8 Reasons Why Business is Booming in Cedar Rapids, IA
From startups brewing at local business incubators to the several Fortune 500 companies that call the city home, Cedar Rapids provides a supportive environment for businesses to flourish. The area offers big-city infrastructure and amenities in a midsize metro where you can still easily gain access to decision-makers.
“Local municipalities, county governments and the private sector have worked together for many decades and established a level of trust that continues year after year,” says Ron Corbett, vice president of economic development for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.
Ahead, learn eight interesting facts about Cedar Rapids’ business.
1. The city is shaping the aerospace industry.
The largest employer in Cedar Rapids is Collins Aerospace, an aerospace innovator serving commercial aviation, military and defense, airports, and even NASA.
“The communications, GPS systems, all the electronics, the brains of moving an airplane from one terminal to another that are in Boeing and Airbus equipment all over the world — that was designed, engineered and manufactured right here in Cedar Rapids,” Corbett says.
Cedar Rapids is also home to a facility for BAE Systems, a global defense, aerospace and security company.
“With Collins Aerospace, along with BAE and the University of Iowa and their involvement with space exploration over the decades, we really have an untold story of the strength that we have in the aerospace industry,” Corbett says.
2. Cedar Rapids has a reputation for producing major companies that choose to stay here.
Speaking of Collins, the company’s origins began in founder Arthur Collins’ basement. Through acquisition and a merger, the company became what it is today.
Eco Lips, a fair trade and organic lip care company, started in its founder’s kitchen and is now a leading natural product manufacturer.
“These were homegrown people who had their ideas here and didn’t leave with their product to manufacture someplace else,” Corbett says. “They stayed in the Cedar Rapids area.”
3. Food processing giants win accolades in Cedar Rapids.
Major employers include Cargill, ADM, Quaker Oats, General Mills and Ingredion. Cedar Rapids is the largest corn-processing city in the world and produces the most significant amount of ethanol of any city.
Another fun fact: The Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids is the largest cereal plant in the world, per the World Record Academy.
4. In Cedar Rapids, aviation infrastructure surpasses expectations for a region of this size.
Under the visionary leadership of Director Marty Lenss, the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) boasts five airlines and 17 non-stop destinations.
“We have a diversified economy,” Corbett says.
Half of Iowa’s cargo leaves from CID, and the airport is also a major economic driver with more than 500 acres of land primed for growing businesses to locate.
5. If you do decide to start a business in Cedar Rapids, you’ll find plenty of support.
Entrepreneurs can access resources like Iowa Startup Accelerator and Kirkwood Small Business Development Center, which provide small business coaching, and Vault Coworking & Collaboration Space. “We also have friendly, pro-business local government,” Corbett says.
6. Three higher education options are located in Cedar Rapids, along with excellent public schools.
Those include Coe College, Mount Mercy University and Kirkwood Community College. Within 100 miles, you’ll find 21 more colleges and universities to choose from. For K-12, Cedar Rapids offers an above-average public school district with a student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. For example, Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids ranked among the top 20% on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Public High Schools list.
7. The health care sector is collaborative and innovative.
The MedQuarter Regional Medical District in downtown Cedar Rapids, also known as the MedQ, houses hospitals, clinics, research facilities and educational institutions, promoting collaboration and innovation in health care.
It’s home to Mercy Medical Center, UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s Hospital, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa and more than 100 other health care providers. Whether you need to see a dentist, urologist or chiropractor, you’ll find a provider right there in MedQ.
8. City officials and business leaders are adopting green initiatives.
Cedar Rapids has made strides in promoting renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, with several initiatives, like the Community Climate Action Plan, aimed at sustainable development. In addition, the International Paper Cedar River mill has the largest cardboard recycling facility in North America and the fourth largest in the world.