Des Moines Register
07-11-07
Ankeny council pursues development task force
By TOM BARTON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Ankeny city officials Monday discussed progress on creating an economic
development task force for the city.
Mayor Steven Van Oort and city economic development director Tim Moerman
discussed steps to recruit a "think-tank" of community leaders to help the city
attract more business.
"This group will help us jump-start and accelerate economic development in
Ankeny by helping to identify key steps and strategies this city can take to
promote Ankeny and attract businesses," Van Oort said.
The task force headed by the mayor would have 14 individuals chosen from 14
different groups throughout the community ranging from young professionals,
educators, and small business owners to those in health care, biotechnology,
manufacturing, banking or insurance.
The task force, expected to meet four or five times a year, would discuss and
brainstorm strategies for the city to implement that promote job creation,
business retention and commercial and industrial growth.
Members would serve for a year via appointment by the mayor. However, unlike
appointments to city boards or commissions, Van Oort said task force
appointment would not be subject to council approval.
"It's not a policy-making group, but influences making policy," Van Oort said.
He and council members talked specifically of the need for input from business
leaders on how to better attract biotechnology firms to the area.
"You put together a task force when you have some needs you to need to get
responses to quickly. And for the city we need to answer the question 'What does
Ankeny need to do to become a biotechnology cluster?' " Van Oort said.
Ankeny leaders have been making a concerted effort to attract more
biotechnology companies to promote economic development in central Iowa's
biotech corridor between Ames and Des Moines along Interstate Highway 35.
Ankeny currently is home to biotech company Monsanto, which focuses on plant
genetics, and American Protein Corp., which works with animal proteins to
develop health products.
Moerman and Van Oort discussed the benefit a think tank would have in helping
the city create better incentives packages for prospective businesses.
"You use people of expertise (to) help give you perspective," Van Oort said.
The City Council on May 7 awarded biotechnology company Embria property-tax
incentives for relocating its corporate headquarters to Ankeny. The incentives call
for Embria to have partially reduced property taxes for the first five years and to
receive a rebate on a portion of its property taxes over a seven-year period.
The company plans on using its new $11.5 million facility in the Metro North II
Business Park in Ankeny to research and produce high-quality natural
ingredients for dietary supplements and other foods.
"Where Ankeny is located is perfect," Embria President Paul Faganel said of the
city's proximity to the Ames research market, Iowa State University and Des
Moines Area Community College. "The technology capabilities with the university
and access to graduates with the necessary skill sets is there."
Eight people have already agreed to serve on the task force, including
representatives from Embria, Monsanto and DRA Properties. Van Oort declined
to provide their names.
Moerman said he is waiting for responses from the remaining six individuals.
After the list is finalized, it will be presented to the mayor for approval.
The first meeting of the task force is planned for September.
Reporter Tom Barton can be reached at (515) 284-8065 or tbarton@dmreg.com