Key Industries
As the state capital, Greater Des Moines (DSM) is not only located in the heart of Iowa, but also spans across an 11-county region and holds bragging-rights as one of the best business climates in the country. Need further proof? As a hub for bold leaders in insurance and financial services, ag innovation, advanced manufacturing, data centers, technology and logistics industries, employers located here are truly among world-class company. Take a look at what makes DSM a prime place for these key industries, and you might find it’s the perfect place for your business to do something greater.
Greater Des Moines’ (DSM) Top Key Industries
Insurance and Financial Services
Insurance and financial services play a significant role in the DSM economy. The area is an insurance hub, with almost 80 insurance companies headquartered in the region and the highest concentration of employment in insurance and financial services in the United States.
Ag Innovation
The region is dubbed America's Cultivation Corridor because of the high concentration of agriculture and biotech companies here, as well as the area's access to prime farmland, raw materials, academic excellence, talented workforce, customers and emphasis on agbioscience tech and innovation.
Advanced Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector in the region reinvests in local operations, growing employment at a rate higher than the U.S. average to meet the demands of the marketplace. Since 2021, 83 successful projects have been completed in DSM. The projects have generated $3.66B in capital investment, 3,2002 new/retained jobs and over 5.5 million square feet in facilities. Additionally, innovation is at the forefront of this acceleration, with companies like Musco, Clow Valve, 3M, Collins Aerospace, Emerson, Weiler and Cemen Tech outputting high tech products that power the world.
Data Centers
Major tech companies such as Apple, Facebook and Microsoft have found DSM to be a strategic and cost-effective location for data center operations.
Technology
DSM is home to nationally renowned accelerators and a pro-business environment that makes thriving in tech easy. Learn more about the region's innovative technology sector. CBRE ranks DSM as a top 25 up-and-coming tech market for tech talent and The Credit Review name DSM as a top 20 best place to start a small business in a high-growth sector.
Logistics
With its location at the crossroads of the nation and its immediate access to transportation infrastructure such as Interstates 80 and 35, DSM has been recognized as a prime location for logistics, warehouse and distribution facilities.