Advance reports 45 active projects, 10 landed in 2025 and 158 jobs retained or created
Summary
Advance/Southwest Iowa Corporation told the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors it had 45 active projects in the pipeline as of Nov. 30, landed 10 projects in 2025 that created or retained about 158 full‑time‑equivalent jobs, and flagged a large data‑center (Project Edge) under construction with a public-record developer agreement.
Advance/Southwest Iowa Corporation gave the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors a year‑end update, saying the organization had 45 active projects in its pipeline and had landed 10 projects this year that together created or retained about 158 full‑time‑equivalent jobs.
Paula Hazelwood, presenter for Advance, said the figures represent work the Advance team is directly engaged in and exclude projects they do not actively manage. She said certain capital‑investment numbers could not be disclosed because one landed project is under a nondisclosure agreement, but said Advance’s component of the capital investment is substantial and that the developer’s agreement for the Project Edge data center includes a $200,000,000 minimum assessment that is public record.
Hazelwood described program work across business attraction, retention and entrepreneurship, noting the Kitchen Council will adopt a new membership model and that Advance raised $20,000 in prize money for a regional pitch competition. She said two staff transitions occurred in 2025 and introduced Connor Mowery as a new entrepreneurship manager.
Supervisors asked about business exits and layoffs; presenters said they do not maintain a comprehensive public list of business closures but that significant employer departures typically trigger WARN notices and broader notifications. Board members asked about workforce development and partnerships; Hazelwood said Advance coordinates with Iowa Western Community College and the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership.
The update included several specific projects in Council Bluffs and rural Pottawattamie County: K & M Tires (25 FTEs), Project Tallgrass (anticipated about 60 FTEs when fully operational), Project Edge (a large data‑center project under construction adjacent to Iowa Western Community College), and smaller professional‑service and health‑service relocations. Hazelwood said the Advance team would provide a December end‑of‑year report to county officials by email.
The presentation closed with an offer to answer follow‑up questions and with staff noting they will continue to focus on site readiness for rural sites and on coordinated marketing to site selectors in 2026.
