Recent Updates
Stay informed about the latest news affecting business and development in the Johnston community and more. Check back regularly for updates and notable stories.
Highway 141 Corridor Study
Snyder and Associates has been hired to develop a master plan for the Iowa Highway 141 corridor from North of NW 70th Avenue in Johnston to Iowa Highway 415 in northwest Johnston. Synder and Associates will focus on the build-out of the corridor,...
Ignit Project To Ignite Merle Hay Road Corridor
The Johnston City Council has approved a development agreement with Ignit Sports and Fitness. Ignit has proposed the construction of a 208,500 square foot recreation facility that will house an indoor track, field house, classrooms, meeting space,...
Thrive 2040 Nears Finish Line
The City of Johnston has just released a clean draft of the 2040 comprehensive plan. This follows months of community engagement and planning disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The comprehensive plan serves several purposes, including the...
BEST of Iowa Finds New Direction Through Covid-19
In an effort to keep the Des Moines metro economy moving forward, many prominent local businesses and organizations have come together in a collaborative effort known as BEST of Iowa (Business Expansion and Strategic Trends). Composed of local...
Small Business Recovery Grant Program Awards
The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Polk County and the City of Johnston have completed the review of applications for assistance from area businesses affected by the COVID-19 closures and restrictions. Eighteen Johnston businesses are expected to...
Investments in Infrastructure Move Forward
Several important and very visible infrastructure projects have continued to advance in Johnston despite the disruptions created by COVID-19. The Hansen Company has been hard at work building the new City Hall at Town Center. The exterior limestone...
Members Corteva and John Deere Financial Help Fight Coronavirus
Corteva Agriscience and John Deere Financial have long been important figures in the agriculture industry, but they may now be more important than ever as we endure this pandemic. Not only does our food supply depend on companies like these two...
Acknowledging Great Efforts from Member MidAmerican Energy During COVID-19 Pandemic
During times of crisis, MidAmerican Energy has not only been taking measures to keep their employees and customers safe, but they are taking the extra step to care for our local communities as well. As an essential service provider, MidAmerican has...
Businesses Prepare for Venture Into Nomanneslonde
What is the proper metaphor for the situation in which many business owners and managers now find themselves? How do you describe the territory in between the critical need to get business and the economy moving again, and the need to protect the...
Small Business Recovery Grant Program Launched
The anticipated Small Business Recovery Grant program launched today. Businesses may seek grants of between $1,000.00 and $5,000.00. Applications are now being accepted online here. To help businesses assemble the required application information,...
COVID-19 Response – How Well Have We Done and What To Do Next?
Step back and think about the magnitude of what has happened in the last seven weeks. Here’s a short list: a national pandemic and health crisis, widespread business closures, record unemployment, and unprecedented federal and state assistance for...
COVID-19: Continued Economic Impact & Disaster Mitigation
We are one month into this disaster called COVID-19, and while we give our primary concern to the health and well-being of everyone in the community, region, state and country, we have a mission to care for our economy, businesses and workforce. It...
FY 2021 City Budget Approved – Tax Rate Reduced
The Johnston City Council fulfilled a pledge to use most of the proceeds from the recent local option sales tax increase to reduce the property tax rate. The combined tax rate will be $10.63 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation compared with a...
COVID-19 and GDMP Survey
Public officials at all levels are working hard to figure out what the best steps are to protect public health and the economy. On the health front - we are focused on information being provided by authoritative sources including the CDC and the...
MHR Recreation Complex Proposed
Image Credit: Ignit The City of Johnston and Ignit Sports and Fitness are actively considering a collaboration to bring one part of the Merle Hay Road Gateway vision to fruition. As currently described, a 30 acre site west of Merle Hay Road and...