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Destination Iowa
Your one-stop informational resource
Are you considering a move to Iowa? Relocating your
business to Iowa? Starting a company? Or just interested in the Hawkeye
State?
This section will answer many of your questions regarding the life science industry in
Iowa, the state's economy, tax structure and cost of living, education,
transportation, climate, recreational opportunities, history and more.
If after using this resource you have specific questions or suggestions,
please e-mail us at Info@InfoResource.org and
we will respond as quickly as we can to your inquiry or suggestion.
Industry Overview |
Economy/Cost of Living |
Education
Recreation & Entertainment |
Transportation |
Geography & Climate
History |
Suggested Reading List
Thriving, modern cities dot the vast plains of Iowa, surrounded by endless golden cornfields
and neat grids of fertile farmland spread across the state. It is this lush, pastoral scene
that captures the imagination in the motion picture Field of Dreams with the question
and answer, "Is this heaven?" "No, it's Iowa." Home to more than 2.9 million people, this
leading farm state supports an energetic business climate with an established, growing
biotechnology industry.
Industry Overview
Iowa has a long tradition in the life sciences. From George Washington Carver's and
Henry Wallace's work with crop genetics to the extensive work in biocatalysis and bioprocessing
that currently takes place everyday, the application of modern science is represented across
the state of Iowa. More than 200 companies involved with some aspect of life sciences are
doing business from Iowa locations. Nationally, Iowa is ranked 15th in the concentration
of biotechnology companies in the United States.
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Economy/Cost of Living
Iowa's stable agricultural economy, which leads the nation in pork, corn and soybean
production, is supported by growing food processing and machinery manufacturing industrial
activity. Affordable quality housing is available throughout the state and Des Moines
consistently is among the top 10 metropolitan areas for affordable housing in the United States.
Small business plays an important role in the state's economic growth, including dynamic
activity in biotechnology.
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Education
Iowa excels nationally with its K-12 public schools. This achievement is matched by
nationally and internationally recognized research universities. Iowa State University
is a leader in agriculture and veterinary medicine, and the University of Iowa a leader
in the health sciences. Both universities actively support public-private biotechnology
alliances and technology transfer programs.
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Recreation & Entertainment
A natural playground for fishing, hiking, hunting, bicycling, skiing and snowmobiling,
Iowa offers a wide assortment of sports and year round recreationional opportunities.
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University give fans the excitement of major college
football, basketball, and wrestling. The Iowa State Fair is one of the leading agricultural
and art expositions in America. The Des Moines Art Festival with an array of jazz and blues
concerts is one of the nation's top summer arts festivals.
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Transportation
Served by more than a dozen major and regional airlines, Union Pacific, Burlington
Northern Santa Fe and other railroads, and barges on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers,
and criss-crossed by America's two most traveled Interstate highways, centrally located
Iowa is easily accessible from anywhere in the United States and offers quick, convenient
access to both domestic and international markets.
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Geography & Climate
Hot, humid summers offset by cold, snowy winters contribute to Iowa's rich farmland and
make Iowa a great outdoor playground in each of its four distinct seasons, from the flat
stretching reaches in the western part of the state to rolling hill country in the east.
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History
From its earliest territorial days, Iowa has been a leading producer of agricultural
crops and livestock. New markets for farmers were opened early in the state's history
by steamboats and barges on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Even more agricultural
trade developed later with transcontinental rail service. Since World War II, food processing
and farm machinery have diversified Iowa's economic base.
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Suggested Reading
A list of select guides and reference books about Iowa and the Midwest area.
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Photo Credit: Iowa Division of Tourism.