October 26, 2021 (Boone, IA) – The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad has received a funding award from the Iowa Department of Transportation that totals $551,112.

These funds are intended to improve rail operations for the industrial areas in Boone, which will make a positive impact for both their current and future customers. This project will also include a second track installation and rehabbing track to meet the growing industrial needs in Boone.

"The City of Boone is pleased with the funding award to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad by the Iowa Department of Transportation," said Bill Skare, Boone City Administrator. "The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad is a tremendous asset to the city and its citizens. Undoubtedly this funding will help bring additional economic development to the area."
​
The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad employs 9-10 people and works with more than 200 volunteers that support the tourism aspect of their business model.

“It is great to see the leadership of the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad continuing to invest in its infrastructure as it is a critically important asset for economic development in the Boone community,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the AEDC. “We are excited they received this financial assistance and look forward to their continued growth and expansion as they serve two very important sectors in the Boone community, industry and tourism.”

October 25, 2021 (Nevada, IA) - The Nevada Economic Development Council is pleased to announce that M&R Properties has broken ground for another building in the Nevada West Industrial Park. 
​
“We know that many small businesses are excited to come to Nevada, and we are proud to provide this opportunity for them to grow in this community,” said Matt Riesselman, Owner and Developer at M&R Properties.

Now the company’s second location in the Nevada West Industrial Park, this new building features 7,600 available square feet and offers five additional units for small businesses to utilize. 

“We are excited to see M & R Properties move ahead with another phase of their project in West Nevada,” said Brenda Dryer, Executive Director of the Nevada Economic Development Council. “We look forward to the new and existing businesses that may utilize this space.”

For more information, please contact Brenda Dryer, Executive Director of the Nevada Economic Development Council at 515.232.2310 or by email at brenda@ameschamber.com.

(October 1, 2021) – The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission are pleased to celebrate Manufacturing Day 2021 in partnership with The Manufacturing Institute. Manufacturing Day is nationally recognized the first Friday of October every year.

"It is imperative to recognize the importance of manufacturing to the rapidly developing economy, society, and future innovation," says Dan Culhane, President and CEO, Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. "Manufacturing continues to be a dominating industry in our state and Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 1,200 new jobs to be added in Central Iowa by 2026."

New advanced technologies create new jobs, requiring a skilled workforce interested in pursuing them. Statistics from The Manufacturing Institute gives a deeper look into the impact manufacturing has had on the economy. Precisely, 1.3 million manufacturing jobs have been added to the US economy over the past ten years with an additional four million jobs are expected to be added to the US job market in the next decade.

Not only is the manufacturing industry having a grand global and national impact, but manufacturing has a great weight on the local economy as well. A variety of manufacturing positions are open across Boone and Story County. There are over 500 available positions in this industry right now, offering a wide variety of opportunities for our local workforce and ongoing investment in our local economy. 

For more information on local job opportunities within the manufacturing industry in the Ames Metropolitan Statistical Area, visit WorkInAmesMSA.com.