Target Industries
The Cedar Valley Region is a leader in advanced manufacturing, logistics, agri-based biotechnology, information technology and entrepreneurial development. Innovation and growth are supported by the Region’s connections to university research and technology resources.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Cedar Valley Region’s physical & intellectual infrastructure, workforce knowledge and skills and business climate including right-to-work state are driving continued growth of this industry in the Region.
| Leading Advanced Manufacturers in Cedar Valley Region |
| American Tool & Engineering, Inc. |
Molds |
| Deere & Company |
Tractors |
| Feldmeier Equipment |
Industrial Tanks |
| Unverferth Manufacturing |
Agricultural Equipment |
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| Recent Success Stories |
| Hy Pro Inc. |
Precision Machining |
| Con Agra Grocery Products |
Aseptic Pudding |
| Iowa Laser |
Precision Laser Cutting |
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Logistics
The Cedar Valley Region’s central U.S. location provides logistics-sensitive businesses with efficient connections to key Midwest, national and international markets by truck, rail and air.
| Leading Logistics Operations in Cedar Valley Region |
| Target Corporation |
Dry Goods Distribution Center |
| Ryder Integrated Logistics |
Integrated Logistics |
| Ferguson Enterprises |
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| Bossard-IIP, Inc. |
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| Recent Success Stories |
| Target Corp. Perishable Goods Distribution Center |
Perishable Goods Distribution Center |
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Agri-Based Biotechnology
The Cedar Valley Region is situated in the heart of the biomass supply as shown on the map. A skilled workforce, supportive business climate and strong research and technology resources make the Region at the center of innovation and commercialization of the bioeconomy.
| Leading Bioproduction Firms in Cedar Valley Region |
| Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing Inc. |
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| Novartis Seeds, Inc. |
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| Recent Success Stories |
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Information Technology
“The Cedar Valley Region has the characteristics of a little Silicon Valley in California where the technology industry has developed a certain infrastructure that attracts like companies. With what we have in place this is becoming the happening spot for IT companies.” Mark Kittrell
Team Technologies
The Cedar Valley Region has become a fast-growing hub for information technology-intensive businesses including administrative data and processing centers, data storage and recovery operations, software and internet developers, and insurance, financial services, health-related and professional services firms.
| Leading Information Technology Firms in Cedar Valley Region |
| TEAM Technologies Data Center |
Data Center |
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| Recent Success Stories |
| Distek Integration Inc. – |
Computer Software & Systems |
| ANE Technologies |
Security Software/Services |
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Entrepreneurial & Innovations
The region also has a growing entrepreneurial and innovations cluster supported by the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center (RBC), a one-stop shop for the region’s entrepreneurs. The Center offers technical, financial and support services through classes, counseling and a business resource library. For more information, visit the UNI RBC website.
| Recent Entrepreneurial and Innovation Successes |
| Ohler Machinery Company, Janesville |
Manufacturer of straight centrifugal and self-priming pumps servicing municipal, construction, agriculture and marine industries. |
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University Research and Technology
The Region is home to the University of Northern Iowa (link to http://www.uni.edu/resources/outreach/business.shtml) providing a wealth of research and technology resources including:
- National Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants Center (NABL)— Established in 1991, NABL is recognized nationally as a technical service organization offering closed-loop expertise focusing on bio-based lubricants The Center is one of the best equipped vegetable oil-based lubricant and grease-testing facilities in the county and has the distinction of being the National Testing Center for bio-based industrial lubricants which sets the national industry standards.
- Metalcasting Center—The center is a nationally recognized leader in foundry research, applied technology and technical business assistance.
- Recycling and Reuse Technology Center (RTTC)—Assists Iowa manufacturers in the research and development of products containing recycled content materials through the Materials Innovation Service (MIS), a program developed in cooperation with Recycle Iowa. MIS assists companies with replacing mainstream materials with new and innovative composites such as cast metal, plastics and bio-materials have affordable access to the latest in mechanical, physical, and chemical properties testing for the purpose of by-product reutilization. Testing services include chemical, mechanical, and physical property tests for a wide range of materials.
The Cedar Valley Region also has strong connections with Iowa State University and University of Iowa. Both universities are located within 90 minutes of the region:
- Iowa State University is recognized both nationally and internationally for its strong programs in agriculture and engineering and in the basic sciences. In recent years, Iowa State has launched bold new research and technology transfer initiatives including agricultural biotechnology, bioinformatics, materials science, food safety, biorenewables and information sciences.
- The University of Iowa’s research strengths are world-renowned in the health sciences and biosciences, in educational testing and measurement, and in engineering and space exploration.