Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hardin County economic-development official reports site leads, $10 million prospect and business outreach
Summary
County economic-development representative told supervisors the IFADC completed business outreach (36 visits), is appraising an industrial site in Iowa Falls and pursued several site inquiries including a roughly $10 million project that could bring 8–10 jobs; other leads include data-center and indoor‑ag prospects.
An economic-development representative briefed the Hardin County Board of Supervisors on multiple business leads and outreach efforts, saying the county is pursuing a mix of industrial and site-driven prospects while continuing workshops and local business retention work.
The speaker said the IFADC housing committee worked with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on a housing readiness assessment and is awaiting a final report. The county’s business-retention work has included 36 visits and a business workshop series with an average attendance of about 30 per session. One remaining workshop will address artificial intelligence.
On site prospects, the presenter said a project code-named "Twister" would have been about $10,000,000 in capital investment and could have created eight to ten jobs paying about $30 an hour, but the county has heard nothing further. The presenter also reported inquiries for a data center that would require roughly 100 acres; project "KHIT," a chemical site seeking 15–20 acres and 50–75 employees; and "butterfly," an indoor‑ag proposal looking at 70–100 acres with an expected ~50 jobs.
The presenter added the IFADC is working with Midland Power to assess whether sufficient electric capacity exists for large projects and is negotiating an option for a potential industrial site in Iowa Falls (an appraisal and utility data collection are underway). The county has two spec homes tied to an IFADC sale; the second had an offer with a closing anticipated in mid‑May.
The board asked about a state bill to shift more funding toward rural counties. The presenter said some lawmakers have proposed increased rural funding but expressed skepticism that the measure would pass because larger counties wield significant political influence and infrastructure advantages.
The board did not take action on the projects; the update was informational.
