Join us for an evening celebrating business and industry in Ankeny!

Registration is open and you can secure your spot by clicking the button below. Please note, registration will close on October 2.

Tuesday, October 7
5:00 - 7:00PM
Iowa Culinary Institute
DMACC Campus, Building 7
2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Welcome New Investors!

Please welcome Aaron Wendell at Marsh McLennan Agency. Aaron joined in June and has been to a couple of member meetings, and I hope many of you have had a chance to meet him. Marsh McLennan is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, navigate complex challenges, and optimize performance. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides expertise in areas like insurance, employee benefits, strategic consulting, and data-driven insights. Essentially, Marsh McLennan helps clients protect their businesses, make informed decisions, and plan for the future.
Please welcome back Greg Manatt and Jared McGrew with Manatt's, Inc. A well know business located on the East side of I-35 in Ankeny, Manatt's, Inc. is a family-owned heavy highway construction and materials company. The company specializes in asphalt, concrete, ready-mix concrete, and aggregate production, as well as services like milling, stabilization, and subdrain installation. Manatt's has a strong presence in the Midwest, with multiple locations and plants across Iowa.​
Please welcome Dustin Leo with McClure Engineering, who is now located in the District of Prairie Trail. McClure Engineering is a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm. The company specializes in delivering innovative solutions for complex building and campus systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, lighting, acoustics, audiovisual, theater, and security services. 



​Update from Mayor Bobbi Bentz
Ankeny holds fire academy, preps to open Fire Station #4 - Ankeny launched its first-ever fire academy, providing real-life scenario training for 23 new firefighting recruits. Thanks to a donated property off of Interstate 35, recruits received realistic training like fire suppression, rescue operations and providing emergency medical services. The new Ankeny Fire Station Number 4 opens in January 2026. The new and existing fire department staff will be reallocated among the existing and new stations.

All things Capital Improvement - The Council and management staff kicked off the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) planning the beginning of September. The CIP is a five-year plan for scheduling capital projects and long-term debt. The CIP includes capital projects – streets, sewer, water, parks, etc. In 2025, the CIP was just over $32M with just under $18M on street projects. Due in part to a cascade effect of other projects, the City moved the intersection update at Ash and NW 9th St/Prairie Ridge Drive back 1 year to 2028, and moved the 18th Street construction and changes to the entrance/exit of Prairie Ridge Sports Complex by the baseball fields up 1 year to the summer of 2027. The Council has heard concerns from the community regarding how the City builds roads as needed versus using TIF funding to "build it and they will come" like other growing metro communities. Our conservative approach has assisted in part to Ankeny's low tax rate compared to other metro communities. However, it means with extensive growth we appear to have more frequent needs to reconstruct and widen roads as development is occurring, rather than prior to development occurring, creating traffic disruption. Combine that with a State project on a major highway in the middle of town, and we have a lot of disgruntled drivers. The Council is discussing our prior and future approaches to financing and building streets, while weighing the tax implications and potential future legislative constraints regarding flexibility in TIF and other city financing mechanisms. Similarly, I am making it a priority of the Mayor and City Manager's offices to better engage with the Iowa DOT on prioritization of Ankeny-based projects. More to come as the Council works through the CIP on major project timelines.

City Council and Mayor Election - This November 4th, four candidates are vying for 2 four-year City Council seats. Two candidates are running for the two-year term that resulted from my appointment from Council to the position of Mayor in December. I was the only candidate that submitted candidacy papers for the upcoming mayoral election. The Chamber is hosting a candidate forum on Monday, October 13th, at Kirkendall Public Library in the Council chambers.

City Manager Search - The search is underway for a new City Manager for the City. Government Professional Solutions, an experienced municipal consulting firm, has been engaged to manage the process. The position posting went live August 29th. An applicant review is scheduled for a Council Action Planning Session on Monday, October 6th, following the regular Council meeting and is open to the public. Finalist in-person interviews are scheduled to occur the first week of November. Regardless of Council election outcomes November 4th, the current Council will be hiring the new City Manager as Council terms go through December 31, 2025.

Fun Fact: the Ankeny logo on the new water tower is 70 ft wide and 16 ft tall. ​



Ankeny School District Puts Bond Issue Before Voters
On November 4, 2025, the Ankeny community will vote on the 2025 General Obligation (GO) Bond for Ankeny Community School District. Over the last 15 years, Ankeny Community School District has managed to lower its levy rate by more than $6.30, all while passing critical bonds in 2012 and 2018. Now we face a choice: keep that momentum going or risk falling behind. If this bond doesn’t pass, the district's new grade‑level configuration plan stalls, students lose out on advanced workforce‑prep opportunities, facility maintenance becomes purely reactive, and future tax rates could spike as the district scrambles to cover gaps.

With this General Obligation Bond, Ankeny Community School District will build an Innovative Hub, a state‑of‑the‑art secondary education facility where real-world work meets classroom learning. Imagine students shadowing biotechnology experts, co‑working in labs, and even growing crops right here in Ankeny. This hub will serve as the centerpiece for specialized programs in engineering, computer science, and other disciplines. The district will also upgrade classrooms, labs, and common areas at both high schools to support evolving academic programs and technology needs.

Athletes will benefit from indoor turf fields and practice spaces that allow them to train safely year-round, and our fine arts students will enjoy expanded lighting and sound systems, new band and choir classrooms, portable pit covers, and performance shells. Improvements at Ankeny Stadium and the installation of new turf baseball and softball fields will create inviting places for everyone to cheer on our teams.

This bond won’t raise the district's debt service levy above its current ceiling of $2.59. It locks in a stable rate so taxpayers are protected while keeping buildings safe, functional, and ready for 21st‑century learning. 

Great schools do more than educate, they boost local property values, attract families, and spark economic growth. This general obligation bond fosters community pride, encourages local business investment, and promotes a brighter future for every child in Ankeny.  Find out more on the district website.

Submitted by Samantha Aukes, Chief of Communications, Ankeny Community School District

Policy on Distribution of Member Meeting Attendee List

The Ankeny Business & Industry Board of Directors updated the Policy on Distribution of Member Meeting Attendee List at the August 14, 2025 Board meeting. The document may be found here on the ABIC website. 

Purpose 
This policy outlines the guidelines for the distribution of attendee lists from official member meetings of Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative (ABIC), to ensure member privacy, appropriate use, and alignment with the organization’s mission and values. 

​Scope 
This policy applies to sponsors of events organized by Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative who request access to attendee lists. 

Sponsor Definition 
For the purposes of this policy, a sponsor is defined as a business member that provides financial support for an event hosted by ABIC.  
 
Policy Statement 
1. Attendee List Content 
   The attendee list may include the following information, as provided voluntarily by members upon registration or check-in: 
  • Full name
  • Organization name
2. Use of Attendee Lists 
    Attendee lists are intended solely for networking and relationship-building among members and guests. They may not be              used for: 
  • Mass marketing or solicitation 
  • Selling or sharing with third parties 
  • Any purpose unrelated to the mission of [Organization Name] 
3. Distribution Guidelines 
  • Attendee lists will be provided upon request to event sponsors who are ABIC members in good standing.  
  • The list will be limited to attendees of the specific event sponsored. 
  • Requests must be made in writing and specify the intended use. 
  • Attendee lists are provided for the sponsor’s internal use only and may not be shared, sold, or distributed to any third parties. 
  • The organization reserves the right to deny any request it deems inconsistent with this policy. 
4. Confidentiality and Consent 
  • All distributed lists will include a disclaimer noting permitted use and prohibiting unauthorized sharing or solicitation. 
 
Policy Review 
This policy may be updated at the discretion of Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative leadership to reflect best practices and member feedback. 

Did You Miss the August Member Meeting

Tami Madsen, Executive Director of Central Iowa Water Works, provided ABIC members with an in-depth update on regional water issues and initiatives. You can view her full presentation below to learn more.

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

​If your company has exciting news or accomplishments to share, we’d love to hear about it! Please send your updates to Kim Schaaf at [email protected] for inclusion in our bi-monthly newsletter. As a reminder, the newsletter is published yearly January, March, May, July, September, and November.

​We look forward to showcasing the great work happening for our members in the business community!

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110 N Ankeny Blvd, Suite 200, Ankeny IA 50021
Phone: 515-964-0747 | [email protected] | sitemap