Advanced Southwest reports 54 active projects in 2024, highlights local developments and grid constraints for large power users

Paula Hazelwood, president and CEO of Advanced Southwest (the regional economic development and chamber partner), briefed the Council Bluffs City Council on the organization’s 2024 activity and current pipeline.

Hazelwood said Advanced Southwest ended 2024 with 54 active projects across urban, rural and entrepreneurial portfolios and reported 15 projects closed during the year. “We ended 2024 with 54 active projects, meaning that we're still working with those 54,” Hazelwood said.

Why it matters: Hazelwood described projects and investments that affect Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County and raised concerns about electric‑grid capacity for planned “megawatt‑scale” facilities, a potential constraint for data centers and other large power users the region is trying to recruit.

Local projects and numbers Hazelwood highlighted

- Acadia: a mental‑health and substance‑use facility at 20 Fourth and Richard Downing — described in the presentation as a 90,000‑square‑foot project with approximately $64,500,000 in capital investment and 44 full‑time equivalent positions. Advanced Southwest assisted with site identification and incentive connections.

- Barton Solvents: existing facility on Ninth Avenue built a new 5,000‑square‑foot office in a roughly $1,600,000 investment; the company declined incentives at the corporate level, Hazelwood said.

- Nestory Park project: an 89‑acre site adjacent to Iowa Western Community College that closed in late 2024 and where Hazelwood said an end user recently closed on the property; she said details would be announced at a future meeting.

- Leading Edge and Echo Electric: Hazelwood described a chain of local moves and leases that allowed a local firm to expand while keeping businesses and jobs in Council Bluffs.

- TSL: Hazelwood said a multi‑phase project begun in 2019 is nearing completion of phase 1 (cited as roughly $11,500,000 in capital investment) and that phase 2 is expected to start soon.

Entrepreneurship and facilities

Hazelwood reported that Advanced Southwest maintains a “kitchen council” with 17 current members, engages 67+ food entrepreneurs, and has reactivated its REV pitch competition with $20,000 in prize money raised in 2024. She said the organization has raised about $750,000 of the $1.9 million needed to construct a new co‑working space at 20 Arena Way and is still soliciting funding to begin construction.

Energy and recruiting large power users

Hazelwood and council members discussed grid capacity and interconnection timelines. Hazelwood described interest from large “megawatt” users and said the city has seen requests for very large hookups; she said Advanced Southwest is pursuing alternative and interim energy solutions and working with partners to accelerate project timelines. Council members and Hazelwood cited utility timelines: Hazelwood said MidAmerican Energy previously estimated an 18‑month substation build time but that study times have stretched to several years; she also described the chamber and partners bringing in a small modular nuclear company as one of several potential alternatives to ease supply constraints.

Council reaction and next steps

Council members thanked Hazelwood and Advanced Southwest staff for regular coordination on economic development. Hazelwood said she will return with additional updates and possible announcements as pipeline projects progress.

Ending

Hazelwood closed by reiterating Advanced Southwest’s role as a connector for public‑private projects and by offering to brief council members again on energy and major pipeline opportunities as they advance.