Is there any manufacturing in Des Moines? (Cedar Rapids, Ankeny: insurance, credit)

[zz4guy]

I drove through the town twice last weekend (once thru I 235 and once on I80/35 and didn't see many smokestacks, factories or industrial parks.

The city reminded me a lot of Madison, WI in that regard. No factories, just a lot of office buildings and houses.

What is up with that? Is Des Moine known for any industry besides Insurance and financial stuff?

[El Rhino]

There's a large Firestone factory right south of I-80 and a Titan Tire factory tucked away somewhere on the east side.

Also on the East side there's food processing, slaughterhouses and some chemical works. There's also a few places that work with steel scattered throughout the area. But yeah, most of this is tucked away from the interstate/freeway.

[Chicago60614]

Des Moines is very much insurance/finance/etc. Just look at the big skyline downtown, and all the countless office parks in the western suburbs.

[Tek_Freek]

Just Southwest of the NE mixmaster (confused yet?) is a company called Economy Forms (EFCO).

They are the world's largest producer of steel forms for concrete construction and have a large manufacturing plant on Broadway.

Here is their site:

EFCO Forms: Global Leader of Concrete Forming, Decking, Formwork, Shoring

North of DSM a ways there is a huge John Deere plant. There seems to be a wiki???? for everything.

John Deere Ankeny Works

[DSMGuy]

Why do you ask?

It is kind of nice that insurance companies don't pump a lot of gunk in the air.

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by DSMGuy

Why do you ask?

It is kind of nice that insurance companies don't pump a lot of gunk in the air.

The clean air might be nice, but the one-industry economy scares me. Especially with the credit crunch and all of the Finance companies laying off workers. Not to mention your only option of going to work in a cube all day for a job

Cedar Rapids area is lucky to have many different industries like Agriculture Products, Finance, Electronics Manufacturing, Equipment Manufacturing, Food Production, High Tech, Engineering, etc.

[DSMGuy]

Your attempt to marginalize DM as a one industry town was a nice try. Silly, but nice try.

And I suppose the working environment in "trendy" Cedar Rapids includes daisies set in pastoral settings and daily hugs from the Snuggle fabric softener bear.

[pepe1]

Des Moines has the most diverse economy in the state (for whatever that is worth). If you need evidence, look to economic and population data from the 1980's. Des Moines weathered the farm crisis better than any other city in Iowa because it had a more diverse economy.

I'll even go as far to guesstimate this; Despite the fact that manufacturing does not dominate the Des Moines economy, Des Moines likely has more manufacuring jobs than Cedar Rapids

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by pepe1

I'll even go as far to guesstimate this; Despite the fact that manufacturing does not dominate the Des Moines economy, Des Moines likely has more manufacuring jobs than Cedar Rapids

Would you also go so far as to list what makes it so diverse? ie WHAT industries and specific companies? And where you get your data?

[Stevie]

Just because Des Moines' economy wasn't based on industry doesn't mean it's a one industry town.

Cedar Rapids was very lucky to dodge the rust belt bullet. That's why it offers a lot of jobs in manufacturing.