Greater Iowa City’s Industry Landscape
Johnson County’s economy is powered by a diverse mix of industries from bioscience and advanced manufacturing to EdTech and the humanities & arts. These sectors reflect a deep talent pool and a highly collaborative network of employers, educators, and civic partners. Greater Iowa City, Inc. strengthens this momentum by supporting the sectors that built our region and accelerating thoseshaping what’s next. Through BRE visits, site development, and close partnerships across the county, we help businesses access the resources, talent, and connections they need to grow, ensuring Johnson County remains a place where innovation and opportunity thrive.
Established Industry Clusters: The Backbone of Our Economy
Our region’s economy is strengthened by industry clusters: groups of interconnected businesses, talent, suppliers, and institutions that drive jobs, innovation, and quality of life. We identify a cluster by looking at industry concentration (how a sector’s share of local jobs compares to national averages), employment and wage strength, growth over time, and the depth of the workforce pipeline. We pair this data, drawn from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Census, and trusted third-party vendors, with on-the-ground insights from our business retention and expansion (BRE)visits and partnerships with cities, educators, and employers. Together, these measures help us distinguish between sectors that already anchor our economy and emerging industries poised for growth.
Current clusters are:
- Bioscience: With proximity to top-ranked research hospitals and medical centers, our region has the environment and workforce to support medical technology development and research commercialization. Companies such as FBB Biomed, and ORF Biologics reflect the region’s growing capacity to advance life sciences innovation.
- Advanced Manufacturing: Legacy brands and modern manufacturing alike find a strong foundation here, benefiting from a skilled workforce and sophisticated supply chains. Employers like Procter & Gamble/Oral-B, and CIVCO demonstrate the strength and diversity of this sector.
- Education Technology (EdTech): From major publishers to nimble startups, our EdTech cluster grows because educators, students, and innovators converge in a community that champions learning. Companies including Leepfrog Technologies, Higher Learning Technologies, and ACT highlight how the region contributes to the future of digital learning and assessment.
- Humanities & Arts: Our creative sector isn’t just culture, it’s economic value. This cluster supports tourism, local business vibrancy, and talent attraction. Organizations such as FilmScene, The Englert, Prairie Lights Bookstore, and Public Space One help anchor this cluster and reinforce the region’s cultural identity.
Together, these established clusters provide a resilient base that keeps jobs local, attracts investment, and builds career pathways across skill levels.
The Emerging Aviation/Aerospace Opportunity
The broader region is gaining momentum around a new growth opportunity: aviation, aerospace, and defense. Anchored by existing infrastructure and strengthened by education and workforce development, this emerging cluster is positioned for significant growth. The Iowa Economic Development Authority, in partnership with the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), led a regional study to identifynext steps for fully capturing these opportunities, with collaboration across Johnson County playing a critical role. These partnerships include Greater Iowa City, Inc., the University of Iowa Research Park, and the Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), as well as many others. Together, partners are working to elevate the region’s visibility to prospective companies while supporting entrepreneurship and industry expansion.
Just 20 minutes from Iowa City, CID SuperPark, the airport business park adjacent to CID, is positioning the region as a destination for aviation and advanced industry. With more than 1300 acres of land, multimodal access by air, rail, and interstate, and unique site advantages like Foreign-Trade Zone status, the SuperPark is designed to support aerospace manufacturing, logistics, and related technology sectors.
This isn’t just available land, it’s a platform for next-generation aerospace suppliers, logistics innovators, and defense-support businesses seeking efficient global connectivity and room to grow.
A cluster doesn’t grow without the workforce to fuel it, and that’s where local education partners are delivering major lift:
- Kirkwood Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program prepares students with hands-on instruction at the Eastern Iowa Airport. Graduates emerge ready to inspect, maintain, and repair aircraft systems. These are skills that are in demand as the national aviation maintenance workforce grows.
- Coe College’s Aviation Management & Flight Operations program blends business fundamentals with aviation leadership and pilot training. With a Part 141 FAA-approved curriculum and new flight school partnership, Coe is gearing up to train the next generation of pilots, managers, and aerospace professionals right here in Eastern Iowa.
This combination of real physical infrastructure at CID SuperPark plus deep educational pathways means the region isn’t just talking about this cluster; it’s building it.
The next phase of this work focuses on continued collaboration to support CID’s efforts to attract businesses to the region, while showcasing the full range of amenities, talent, and opportunities available across the region. By working together to tell a cohesive regional story showcasing infrastructure, workforce, quality of life, and innovation, Greater IC and its partners are helping ensure that companies considering their next location see this region not just as a site, but as a long-term home.
