Danfoss Power Solutions campus in Ames is undergoing an expansion project that will double the space for engineers to do work on innovative solutions with a focus on sustainability.

Known internally as Americas Application Development Center (ADC), the area will focus on research and development and will be available to current and potential customers to experience Danfoss solutions on demonstration vehicles.

Danfoss Power Solutions is the largest private sector employer in Story County and is celebrating 52-years in Ames. The ADC hosts many visitors each year – more than 60 customer visits alone since the start of 2022. These visits can be powerful for driving sales. The team attributes $100 million in sales wins to ADC visits since the test facility’s opening 10 years ago.

“Our demonstration vehicles allow us the opportunity to show a customer and have them experience what it is our Danfoss technology can do for them,” said Jeff Herrin, senior vice president of Research & Development. “We dig. We show performance on different slopes. It’s significantly more powerful than sitting in a conference room listening to a presentation.”

After a $5 million investment to develop the ADC test track in the years leading up to its opening, this project is focused on increasing the work area. The 8,700-square-foot addition will more than double the ADC’s existing shop space with three additional work bays, a vehicle wash bay, and more. The bays will have high clearance to accommodate combines and large machines.

​“We outgrew our existing space about five years ago,” said Jay Moline, senior director of Application Engineering – Americas. He’s thrilled about how this expansion will help his team better do their jobs and put their best foot forward with customers.

“We have many customers, and customer confidentiality in a single space has become very difficult,” said Jay. “Our new space will now have four separate spaces, which we desperately need. We’ve also designed the space with the customer in mind by including a dedicated customer welcome area.”

Danfoss’ commitment to sustainability is evident in this project to align with our goals of being carbon neutral by 2030. The HVAC system, insulation, natural lights, and skylights were all chosen with energy efficiency as the primary goal. The facility will be electric-powered and have electric vehicle charging capabilities.

​Overall construction is expected to be finished in January 2024.

YSS celebrated their ninth Kids Club location with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 1 at the Colo-NESCO Middle/High School.

“It’s been a year’s worth of planning and pulling things together and we’re really excited to kick this thing off,” said Marc Snavely, Colo-NESCO Superintendent and Elementary Principal. 

YSS Kids Club program offers a safe, enriching place for over 600 children (grades K-6) with nine locations in eight districts for Ballard, Boone, Colo-Nesco, Gilbert, Madrid, Ogden, Roland-Story, and United.

Licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS), YSS Kids Club provides children with a safe and stimulating environment before/after school and during no-school days. The Story County Board of Supervisors allocated $50,000 to the Colo-NESCO project for start-up costs for the first two years.

Snavely is passionate about the project, knowing how important childcare can be for both the kids and parents, and is excited to bring YSS Kids Club to the district. “My wife and I don’t know what we would’ve done without before and after school care. It was a lifesaver for us," said Snavely. 

After the ribbon cutting, kids and parents were able to see the YSS Kids Club room, play games, try out some of the toys, and have pizza.

Learn more about the YSS Kids Club by clicking here.
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To sign up for YSS Kids Club, click here.
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Love working with kids? Search YSS Kids Club jobs by clicking here.

In a Statewide announcement made Friday, August 11th the following Ames MSA housing projects were awarded Workforce Housing Tax Credits from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Awarded $1.0 M in state funding assistance, Nevada Flats, LLC will add sixty market rate apartments in the Nevada community when complete. The proposed phased project will support the rehabilitation of the Story County Medical Center North Campus as the Senior Care aspect of their business is relocated to new facilities being constructed south of the Story County Medical Center. The first phase of the project could begin later this year in the vacated clinic facility.

Empire Reality, LLC will be constructing eight market rate rental units on four infill lots in West Boone. The Ringold Estates project will consist of four twin homes. Josh and Heidi Walters, owners of Empire Realty, LLC said, “This State of Iowa funding is critical to move our Ringold Estates project forward. We wish to extend our gratitude to the City of Boone, Boone County Economic Growth Corporation, and the team at the Ames Economic Development Commission for providing us the support we needed at all phases of project planning to submit a successful application.” Empire Reality, LLC was awarded $303,330 in state funding.

Gateway Cottages is an 18-unit expansion of the existing Kading Development in Madrid. Awarded $584,641 in funding, this rental project will assist in meeting the growing residential needs in this Boone County community.

“Our team has been pleased to work with the communities and housing developers involved with these workforce housing tax credit projects,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Economic Development Commission. “These successful applications will bring $1.8 M in State funding to our region, which is truly fantastic news for the communities involved. The 86 units of rental housing to be created, as a result of these projects, will further assist our efforts to attract and retain people to the Ames MSA.”

The Workforce Housing Tax Credit program has a focus on projects that redevelop abandoned, empty, or dilapidated properties. For more program information, please contact Brenda Dryer, Ames Economic Development Commission Sr. Vice President at brenda@ameschamber.com