Nevada, IA – Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication (MMF) and Mid-States Millwright and Builders (MMB) have revealed plans to expand their manufacturing space in Nevada, Iowa.
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MMB was founded by Kevin and Shelley Vier in 2002 and MMF was founded in 2011. Both companies are family-owned and operated, working together on many projects. Through the years both companies have experienced steady growth. MMB has become the #1 Brock grain bin dealer in Iowa and #3 worldwide.  MMB also operates a fleet of cranes from 50 ton to 245 ton.  MMF has become one of the premier new suppliers of grain handling equipment in the Midwest.

“We are now entering our 48th year and third generation of Vier’s involved in the grain handling industry in Nevada, Iowa,” said Kevin Vier, President and owner of MMB & MMF. “The patriarch of the family, Ted Vier, started in the grain bin and grain handling industry in 1970 with Speckeen Construction and started his own business V&H Construction with Dwayne Hansen in 1979. Having my two sons, Austin and Riley, my brother Randy, and a great team have been critical to the growth and success of both companies. Nevada and Story County have been the choice of the family(s) to live and run their businesses and it will continue to be called home.”

MMB and MMF proudly now employ in excess of 60 employees. Over the years the two companies have contributed financially to the community and county through many organizations. 

“The Mid-States Companies story is a great home-grown Nevada success story,” said BrettBarker, Mayor of Nevada. “The City of Nevada is extremely excited about the upcoming expansion and look forward to both Mid-States companies being vital members of the Nevada business community for many years to come.”

MMF plans to expand on the property to the east of its current operations at 1280 South B Avenue. This new shop will be 34,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing space, more than doubling its current operational size. The shop will have state of the art manufacturing equipment and welders. The company plans on expanding production output and hiring more employees to meet the growth of the company. Likewise, MMB will also expand to meet the needs of its customers which span across the Midwest to the west coast.

“MMF and MMB continue to be great representatives of business in Nevada and Story County,” said John Hall, Executive Director of the Nevada Economic Development Council. “It’s great to see a local company continuing to grow and expand.”

The project is contingent on approvals from the State of Iowa and the City of Nevada for incentive packages. The project is estimated to begin construction in summer of 2018 with planned completion by the end of the year. The companies are projecting to add 13 jobs in the next three years.

Ames, IA – The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission are pleased to welcome Dustin Ingram to the team as the Director of Business Development.

“Dustin’s prior experience, educational background, and passion for community make him an exceptional fit,” says Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “Our team continues to evolve and Dustin aligns well with an outstanding group of people we have assembled to help Ames and Story County continue to prosper. He is the kind of individual that will provide immediate impact.”

As Director of Business Development, Ingram serves as the liaison between the City of Ames and private developers in a jointly funded position between the City of Ames and the AEDC. In this role he will focus on the development of “small” or new business start-ups in the retail, commercial, and industrial sectors.

“I am excited to be in a position to work with Ames and Story County on projects that will improve our local quality of life,” says Ingram. “Ames and Story County are dynamic places that are experiencing a great deal of momentum. I look forward to building on that by both working closely with the city and tapping into the assets in our rural communities.”

Ingram hails from Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from Piedmont College. He then moved to Iowa to attend Iowa State University and is on track to graduate in December 2018 with a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning. Ingram was previously the Economic Development Director in Ackley, Iowa.
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Ingram started his new position on June 4 and may be reached at dustin@ameschamber.com.