The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced the winners of its 2024 Economic Impact Awards.

The Partnership revealed this year’s honorees in a news release Wednesday. They will be recognized the winners in-person during an awards presentation at the 11-county economic development organization’s inaugural Regional Summit on Oct. 3 at the Knapp Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, according to the release.

This is the 42nd year of the Economic Impact Awards, which were created to honor companies that have recently made significant contributions to the economic vitality of Greater Des Moines in terms of capital investment, job creation and facility expansion.

The 2024 award winners are:

Bud & Mary’s Cannabis
Bud & Mary’s is Iowa’s first medical cannabis manufacturer and dispensary operator. In 2022, the company recognized that its current capacity wouldn’t be able to serve the needs of the growing medical patient base, so it began an expansion of the cultivation space, along with packaging, vault storage and office space, according to the Partnership. The project was key to ensuring the company could provide safe, tested and legitimate THC projects from marijuana plants grown in its Iowa facility. Bud & Mary’s has invested more than $10 million into the facility, the release said. The company was able to triple its flowering cannabis space to more than 10,000 square feet and through this expansion, grow its team by more than 15 people. The Partnership says Bud & Mary’s expects more hires. According to the release, jobs at Bud & Mary’s “pay more than a living wage,” with full benefits – something still not common in the cannabis industry. The company also transformed its space from an empty warehouse a facility that should sustain their business for years to come. Pictured: Lucas Nelson, Bud & Mary group president

Hy-Vee Inc.
Hy-Vee’s Cumming Distribution Center, opened in May 2024, is Hy-Vee’s largest investment in its distribution operations in the company’s history, according to the release. The facility supports approximately 260 workers and offers more than 560,000 square feet of warehouse space to house Hy-Vee’s growing specialty foods offerings. The new facility includes warehouse space, showers and breakroom facilities for inbound freight drivers, a light duty truck shop and truck wash, specialized storage areas for aerosol and flammable products, and a temperature-controlled storage area for chocolate and candy products. The location just south of Des Moines was strategic for Hy-Vee in relation to its existing distribution facilities, its corporate headquarters and the intersection of multiple nearby highways and interstates, the release said. Pictured: Steven Venegas, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of supply chain and transportation

Ihle Fabrications LLC
Ihle Fabrications LLC’s building expansion of 78,000 square feet includes additional warehouse space, manufacturing space, employee breakroom and restrooms. Along with that were purchases of new equipment which consists of an overhead crane, automated steel loading system, welding area, racking for finished goods/augers/steel/tubes, several dock doors for shipping area, new rollers, a press brake and welding tables, the release says. The company also went from 38 employees in 2023 to 55 as of August 2024, with additional openings to be filled. Pictured: Ihle Fabrications co-owner Mike Ihle

Maverik – Adventure’s First Stop
Maverik’s acquisition of Kum & Go (K&G) made the company the 12th largest convenience store operator in the country, now serving customers in over 800 stores across 20 states with nearly 15,000 employees, according to the Partnership. The growth and integration of the two leading brands is focused on delivering an “elevated, differentiated, and adventurous c-store experience” to more customers from the Midwest to the West Coast, with Kum & Go’s longstanding presence in the Greater Des Moines area bolstering Maverik’s ongoing expansion in the region, the release says. “As a longstanding community partner and subsidiary of FJ Management, Maverik is proud to help fund the mission of Call to Action Philanthropies, which is dedicated to increasing access to food, education, and affordable housing,” the release says. Since 2007, the organizations have invested nearly $100 million to support these causes in the communities where Maverik employees live and work, including nearly $15 million in affordable housing projects in West Des Moines. Pictured: Maverik Chief Development Officer Niki Mason

Michael Foods Inc.
Michael Foods Inc. is the nation’s largest processor of egg products, producing and distributing value-added egg and refrigerated potato products to foodservice and food ingredient customers, according to the Partnership. Michael Foods, a subsidiary of Post Holdings, is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn. Through a series of business building platforms and a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network, Michael Foods also offers culinary and marketing solutions while delivering supply chain efficiencies, back-of-restaurant convenience and food safety. Michael Foods opened a 150,000 square-foot facility, which processes eggs and precooked egg products in 2019 in Norwalk. Recently, the decision to expand was made and will add approximately 132,000 square feet and is expected to create an estimated 120 new jobs. Construction on the new project is in progress and will be completed in 2025. Pictured: Todd Kinker, plant manager

Summit Products Inc.
Started in a garage, Summit Products has grown into a company that supplies nearly every coach manufacturer across the country. According to the release, In 2022, Summit Products added a 72,000 square foot building to their manufacturing campus in Altoona. Today, the company produces a wide range of accessories for high-end motor coaches “designed to enhance the appearance while adding grace,” the Partnership said. “With several new product ideas always incubating, the executive team transforms new ideas into products that customers buy.” In the last year, Summit Products moved their Matrix topper from prototype into production. The product is expected to allow Summit Products to add 125 jobs to support the demand. “This helps everyone in the community and showcases Summit Products Inc.’s commitment to innovation,” the release said. Pictured: Summit Products CEO Dave Thompson

Practitioner of the Year Award: Carla Eysink
Carla Eysink, pictured, is currently the director of Marion County Development (MCD). Her combination of data analytics skills and creative thinking have provided innovation for Marion County’s approach to economic development, according to the release. Under her leadership, the MCD was selected as one of the first MyEntreNet pilot counties as well as a recipient of the National Go-Getter Award through Synchronist for their rural business retention and expansion employer call program. Through these business retention and expansion efforts, projects in housing, child care, exit planning and training have been developed. Eysink was awarded the 2004 Iowa Tourism Leadership Award for her innovative work in tourism as well as the 2023 iTIP Joe Tayler Vision Award and over 15 different Iowa Tourism Awards. Through the work of many leaders, Marion County has increased traveler expenditures from $15 million to $55 million, according to the release.  

Jennings Kallen Advisors Entrepreneurial Award: Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds offers a “unique, people-powered” marketing platform led by two Iowa women. It connects businesses seeking sustainable, authentic growth with hyper-local content creators. “By tapping into these local creators’ trusted networks of friends and followers, Hummingbirds generates visibility and sales for brands in specific geographies, helping businesses increase revenue and their social media followings to upwards of 1400% and by 80%, respectively,” the release says. Hummingbirds has now expanded to 18 cities across the Midwest and employs 12 full-time workers in Iowa. “These results are all pivotal indicators for small business and Iowa’s economic success,” the release says. Hummingbirds has also raised more than $4.4 million in financing to date from multiple venture capital firms, including ISA Ventures, Next Level Ventures, InnoVenture Iowa and several Iowa angel investors. Pictured: Hummingbirds co-founders Charise Flynn and Emily Steele

Strategic Headquarters Investment Award: West Bank
West Bank’s strategic investment in a new corporate headquarters “reinforces its deep roots in the City of West Des Moines,” the release said. West Bank’s rich history spans over 130 years, making it the oldest business of any type to be founded and remain headquartered in West Des Moines. The new headquarters on Westown Parkway opened in April 2024 and is “a point of pride where teams will work, collaborate, and continue to provide excellent service to its customers for years to come,” the release said. By choosing a location in need of revitalization, West Bank is contributing to the growth and prosperity of the community, while also providing strong leadership and an investment model for other businesses to follow. The new headquarters will serve as a space for business development and give West Bank more opportunities to build strong relationships with community members and make a positive impact in West Des Moines. Pictured: West Bank President Brad Winterbottom

Learn more and register for the Partnership’s Regional Summit here. To register exclusively for the Economic Impact Awards, register here.