Economic development doesn’t always make headlines…until it does. On September 16, 2025, the Iowa City Council formally approved a letter of support for Procter & Gamble for their plan that will bring big investment and approximately 100 high-quality jobs to the area. Following that, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) issued the necessary approvals on September 19, 2025. We are excited to celebrate this local win with our partners, but this milestone didn’t happen overnight, and certainly not in a vacuum.
Greater Iowa City, Inc. was proud to play a role in facilitating this effort. Here’s a look at how we help get this (and other projects) cross the finish line:
- Coordinating with stakeholders to align application materials, investment figures, and job creation commitments with program guidelines.
- Partnering with the relevant City or County officials to ensure the project timing aligned with local priorities and approvals.
- Collaborating with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to align the necessary applications with the IEDA schedule, a critical step in ensuring timely consideration at the state level.
- Working alongside Kirkwood Community College to outline workforce benefits tied to the project. With ~100 new jobs that all qualify under the High-Quality Jobs Act, partnerships are essential to capturing the full value of this opportunity for Johnson County residents.
And as is standard in economic development, all of this work happened confidentially until the appropriate time for public release. These efforts are often invisible, but they’re essential to major projects that move our region forward.
While the job count and capital investment of this project are headline-worthy on their own, the ripple effects go far deeper:
- Construction and supply chain impact: From contractors to vendors, this level of investment sparks activity across the regional economy.
- Tax base growth: A $150 million investment brings long-term property tax and payroll tax revenues to support local infrastructure and services.
- Workforce development: By tying this investment to programming, we’re building a stronger local talent pipeline that meets both employer and community needs.
- Investor confidence: Projects like this showcase that Iowa City and Johnson County is not just open for business, we’re primed for strategic, sustainable growth.
The nature of economic development means that big wins require careful coordination, deep trust, and the ability to keep things quiet until the timing is right. We’re grateful to all our partners for their collaboration and commitment throughout this process. Greater Iowa City, Inc. is thrilled to see this investment move forward, and we’re proud to have played a role in connecting the dots to help make it possible. The real credit belongs to our partners: the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the City of Iowa City, Kirkwood, MidAmerican, and P&G – whose leadership and commitment created the conditions for success. This project is a powerful example of how collaboration between state, local, and private stakeholders drives growth, jobs, and long-term opportunity for Johnson County. These relationships build upon the success of our predecessors’ leadership in making P&G call our community home for the long term.
This isn’t just about one company. It’s about what’s possible when public and private sectors row in the same direction. It’s a signal to the state, and to the world, that Johnson County is a place where ambitious investment meets smart execution.
Photo Credit: P&G File Photo; Iowa City
