It’s been more than a year since Webster City and Hamilton County joined the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, the organization that promotes economic and community development in Hamilton, Story, Boone and Greene counties. If you wonder what there is to show for the ensuing work, would like to meet or network with local business leaders and enjoy a free, tasty buffet breakfast at Briggs Woods Conference Center on Wednesday, October 15, read on.

The keynote speaker will be Dan Culhane, president and chief executive officer of the Alliance. During his address, “Regionalism in Economic Development,” he’s expected to discuss how success in one town, city or county of the Alliance, stimulates economic activity in the others.

As an example, you may live in one county, shop in another, and see your doctor at a hospital or clinic in another.

Behind it all is a thriving regional economy.

Since Webster City and Hamilton County joined the Alliance, industrial development and housing have emerged as top priorities. In February 2025, the City Council of Webster City approved expanding the city’s industrial park to 600 acres and spending an estimated $220,000 to certify it.

The process of certification guarantees an industry looking to locate here that land it is considering will be available at least four years after certification is complete, and ensures the price won’t increase while the industry is making up its mind.

This is followed by a series of tests and studies to give companies the confidence they can come here with a minimum of hassles. These include assurances there are no leases or easements on the land, that the precise size and boundaries of land parcels are known, that the land meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, and that soil samples confirm where wetlands or streams exist in the industrial park.

Following these are investigations to confirm land in the industrial park could ever fall under jurisdiction of the federal government, is not home to any threatened or endangered species of animal, and contains no archaeological evidence of early human settlement that would qualify for preservation.

Finally, a topographical map of the industrial park will be made.

The actual work of certification is being completed by Snyder & Associates, of Ankeny. Snyder is a long-time consultant to the City of Webster City and, in addition to certifying the industrial park, is working closely with city staff on the annual hot-melt asphalt street repaving program. Snyder staff is also heading up the complete rebuilding of the city’s wastewater treatment and water treatment plants.

Where does all this lead? When certification is complete, the industrial park joins an elite group of certified development lands across Iowa that will be actively marketed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in Des Moines.

Iowa’s industrial land certification program is highly-regarded nationally, so it puts Webster City and Hamilton County into the “big leagues” of industrial development.

On the housing front, Kading Properties, of Urbandale, is on track to break ground on a new subdivision that will have more than 200 rental apartments on Webster City’s southwest side, either this fall or next spring. The development will be built out over a period of years and provide badly-needed new housing for both existing and new residents.

Not a single new home has been built in Webster City thus far in 2025, and six have been demolished, so the need is real.

There is no charge to attend the Business & Industry breakfast, but registration is required. You may register online at AmesAlliance.com or email Elizabeth@AmesAlliance.com.

The event is Wednesday, October 15. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.; the program begins at 7:45 a.m. and will conclude by 9 a.m. It all takes place at Briggs Woods Conference Center.