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    • Salute to Industry >
      • 2026 Salute to Industry
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      • 2026 - September Newsletter
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September 2026 Newsletter          09/17/2026 | Issue 5 

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SALUTE TO INDUSTRY & 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Thursday, October 15, 2026
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Community State Bank
2750 NE 36th Street, Ankeny

Join us for the annual Salute to Industry as we celebrate the businesses, leaders and investments that continue to shape Ankeny’s future!

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This year’s event is extra special as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Ankeny’s economic development organization, from the Ankeny Industrial Development Corporation to the Ankeny Economic Development Corporation, and now the Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative.

​We’ll recognize Commercial Investment & Reinvestment along with several other awards honoring the people and organizations making an impact in our community.

To help us celebrate this incredible milestone, we’ve invited past board chairs to join us as we look back at six decades of economic development and look ahead to what’s next for Ankeny.

Come celebrate 60 years of educating, advancing and advocating for economic vitality in Ankeny!
CLICK TO REGISTER

A BIG THANKS TO OUR 2026 SALUTE TO INDUSTRY SPONSORS

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Members in the News

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Haverkamp Group recently celebrated the groundbreaking of The Sloane, a new 387-unit residential community in north Ankeny. The development represents another significant private investment in the community and will add new housing options as Ankeny continues to grow. The project will include apartments and other residential offerings, adding to the continued development taking place throughout north Ankeny. The Haverkamp Group has five communities in Ankeny including Attivo Trail Ankeny, Campus View, Prairie South Student Living, Tradition Pointe, Woodland Reserve, and coming soon, The Sloan.
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Congratulations to McClure, which earned its 10th Great Place to Work Certification in August. According to Great Place to Work, 92% of McClure employees say it is a great place to work, compared with 57% at a typical U.S.-based company. The certification recognizes organizations based on employee feedback and workplace culture. 
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Casey’s General Stores, a longtime ABIC member, announced its fiscal 2027 first-quarter results September 8. The company reported $5.68 billion in revenue and net income of $273.7 million, compared with $215.4 million a year ago. Diluted earnings per share increased 27.7% to $7.37. Casey’s also reported 3.2% growth in inside same-store sales and a 6.3% increase in total inside gross profit. 
​From continued investment in Ankeny to workplace accomplishments and strong business performance, ABIC members continue to make an impact throughout the community and beyond. We’re proud to recognize the achievements and contributions of our members.

Update from Our Community Partners

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The City of Ankeny’s FY2027 budget includes $202 million in total spending, including $60 million dedicated to capital improvement projects. Major projects focus on transportation, utilities and parks, including West First Street improvements, South Ankeny Boulevard improvements, the Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension, Water Tower No. 4 and additional park development. Infrastructure improvements are also helping open the door for future business development. The SE Creekview Drive Extension was completed in August, extending the roadway north of SE Oralabor Road and adding storm sewer, sanitary sewer, sidewalks and street lighting. The City notes that the project improves access to land and is intended to support economic growth and job creation. On the north side of Ankeny, continued development along the NE 36th Street corridor is bringing additional investment and improvements. The City’s capital improvement program includes plans to widen NW 36th Street between NW Abilene Road and NW Ash Drive from two lanes to four lanes, with turn lanes and additional traffic signals planned. The project is part of the City’s broader effort to address increasing traffic volumes and improve mobility as development continues in northwest Ankeny. The Ankeny Regional Airport is also positioned for continued growth. The airport has received $2.5 million in federal funding for a 500-foot extension of its primary runway, taking it from 5,500 to 6,000 feet. The improvement will allow the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and support future opportunities, including potential additional general aviation and corporate hangar development. 
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The Ankeny Community School District began the 2026-27 school year on August 24, welcoming students back as the district continues to grow and invest in the future of Ankeny. First, work is underway on the high schools that is part of its long-term facilities plan. These improvements are designed to provide additional space and enhance learning environments as Ankeny’s student population continues to grow. See more at High School Additions. Next, the Ankeny Innovation Hub remains an important part of Ankeny’s future workforce strategy. The career and technical education facility is intended to give students opportunities for hands-on learning and exposure to career pathways that connect directly with the needs of business and industry. See more at Innovation Hub. Lastly, two Ankeny Community School District students were selected for the 2026 National Math Stars Pathfinder Program, recognizing exceptional mathematical ability. The Iowa Department of Education announced September 8 that 44 Iowa students were selected for the 2026 National Math Stars programs, including two students from Ankeny Community School District. See more at Math Stars.
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The Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce is heading into a busy fall, with several upcoming opportunities for businesses and professionals to get involved. September includes the Chamber’s 6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook, Lattes & Leads, a New Member Mixer, ribbon cuttings and the Fall Ball Golf Tournament. October brings additional networking opportunities, professional development, Witches Night Out and the Chamber’s 2026 Iowa House and Senate Candidate Forum. The Chamber also recently hosted its 4th Annual Multicultural Business Summit, bringing together business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, managers and professionals for a half-day focused on business growth, leadership and community collaboration.

ABIC August Member Meeting: Understanding AI and What It Means for Ankeny Businesses

You told us you wanted a session on artificial intelligence, so ABIC made it happen! At our August member meeting, with lunch sponsored by Casey's and held at On With Life, we gathered for a conversation about one of the most talked-about and rapidly changing topics in business today: artificial intelligence.

We were pleased to welcome Drake University Innovation Professors Chris Porter and Chris Snider, who led members through a practical conversation about AI, how businesses are using it and what it could mean for the workplace and workforce.

AI can feel overwhelming. New tools and capabilities seem to emerge almost daily, and it can be difficult for business leaders to know where to start or even which questions to ask. That is exactly why this conversation was important. Porter and Snider helped bring the discussion down to a practical level, giving ABIC members an opportunity to learn more about AI and consider how it could apply to their own businesses. The conversation went beyond the technology itself. It encouraged members to think about how AI could impact everyday business operations, employee productivity, workforce needs and the skills that will be important in the years ahead.

For some of our business members, AI may already be part of the way they work. For others, they may still be trying to understand what tools are available and whether they make sense for their organization. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
The August meeting gave members an opportunity to start thinking about where AI might fit into their business and how they can approach the technology thoughtfully. It also opened the door to conversations about responsible use, employee training and preparing for a changing workplace. If you would like to view the slides presented by Porter and Snider, you may view the slides here. 

ABIC asked members to tell us they wanted to learn more about AI, and we want to continue listening. Following the meeting, members were invited to complete a short survey about their biggest questions and concerns surrounding AI, what they would like to learn more about and how ABIC can continue to provide useful programming on this topic. That feedback will help guide future conversations and make sure ABIC programming continues to reflect what our members want and need. 

ABIC’s mission is to educate, advance and advocate for economic vitality in Ankeny. That means creating opportunities for our members to learn about issues that are affecting their businesses today and will shape our community in the future.
AI is one of those issues.

Our thanks to Chris Porter and Chris Snider for joining us and helping our members begin the conversation. And thank you to our members for continuing to tell us what you want to learn about.
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You asked. We listened. And this is just the beginning of the conversation about AI.
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Chris Porter | Drake University & Innovation Profs
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Chris Snider | Drake University & Innovation Profs

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 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!

platinum investors

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