HARNESSING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR
2023 Annual
REPORT
FUTURE
WARREN COUNTY
TRENDS
These statistics collectively demonstrate the positive economic trajectory of Warren County, Iowa. Such growth in retail sales, new businesses, and population showcases a vibrant and prosperous community. People are choosing to relocate to the county, attracted by its economic opportunities and quality of life.
Business Establishments
4,736
Trend Increase Employer & Non-Employer
Net Migration 2022-23
+3.7%
2021 Total Retail Sales
$407,128,265
Trend Increase
Trend increase 8.4% from 2020
2022 Median Household Income
2023 Unemployment Rate
Trend decrease
Trend increase
Trend stable
2022 Labor Force
2022 Population Estimate
2022 New Housing Permits
Trend increase
Trend increase
Total housing units 21,971 in July 2022
Employed, likely to change, HS education +
Iowa Business Tax Climate Index
Public School Enrollment
#38
10,473
Trend increase
Trend Unchanged
Trend increase
2020 Poverty Rate
5.4%
28,825
83.2%
$85,189
53,402
2.6%
512
KEY Green: Positive Trend Yellow: Even Trend Orange: Negative Trend Info from census.gov, State of Iowa, 2023 Laborshed Report, St. Louis Fed, and ISU Data for Decision Makers
YOUR BUSINESS & COMMUNITY RESOURCE CONNECTOR The WCEDC team is the catalyst, convener and resource that is driving proactive economic development efforts in Warren County, Iowa.
Sustainability & Advocacy
Business Recruitment
Business Assistance
Workforce Development & Quality of Life
WCEDC is positioning Warren County’s communities, businesses and industry to capitalize on the rapid expansion of the Des Moines metro area by offering the following resources: Site Certification Assistance Business Attraction, Retention & Expansion Site & Building Listings Commercial & Retail Development New Business Starts Grants & Revolving Loan Workforce Development Growing Leaders Community Betterment County-wide Tourism
YOUR WCEDC TEAM
Rachel Fusco
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR rfusco@wcedc.com O: 515-961-1067 C: 515-779-7865
Lucinda Sperry
MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT lsperry@wcedc.com O: 515-961-1067 C: 515-201-8323
Latest News & Events at www.wcedc.com
THREE CERTIFIED SITES IN PROGRESS NORWALK Dunn Industrial Certified Site
142 ACRES Status: Application 8/31/23 Multiple contiguous 40 acre parcels available - Tax abatement available - Tax Increment Financing available Average HH Income: $84,626 Traffic count: 25,000 VPD & growing - Quick access to I-35 Via HWY 5 Bypass
INDIANOLA Industrial Park Plat 3 Certified Site 30.2 ACRES Status: Waiting on Utilities
Prime industrial development land situated within Indianola city limits. Situated along the south side of Highway G36, this property is conveniently 1 mile from Highway 65/69 and 1.5 miles from Highway 92.
CARLISLE Koethe/Wright Certified Site
104-186 ACRES Status: Waiting on Utilities Over 100 acres of development land just off of the highway 5 bypass ready for development into future industrial business.
Aronson Woodworks
LOANS THAT
LEVEL UP SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS
Warren County Economic Development offers a revolving loan fund for small to medium sized businesses. WCEDC has available matching funds through state and federal programs to increase the size of the revolving loan fund pool.
ARONSON WOODWORKS, Prole
PROJECT: Expansion working capital + adding 3 staff
$50,000 Revolving Loan Amount
Aronson Woodworks in Prole is not your run-of-the-mill custom furniture business. Their patented “CLAIZE™” finishing process allows them to color the grain of the wood and the “field”—the spaces between the grain—in uncommon ways. From rainbowcolored grain to black and white patterns resembling animal stripes, their work has graced the pages of Architectural Digest, House Beautiful and Traditional Home magazines. Clayton and Megan Aronson’s uniquely colored, woodgrain furniture became not just the talk of the town but shared by designers around the world. Their revolving loan funds helped them expand to meet the demand.
Copper + Fringe Beauty Co
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES WIN
BIG
Staging Sisters
WCEDC organizes this annual Small Business Grant Contest as part of our commitment to helping small businesses grow in Warren County. Grants are awarded to the top three Existing and Start-Up Business applicants. The top businesses move to round two to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit at a Pitch Off Event with a total of $19,000 in prizes up for grabs.
2023 EXISTING BUSINESS GRANT WINNER
COPPER + FRINGE BEAUTY CO, Indianola PROJECT: Increase service offering through additional training of new and existing staff
$6,000 Grant Awarded
2023 START UP GRANT WINNER
STAGING SISTERS, Indianola
PROJECT: Purchase trailer to expand business
$5,000 Grant Awarded
EVENTS & TRIPS
Warren County DMDC Trip 2023
8 Community Leaders May 11-13, 2023 WCEDC staff organizes the Warren County delegation to attend the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s DMDC trip each year. We invited our legislators to come visit us and take a tour.
WARREN COUNTY
BUSINESS & BALLOONS BREAKFAST AT THE NATIONAL BALLOON CLASSIC August 2, 2023
WCEDC hosts an annual Warren County Business Breakfast during the National Balloon Classic as an opportunity for communities to network and hear/share updates from around Warren County. This year Jay Byers, newly elected President of Simpson College was the guest speaker to 65 attendees.
DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS AROUND THE COUNTY Norwalk Central 60+ ACRES Status: In progress
Norwalk Central is a large mixed-use development area in the heart of Norwalk. Opportunities for recreation, sporting venues, fitness, entertainment, retail shopping, service providers, eateries, hotels, and public spaces such as parks, trails, amphitheater, and civic/community facilities
Hy-Vee Distribution Center, Cumming 145+ ACRES Status: In progress
Located off Interstate 35, the site is slated to contain a 635,000 square feet distribution center to house Lomar Distributing, a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store, a coffee shop, and a fuel station.
The Village expansion, Indianola Status: In progress Future expansion to the The Village with additional living and gathering spaces.
Microsoft Osmium Development, WDM 1,700,000 SF Assessment: $310,000,000 Status: In progress
The third Microsoft Data Center, Osmium, has finished buildings one through four. Currently, building five is under construction.
Scotch Ridge Business Center, Carlisle
330,000 SF Spec Building Status: In progress Bay Size: 48’ x 50’, with a 60’ speed bay Clear Height: 32’ clear Dock Doors: Forty (40) 8’ x 9’ Dock Doors with mechanical dock levelers (35,000 lbs.)
Milo Locker Meats expansion, Milo Status: Planning
Milo Locker has purchased a lot adjacent to build a future storage facility.
Dunn Industrial Park, Norwalk 20,000 SF Status: In progress
A premier industrial destination located in Norwalk. Near Hwy 28 Outdoor storage options and shovel-ready facilities, a business can be up and running in no time.
CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH
LEADERSHIP TRAINING WELCOME
TO THE
CLASS OF
2023
Established in 1993 WCLI’s primary objective is to train and inform leaders to create the best future for themselves and their county. Each year participants experience 8 expert-led leadership sessions, meet emerging leaders, manage a class-led project that benefits Warren County, and enjoy an interactive county-wide bus tour that highlights communities, businesses and developments across Warren County.
WCLI Class of 2023
EP MATTER ST
S
5K ALTH
EVE RY
15 members Project: $7,638.89 Donated to H.E.A.L. House of Iowa
JULY
L
/W
A
RU
N
HE
22 AL
K FOR ME
NT
This class held a Every Step Matters 5K Run/Walk at Banner Lakes to raise mental health awareness and also raised funds to assist a local charity.
WCLI Class of 2022
18 members Project: Raised $75,000 for a new Warren County Fair Playground The class of 2022 solicited funds for two years through various online, in person and advertising efforts to achieve the largest WCLI fundraising effort to date.
$112,067.32
AWARDED TO WARREN COUNTY NONPROFITS IN 2023 Since its inception Warren County Philanthropic Partnership has awarded more than $1 million to nonprofit organizations in Warren County to improve quality of life. From providing equipment to area police and fire departments to improving education and arts
CITY OF MILO
and entertainment, WCPP has responsibly distributed Iowa's County Endowment Fund to worthy projects impacting the entire county. HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES:
NEW EMERGENCY WARNING SIREN City of Milo $5,000 Awarded
FRIENDS OF CARLISLE PARKS
The City of Milo needed to replace an old emergency warning siren that was more than 40 years old. A new warning siren with a battery backup was purchased with grant funds and will serve the safety needs of the community.
NEW INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND Friends of Carlisle Parks $25,000 Awarded - High Impact Award
Carlisle had an outdated playground structure in North Park that needed replacing. Grant funds were used to build a new safe playground that provides a welcoming space where children of all abilities can foster friendships, learn new skills, and feel comfortable expressing themselves through play.
S N VE OR AD NTURE S DO |S UT HO |O P
S | BEER, WI L EAT NE CA LO ,S PI R
OO
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Wande r
WAR REN COUN TY A
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COUNTY-WIDE TOURISM EFFORTS Many of our communities are hosting amazing events and creating fun placemaking endeavors that spread community pride and allow travelers to visit and enjoy.
RECENT ACTION HIGHLIGHTS: NEW WANDER WARREN COUNTY STICKERS PINTEREST ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHAMBERS TO ASSIST WITH EFFORTS
We have partnered with Iowa Tourism to create some starting goals: 1. Give each community a brand identity 2. Highlight historic and
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS NORWALK SUPER GOLD ALE LABEL DESIGN AND COMMUNITY LAUNCH
placemaking spots 3. Create a county-wide event calendar to promote our amazing community events
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE BOUTIQUE FARMS LOCAL EATS HANDCRAFTED BEER, WINE & SPIRITS BIKING & HIKING TRAILS OUTDOOR ADVENTURES CURATED SHOPPING
WANDERWARRENCOUNTY.COM
EMPOWERING VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY
PRIDE
MURALS CLEAN UP DAYS
COMMUNITY EVENTS PARADES
YARD CONTESTS PLACEMAKING PROJECTS
The member communities of Warren County Hometown Pride bring volunteers together to build a sense of community, create and improve public amenities, and celebrate what makes our towns great. We have 7 local participating committees: Carlisle, Cumming, Hartford, Indianola, Milo, New Virginia, and Norwalk. Each committee operates independently, but they also work together to share ideas and resources, support each other, and implement regional projects. WCEDC has played an integral role in the establishment of the Warren County Hometown Pride Program and actively supports, collaborates, and financially contributes to the endeavors of this program.
Get involved @ warrencountyhometown.com
BOARD & EX-OFFICIOS
Doug Shull
Clint Welling
Denis Frischmeyer
Diane Hall
Jack Bohlender
Jay Byers
Mayor Frank Cownie
Simpson College BOARD MEMBER
City of Des Moines BOARD MEMBER
Charlie Dissell
Scott James
Deven Markley
Bradley Munford
Mayor Tom Phillips
Brad Rudolf
Mark Snell
Kyle Walker
Private Investor PRESIDENT
WCEDC is funded through a combination of public and private funds.
TruBank VICE PRESIDENT
Norwalk Ready Mix BOARD MEMBER
City of Indianola BOARD MEMBER
City of Norwalk BOARD MEMBER
Stacie LoVan
Greater Des Moines Partnership EX-OFFICIO
James Oil LLC BOARD MEMBER
Rudolf Insurance BOARD MEMBER
Katie Lord
MidAmerican Energy EX-OFFICIO
DCI Group Treasurer
City of Carlisle BOARD MEMBER
Warren County Supervisors BOARD MEMBER
City of Milo SECRETARY
City of West Des Moines BOARD MEMBER
Peoples Company BOARD MEMBER
Founded in 1992 the Warren County Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes business growth in the area.
THANK YOU TO OUR INVESTORS SO FAR
2.0
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Learn more about being an investor at www.wcedc.com/growarrenow COMMUNITY CHAMPION Our investors help fund all our initiatives that drive Warren County's proactive economic development efforts
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
Downing Investments
Doug Shull BRONZE CemenTech DMACC Iowa Realty - Karey Bishop
Miller Electric Miller Mechanical SVPA Architects Woda Cooper Companies, Inc
PUBLIC INVESTORS Warren County Indianola Norwalk Carlisle Hartford
Cumming Milo New Virginia West Des Moines Des Moines
OUR COMMUNITIES ACKWORTH BEVINGTON • CARLISLE CUMMING • DES MOINES HARTFORD • INDIANOLA LACONA • MARTENSDALE MILO • NEW VIRGINIA NORWALK • SANDYVILLE SPRING HILL • ST. MARYS WEST DES MOINES
111 N BUXTON ST INDIANOLA, IA 50125 515-961-1067 info@wcedc.com www.wcedc.com