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 Sample Economic Development
Guide Article: The West Des Moines economic
development guide is a 100-page glossy magazine
designed to showcase the City of West Des
Moines, including its thriving businesses,
diverse neighborhoods, high-quality education,
state-of-the-art medical facilities, unique
shopping destinations, and exceptional quality
of life.
Purpose: The economic development guide includes
a series of informative, engaging articles
designed to convey the West Des Moines
difference. This piece appeared in the Business
section of the guide.
Entrepreneurs Energize West Des Moines’ Economy
West Des Moines’ many entrepreneurial “spark
plugs” keep the city humming, from small
startups to established companies that have
carved out a niche in their area of expertise.
In fact, these entrepreneurs have become a major
contributing factor to West Des Moines’ economic
well being.
Chow’s Gymnastics Goes for the Gold
While Chow’s Gymnastics & Dance Institute gained
worldwide fame after Shawn Johnson won gold at
the 2008 Olympics, the foundation for this
success was laid 10 years earlier when Liang
Chow came to West Des Moines.
“We looked all over the country to determine a
good place where we could open a gym,” said
Chow, who has been named a National Coach of the
Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee and Pan
American Olympic Committee. “In my wildest
dreams, I could have never chosen a better place
than West Des Moines.”
A friend at the Iowa Department of Education who
lived in West Des Moines urged Chow to consider
relocating to West Des Moines, which is known
for its good schools and thriving economy. “At
that time, the community was beginning to boom,
and it seemed like a great place to take at
chance at starting a new business adventure,”
Chow said.
After opening the gym in 1998, Chow knew he made
the right choice. Local residents were very
supportive of the new business, and the city’s
prosperous business climate helped the gym to
flourish. When the floods of 2008 ravaged the
facility, West Des Moines residents came out in
full support to help Chow clean up and get back
in action.
“I would like to thank the citizens of West Des
Moines for all their support, from the great
kids I’ve had the opportunity to coach, to the
economic environment that the City of West Des
Moines has laid for us to thrive,” Chow said. “I
am forever thankful.”
Entrepreneur Serves Up Unique Dining Experiences
When Mark Rogers grew old enough to realize that
he wasn’t going to become the next Mickey Mantle
or Larry Bird, he dreamed of opening an
establishment with great food, huge servings,
legendary service and more TVs than any place in
town where customers could watch all the games.
In 1995, this founder of Legends American Grill
opened his first restaurant in West Des Moines.
“I saw the growth that was happening in this
area,” said Rogers, who also owns the Stadium
Grill and Bar on EP True Parkway and Jimmy’s
American Café on 8th Street. “I wanted to build
a company to live my dreams, and West Des Moines
offered a good place to do this.”
As the businesses grew, Rogers sought new
opportunities and opened Fire Creek Grill in
2004 to rave reviews. Nestled in the Jordan
Creek neighborhood, Fire Creek is known for its
unique atmosphere, slow roasted prime rib, fresh
seafood, ribs and more in a smoke-free
atmosphere.
“Jordan Creek is the new West Des
Moines, and I’m proud to run a locally owned and
operated business here,” said Rogers, whose
family’s roots can be traced to Valley Junction.
“We’re truly your neighborhood restaurant.”
That’s why Rogers regularly donates gift cards
and supports area sports teams, church
organizations and charities. “Our profits stay
local, and I think it’s important to give back
to the community. That’s part of doing business
in West Des Moines.”
Westec InterActive Surveys Opportunities in Iowa
Although Westec InterActive was founded in
California in 1998, the state’s reputation for
earthquakes and power outages prompted company
leaders to find a central location that would
allow for future growth. After opening an office
in West Des Moines in 2005, the high-tech firm
transferred all of its operations from Irvine,
Calif., to West Des Moines in June of 2006.
“We had studied several different places and are
very pleased with our decision to relocate to
Iowa,” said Mark Schmit, executive vice
president, who noted that the company received a
grant through the Iowa Department of Economic
Development with the assistance of the City of
West Des Moines. “The City has been very good to
work with.”
As a leader in intelligent video monitoring
services, Westec provides video surveillance and
alarm system services for commercial clients
nationwide from its state-of-the-art command
center on Jordan Creek Parkway. Because of the
technical nature of Westec’s work, the company
conducts a six- to eight-week training program
for its new employees. “We need a stable
workforce, and we’ve been very pleased with the
quality of candidates in the area,” said Schmit,
who noted that the firm employees 100 people at
its West Des Moines office.
Being located in the Jordan Creek area is
another plus, Schmit added. “Customers often
visit our
facilities before they sign on with us, and we
didn’t want them driving through a warehouse
district to get here. A lot of these clients are
impressed by West Des Moines and the Jordan
Creek area. We also like being in a high-growth
area that offers an excellent quality of life.”
Darcy
Maulsby | Darcy Maulsby & Co. | 1735 340th St. |
Lake City, IA 51449 515-971-4415 |
darcy@darcymaulsby.com
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