Is Iowa really.... (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City: fit in, power lines, job openings)

[GaBoy-n-Iraq]

[SIZE=3]Hello Iowa,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] I will be leaving the military in about a year, I’m from Georgia but I’m thinking about maybe moving to another state. I have done a lot of research on Iowa, but would like to know what the residents think. What are some good places (cities) to live? Things like crime, schools, economy, state taxes, cost of living, are all important but a couple of things I’m looking for as well is “hospitality”, a sense of neighbor hood, and politeness. I’m looking for a place that has community events (festivals, parades, carnivals, fairs, concerts), with beautiful scenery, hunting, and fishing. I’m currently in the US Army serving in Iraq, I built power lines before I joined and I’m a (25L) Signal Corp Telecommunications Lineman inside the Army. I will be looking for work in the power lineman or telecommunications field when I separate from the military. My wife is a Registered Nurse (RN) and will be looking for a job as well. So any info on power companies, telephone companies, and hospitals in those areas would be greatly appreciated. Best place to raise a family? So what’s your states “Mayberry”? [/SIZE]

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by GaBoy-n-Iraq

[SIZE=3]Hello Iowa,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] I will be leaving the military in about a year, I’m from Georgia but I’m thinking about maybe moving to another state. I have done a lot of research on Iowa, but would like to know what the residents think. What are some good places (cities) to live? Things like crime, schools, economy, state taxes, cost of living, are all important but a couple of things I’m looking for as well is “hospitality”, a sense of neighbor hood, and politeness. I’m looking for a place that has community events (festivals, parades, carnivals, fairs, concerts), with beautiful scenery, hunting, and fishing. I’m currently in the US Army serving in Iraq, I built power lines before I joined and I’m a (25L) Signal Corp Telecommunications Lineman inside the Army. I will be looking for work in the power lineman or telecommunications field when I separate from the military. My wife is a Registered Nurse (RN) and will be looking for a job as well. So any info on power companies, telephone companies, and hospitals in those areas would be greatly appreciated. Best place to raise a family? So what’s your states “Mayberry”? [/SIZE]

Pretty much any of the larger cities (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Sioux City, Dubuque, etc) fit your description. Des Moines has some telecommunications jobs that might be up your alley. Des Moines is probably the worst for scenery out of this list, but there's good hunting and fishing nearby.

[metro223]

Major power companies in Iowa are MidAmerican Energy which I believe is based out of Des Moines, and Alliant Energy, which is based out of Cedar Rapids. Some towns may have there own power company, ex: Cedar Falls Utilities. But the first two I mentioned would be good companies to look into IMO.

There are hospitals obviously everywhere, so your wife shouldn't have any trouble that I can think of...

As for festivities/parades/concerts, basically anywhere in the state the county has fairs and community activities/etc .. even in the very rural areas. But for concerts you would probably find the majority of them being in Des Moines, Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, or Omaha area... but some major concerts still actually make it to some of the smaller cities like Waterloo or Burlington.

If there was one place in the state I had to tell you to avoid for raising children/economy/jobs etc.... it would be South/Southeastern IA. AS of right now, a lot of that part of the state is in somewhat of a decline.

Hope this helps a little bit! -- Good luck with your move!

[Steve_W]

GaBoy - Are you leaving Iraq for not adhering to the "Don't ask Don’t Tell" policy? Just messin' with ya.

Mid American Energy is expanding there infrastructure in western IA and just completed a new power plant. I'm almost positive they have many job openings.

Also, that could put you close to Council Bluffs, IA which is part of the Omaha metro. Omaha has the Quest Center which draws many big name performers.

[GaBoy-n-Iraq]

Originally Posted by Steve_W

GaBoy - Are you leaving Iraq for not adhering to the "Don't ask Don’t Tell" policy?

What??? Ooo do you mean "GaBoy", .......its for Ga. You know, Georgia.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????

[Steve_W]

It is the Qwest Center! Not Quest.

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by GaBoy-n-Iraq

What??? Ooo do you mean "GaBoy", .......its for Ga. You know, Georgia.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????

LOL, I know dude. I was really just kidding...it was the first thing I thought of when I read your name...maybe that makes me the gay boy. haha

[metro223]

Oh not going to lie I thought that was what it was too!!!

[WoodwardGirl]

Cedar Rapids has been a hotbed for telecommunications in the past and there are a lot of smallish companies here that value those skills. I'd also recommend looking at the RECs. Linn County REC is very forward-thinking and I imagine they'll be looking at some telecom/broadband and who-knows-what-else apps soon. And we've got a great health system including two hospitals that would welcome your wife. There are lots of terrific parks within just a few minutes of downtown, including Palisades-Kepler and the ignominiously-named but truly delightful Pleasant Creek state park. You really ought to give CR a look -- I think you'd fit in beautifully!

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by metro223

Oh not going to lie I thought that was what it was too!!!

Haha, that's what I thought too.


Anyways, I just noticed that this dude seems to have his finger in a lot of pies right now, as there's about half a dozen similar threads he's started where he has posted the same thing but just inserted a different state name. Take that as you will.