Hiring Hot Spots in the Silicon Prairie from Des Moines to the Twin Cities

Iowa: Des Moines to Ames

A combination of tax breaks, cheap green energy, and vast expanses of open land has attracted the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Facebook to plant data centers in and around the suburbs of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and largest city. In fact, Des Moines ranked 8 among the top 12 cities for tech hiring in 2018, according to a Robert Half Technology report. Apple is the most recent tech giant to enter the region, with plans to build a $1.3 billion data center in Waukee already underway. The presence of these tech giants have kick-started a whole ecosystem of smaller, homegrown data center companies such as LightEdge Solutions and Involta. Iowa University in Ames serves as a steady pipeline of top tech talent. READ MORE

 

Vermeer Corporation “Takes a Direct Hit” From Tornado

At approximately 4 p.m. today, Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa was in the direct path of a tornado. The company suffered significant damage to several plants and the waste management facility on the campus is a complete loss.

During the tornado, more than 400 dealers and customers were onsite to celebrate the company's 70th anniversary. Vermeer CEO Jason Andringa says that as the storm approached employees, dealers and customers were guided to several tornado shelters on the campus. Still, seven people were taken to Pella Regional hospital for minor injuries, according to local emergency officials. READ MORE