Leadership insights from Billi Hunt, executive director of America's Cultivation Corridor.
Summer is officially here! As temperatures warm, innovation and collaboration are also heating up across the state. We’re gearing up for another busy summer across America’s Cultivation Corridor. One of the clearest signs of momentum is the recent groundbreaking by Daisy Brand on a $1.2 billion dairy processing facility in Boone. This is more than just an investment in a new plant — it’s an investment in people, partnerships, and place. The project is expected to create 255 new jobs when it opens in 2028.
This didn’t happen by chance. Daisy Brand’s decision came after a wide-ranging search across the Midwest. Working together, Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), the City of Boone, Boone County Economic Growth Corporation, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority and other area groups worked together to successfully demonstrate that our region has the infrastructure, workforce, and commitment to help world-class companies grow.
Progress like this is never powered by one thing alone. It’s a result of many forces coming together: visionary partnerships, smart policy, targeted infrastructure investment, and above all, a shared understanding of the bigger picture.
Iowa also continues to be where the world comes to learn, network and plan for the next generation of innovation. Business, academic, community and agriculture leaders will be attending events like the World Pork Expo, TechHub Live, and the USASBE Rural Entrepreneurship Symposium, where we are creating ecosystems where both startups and established companies can thrive. Follow America’s Cultivation Corridor on Linked In, Facebook, X or Instagram, or reach out to learn more about the opportunities for you in Iowa!
Published May 2025.