|
2025 Salute to IndustryThank you to everyone who joined us for the Salute to Industry event on October 7 at the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC.
It was a wonderful evening celebrating our award winners, reconnecting with members and friends, and enjoying excellent food and beverages. A special highlight of the night was DMACC President Rob Denson’s memorable performance of a “DMACC remix” to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk! What a fun and fitting way to end the evening on a high note. Thank you, Rob! 📸 View event photos and videos here. 🏆 See the complete list of winners here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, August 21 | 11:30AM - 1:00PM
Lunch Sponsor: Green State Credit Union Hosted by kinzlercorp.com/Kinzler Corporation 700 SE Oralabor Road, Ankeny We’re happy to welcome Derek Lord, Ankeny’s Economic Development Director. He’s always a crowd favorite, and he’ll be sharing the latest updates on economic development. Don’t miss what’s happening in Ankeny! Please click the below link to register for this meeting. |
Lunch Sponsor
Host Sponsor
|
|
Welcome Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAGS) a statewide nonprofit program that helps middle and high school students overcome academic, social, and personal barriers to success by preparing them for graduation, postsecondary education, and careers. Through dedicated classroom instruction, mentoring, career exploration, and hands-on work experiences, iJAGS equips students with essential employability skills and connects them with local employers and training opportunities. The program focuses on students who need additional support and provides long-term guidance to ensure they not only graduate but transition successfully into the workforce or further education.
|
|
DMACC recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its new 72,000-square-foot Trades & Industry Center, a $34 million facility that will expand hands-on training for high-demand skilled trades careers. The state-of-the-art building will house programs including Building Trades, HVAC, Diesel Technology, Fire Science, and Iowa’s only Ford Training Center, replacing two aging campus facilities from the 1960s. President Rob Denson and other speakers at the ground breaking emphasized that the new center represents a major investment in opportunity, innovation, and the future workforce. Construction is underway and expected to be completed by Fall 2027.
The City of Ankeny and the IEDA City Development Board recently approved two annexations totaling nearly 1,400 acres on the city’s northeast side. One annexation includes 857 acres south of 36th Street, primarily owned by DRA Properties, while the other covers about 500 acres north of Costco, with a majority owned by the Denny Elwell Company. The area will eventually become mixed-use areas featuring retail, housing, light industrial space along I-35, and recreational amenities. With this annexation, three of the four corners of the I-35/Elkhart – NE 126th Ave. interchange are now located within the City of Ankeny city limits. Next steps now that these annexations have been approved include zoning the land and planning for infrastructure expansion to support future development of the area. This area is the city’s next major hub for commercial, mixed-use, and business park development. The Polk County Board of Supervisors recently awarded the City a $100,000 Polk County Community Development Grant to add unique recreational amenities to the High Trestle Trail Experience Park near Uptown. Grant funds will go toward construction of a 850-foot paved side path that will feature varied elevations, called a flowline, to create an engaging experience for users of all ages and abilities. The project also incorporates nature-based pocket play areas designed for children, along with benches and trash receptacles. These additions are part of a long term plan by the City to add unique and engaging activities, creating a new type of park for residents and visitors to the area. The flowline and new play areas are expected to be completed by Fall 2026. |
|
The Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce has officially wrapped up their larger events for the year with Discover Ankeny and are looking forward to the upcoming November Lattes & Leads on Tuesday, November 25, at Bob Brown Buick GMC from 7:30–9:00 AM.
In December, they will hold the last Speed Networking event of the year on December 9, then on to the Business After Hours will be held on Thursday, December 11, from 4:00–5:30 PM at the Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa, an ABIC member! The Chamber will close out 2025 with Lattes & Leads, on Tuesday, December 16, from 7:30-9:00AM at Bankers Trust, another ABIC member! We hope to see you at these Chamber events! All these and more can be found at the Chamber’s website. |
|
|
Ankeny Community School District's general obligation bond passed on November 4, and the district would like to thank every parent, staff member, and community partner who took the time to vote.
The approval of the bond means the district now has the funding authority to begin addressing its facility and infrastructure needs. This includes constructing the innovative hub and facility modernizations at both high schools. With voter approval in place, they are moving from planning to action. Over the coming months, several key steps will take place:
You can follow progress on our district website, where regular updates will be posted, along with project milestones and visuals as work begins. The district has also created a page to stay updated on all planned facility maintenance and renovation projects. On the facilities webpage, click on any of the schools listed to see the planned projects. Together, we’re investing in the future of our schools and ensuring that every student has access to safe, modern, and inspiring learning spaces. |
|
Manatt’s Celebrates Grand Opening of New Ankeny Office
On October 30, Manatt’s marked a major milestone with the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of its new 10,100 sf facility in Ankeny at 610 SE Creekview Drive. The event included a welcome ceremony, guided tours of the new space, which features 19 private offices, a large conference room, and a training room, and a closing toast to celebrate the company’s ongoing commitment to its people and community. Built by Dean Snyder Construction in partnership with ATURA Architecture, the new office will serve as Manatt’s central hub for Metro operations. In a social media thank-you, Manatt’s said the facility “reflects our commitment to investing in our people, partners, and the Ankeny community.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|