” On Track, which specializes in underground…
