Fresh off receiving the Alliance for Regional
Stewardship’s 2013
Organizational Champion Award for implementation of the Capital Crossroads
strategy facilitated by Market Street, the Greater Des Moines Partnership
celebrated again this month when Forbes announced that the Des Moines metro
area is this year’s Best
Place for Business and Careers.
Touting the region’s robust job growth, low business
costs, and educated workforce, Forbes joined a rising chorus of periodicals and
websites singing Central Iowa’s praises. While Forbes is a tad higher profile
than the Alliance for Regional Stewardship, both entities recognized that
there’s something exciting going on in the Des Moines metro. I live here, so I
can confirm it. Whether it’s development in Downtown Des Moines, new data
centers in Altoona or West Des Moines, or a young professional who tells the
Des Moines Register they came back to Des Moines after vowing never again to
live in their home city, this place is on a roll.
While it’s always good to temper expectations with a
healthy dose of realistic perspective, there’s no reason to think that the Des
Moines metro’s fortunes will backslide any time soon as the financial services
sector continues to recover from the recession, healthcare remains strong, and
the agricultural economy grows by leaps and bounds.
If anyone is thinking about seeing what all the fuss is
about, now is a good time to head up, down, or over to Des Moines. The state
fair is underway, so you can time your visit with a photo op of the famous
Butter Cow sculpture, or this year’s other butter-molded masterpiece, Abe
Lincoln. Just about any foodstuff that can be punctured by a stick and fried is
available, so be sure to bring a healthy appetite and pants with an elastic
waistband.
