ShovelReadyIowa.com Launched in Conjunction with Tipton Site Certification

The 85-acre Tipton Business Park is the first property in the state of Iowa to receive “Shovel Ready Iowa Certification,” and that designation was acknowledged by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, 2nd District Congressman Dave Loebsack, and a number of regional and local economic development officials during a ceremony today in Tipton.

In conjunction with this announcement, the seven county Corridor Alliance, including economic development representatives from Linn, Johnson, Jones, Benton, Iowa, Cedar and Washington counties, have launched the website www.shovelreadyiowa.com.

This website will serve as the primary source of information on the shovel ready certification program, certified properties and properties currently under application.

Joe Raso, President of the Iowa City Area Development Group, said the website was designed for multiple audiences.  “Local property owners and communities will be able to apply for the program directly on the site, while companies and developers researching our area for expansion will find data for sites currently certified,” said Raso.

Shovel Ready Iowa Certification is an independent, third-party certification program designed to reduce risk for local communities and property owners as well as companies researching the seven county Corridor Alliance region for business location or expansion.

As a certified Shovel-Ready Iowa site in the Rural Industrial category, the Tipton Business Park has proven to that it can accommodate an expanding industrial operation on a tight timeline.  For more information regarding the Tipton Business Park, visit www.shovelreadyiowa.com.