Iowa Economic Development Authority reps tour certified sites in Quad Cities

Officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) last week toured two of its certified sites in the Quad Cities region with members of the Chamber’s Economic Development team.

Visits to The Anderson 400 and Eastern Iowa Industrial Center (EIIC) in Scott County provided IEDA staff an opportunity to learn firsthand what each site has to offer.

“They (IEDA) work with a lot of companies and site selectors, so it’s important to apprise them of the available sites in our area,” said Jenelle Wolber, Director of Economic Development Services for the Chamber. “Seeing each of the industrial parks helps them better represent the sites when talking to prospects in the future.”

The tour began at The Anderson 400, Iowa’s newest certified green business park between LeClaire and Princeton. Accompanied by IEDA Business Development Managers Beth Balzer, Michael Gould and Rick Peterson, owner Marijo Anderson explained the meaning of the green business park certification and overall vision for the site. Complete with natural rolling hills, wetlands and woodlands, the 400-acre park perched on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River is intended for a corporate headquarters or multiple corporate offices. Companies interested in the development-ready site must commit to reducing the environmental impact of their project.

From there the group traveled about 20 miles west via Interstate 80 to EIIC in Davenport. Roy Wennlund, Executive Director of the Greater Davenport Redevelopment Corporation, which owns EIIC, spoke about the current tenants, available properties and possible expansion plans. The 72-acre site is best suited for manufacturing and distribution companies. Developments in the EIIC include a Kraft Heinz food processing plant, a Sterilite Corporation plastic housewares plant and distribution facility and the John T. Blong Technology Center. Operated by Eastern Iowa Community College, the latter is a regional hub for training current workers as well as students entering the job market. 

Throughout the day IEDA officials shared with Chamber staff industry trends, marketing tips and types of companies to target, Wolber said.

“While each park is targeting a different industry, we had robust conversations about how to make both of them successful,” she added.

For more information about The Anderson 400 & the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center.