The Heartland of America or the Nation’s Breadbasket? Take your pick. Because the Hawkeye State happens to be both. That’s right, Iowa is part of that charming collection of Midwestern States that provide much of the food that’s on America’s tables. In fact, with 92% of its land devoted to agriculture, you might say Iowa deserves to the top slot.
But as fertile as those verdant fields are, don’t think for a moment that the state is limiting itself to farming, however lucrative the practice may be for everyone. Like the rest of the world, Iowa has diversified. And just as the state leads the way in agriculture, it’s setting the stage to lead in diversity as well.
“Iowa has developed a robust mix of industries from its strong agriculture foundation,” says the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “Why? We understand our strengths. So we’ve put focused strategies in place to spur industry growth and job creation. We’re also making it easier for entrepreneurs and global leaders to invest in R&D and plan for the future.”
And how. Those growth-spurring focused strategies include Economic Development Set Asides (EDSA), which “provide financial assistance to businesses and industries that require assistance to create or retain job opportunities in the state,” as well as some very robust New Jobs Tax Credits for any business that participates in the EDA’s comprehensive New Jobs Training Program.
Rewarding with Awards
The EDA has also set up an Innovation Acceleration Fund, which “promotes formation and growth of businesses that engage in the transfer of technology to competitive, profitable companies that create high-paying jobs,” plus small business funding assistance initiatives such as the Proof of Commercial Relevance and Small Business Research and Technology Transfer Outreach Program, which reviews ideas and offers professional proposal assistance, as well as matching funds for awarded companies.
The efforts must be working, because the sectors of Renewable Energy, Advance Manufacturing and Information and Technology have all continued to rise. Furthermore, the manner in which Iowan stakeholders are handling things indicates things will continue to rise too. Otherwise 24/7 Wall Street wouldn’t have found Iowa to be the 5th Best Run State in all the nation!
Picture Postcard Cities
Iowa consists of a variety of picture postcard cities and towns, each as charming as the next. With neighborhoods equally welcoming and homes equally livable, choosing just where to reside is really more a question of where you and/or your company happen to be based. Otherwise, the playing field is about as level as it gets.
Of course, there are always degrees of true livability, wherever you go. Fortunately the good folks at Niche have tallied all the plusses and come up with a remarkably reliable list of Iowa’s 25 Best Places to Live.
As you might suspect, the list is dominated by Iowa’s cities, which range in size from 67K (Ames) to 217K (Des Moines). In between lie Cedar Rapids (101K), Davenport (81K) and Sioux City (78). So whichever you choose, you’ll still be staying on the charming side of the size equation.
The Niche
Niche likes the Des Moines suburbs of Clive (#4), Waukee (#6), Waterbury (#8), Johnston (#10), Waveland Park (#11), Urbandale (#14), Salisbury Oaks (#15) and Ankeny (#18), as well as the neighborhoods of Sherman Hill (#22), Woodland Heights (#24) and North of Grand (#25). (There’s also a West Des Moines (#7), but that’s a whole ‘nother town of 68K.) Cherry Moving likes these metro areas too. And apparently so do a lot of other folks. The Des Moines Register reports that the metro market has not only already rebounded back to its early 2020 high, but pending homes sales are exceeding the rate reached at the same time in 2019. With 80% of suburban residents owning their homes, it’s highly unlikely those rates will go anywhere but even further up!
Des Moines may be Iowa’s most populous city (as well as its capital), but don’t count out Cedar Rapids or Davenport. In fact, Niche places the Cedar Rapids suburbs of University Heights and Coralville #2 and #3 on its Best Places to Live list, and Davenport suburb of Bettendorf ranks in at #5. All three areas earned an A+ in everything from schools (great!) to crime (near zero). And while the Heights tends to skew more professional class (with homes nearling a $300K median), Bettendorf seems to be made up more of families (with homes closer to a $200K median).
Cherry Moving in Iowa
Cherry Moving isn’t partial to one particular Iowa town or city either. We’ve got clients moving to each and every part of the Hawkeye State. Again, it really all depends on where you need to be. If you’re working for or with the mammoth Meredith Corporation, publishers of such American staples as Better Homes & Gardens, Entertainment Weekly and Travel + Leisure, well, you’ll want to be in Des Moines, right by company headquarters. Same applies if you’re involved with branches of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Well Fargo Financial, or city favorite Fidelity & Guaranty Life, which was born and raised in Des Moines.
On the other hand, if you’re employed by or through a next gen company such as Clipper Windpower (makers of the country’s largest wind turbine) or a heritage concern like CRST International (who fleets over 4500 trucks), then you’ll want to be in Cedar Rapids. But if you’re simply looking for a safe and bucolic place that perfectly represents the American Heartland, well, then you’d be more than content wherever in Iowa you choose.
Whatever you decide though, please remember that Cherry Moving is ready, willing and eager to make your move a seamless and effortless affair. In fact, it would be our honor!
