AREA NEWS:

Area Employers

Business at its Best!

The Iowa City area, located in the heart of Eastern Iowa’s Technology Corridor, benefits from high productivity and consistent job growth—more than 30 percent since 1990! The region continues to experience employment gains in service and advanced manufacturing industries.

The Iowa City area’s trained and motivated workforce draws interest from firms seeking a healthy business climate, consistent long-term growth and unmatched economic potential. More than 300,000 people make up our growing skilled and talented workforce. We regularly outperform the state of Iowa and Midwest in workforce and population growth.

The diversity that reflects our population and defines our communities is mirrored in our businesses, professional and social organizations. Our area is home to a wide range of national and international Fortune 500 companies; small, family-owned businesses and emerging and advancing entrepreneurs representing:

Advanced Manufacturing (electronics, food, personal and hygiene products)
Life Sciences (biotechnology/bioprocessing)
Information Solutions (software, financial and insurance services, educational services)

According to the 2003 Forbes Milken Institute index, Iowa City ranks No. 1 “Best Places for Business and Careers.” The ranking reviews job and salary growth and high-tech output. Iowa City beat out 96 other small metro areas to move up from a No. 2 spot last year.

Iowa City’s designation as one of the top 15 places in the country to expand or (re)locate a business is also great recognition for our area economy. The July 2003 edition of Expansion Management magazine ranked our area No. 11 among all major U.S. metropolitan cities: “When it comes to smart, reliable workers and low business operating costs . . .”

TOP

Recent announcements of new and expanding business projects in the Iowa City area include:

ACT, Inc.

Alpla of Iowa

CIVCO Medical Instruments

Dare Devil Shells

GEICO Direct

Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.

Lear Corporation

Kleffmann North America

Marsh Advantage America

Maytag Corporation