#ThisIsEconDevInNevada

Written By: Madison Wiertzema, Business Engagement Collaborative, Ames High School

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Nevada, IA: a small-town with a charming atmosphere. With the close proximity Nevada has to Ames, Ankeny, and Des Moines, economic growth has been booming in Nevada this past year. Today’s featured business is Burke Corporation, which has been located in Nevada since the mid-1980s. Burke Corporation manufactures pizza toppings, and other fully cooked meats as a subsidiary of Hormel Foods. They originally chose Nevada as the location for their plant due to the growth mindset of Nevada and Story County. There are currently over 600 employees at the Nevada location, with increasing employment throughout their expansion process. 

If you’ve traveled on Highway 30 to Nevada recently, you might have noticed construction happening at Burke Corporation. They are currently in the middle of an expansion to support the growing product and employment demand. They began the 150 million dollar expansion in 2018, which is the biggest expansion in Hormel Foods’ history. Each phase of the project brings in 50+ new team members to support the growing company.

In order to accomplish a project of this large scale, Burke has formed close relationships with the Nevada Chamber of Commerce, Ames Chamber of Commerce, Story County officials, and State of Iowa officials for support during the expansion. Economic development and projects at this size cannot be completed without a strong foundation system and the support of economic growth from the surrounding communities.

Local restaurants, convenience stores, daycare centers, and housing operations have already seen higher demand in the Nevada and Story County area due to the expansion. In the long-term, Burke hopes to bring even more people to Story County and add value to Nevada businesses through ongoing employment.

 John Hall, Vice President of Business Development at the Ames Chamber of Commerce stated, “Burke Corporation has been a pillar of the Nevada community for years and their expansion reiterates their commitment to being a desired employer in Nevada. The expansion project will add 210 new jobs and reflects a $150 million capital investment creating a tremendous economic impact on the community. Burke’s impact in Nevada doesn’t end with their economic contribution and job growth. They actively encourage employees to be engaged in their communities as volunteers and sponsor programs and events in the area.”

To find out more about Burke and their operations, click here.