Iowa Innovation Council | Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber

(Cedar Valley of Iowa) The Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub (IAMNH), at the TechWorks Campus in Waterloo, is one of the first projects in the state to be awarded funds through Iowa’s new Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIF). The funding was approved by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board at their June meeting. The project, Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub – Phase I, Additive Manufacturing Center, will receive $2.7 million to fund additional 3D printers for the UNI Metal Casting Center, building improvements, and a design center to be operated by Hawkeye Community College.

“With this financial support from the IEDA and Iowa Innovation Council, UNI is excited and anxious to move forward with creating a full-service additive manufacturing center to meet the innovation and technology needs of Iowa companies,” says Randy Pilkington, Executive Director of UNI’s Business and Community Services. “Thanks to support from IEDA, UNI is building on the momentum of the past 18 months of 3D printing success to create a full-service additive manufacturing center for Iowa manufacturers. Expansion into plastics, metals and ceramics will create one of the best equipped 3D printing facilities in North America.”

The Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub application for Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIF) was completed by TechWorks staff and a team including UNI’s Randy Pilkington and Metal Casting Center Director Jerry Thiel; Hawkeye Community College President Linda Allen, and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jane Bradley; and TechWorks board chair Tim Hurley. The team worked with the State of Iowa and the Iowa Innovation Council’s Advanced Manufacturing Workgroup to finalize the application.

The IEDA funding will help to move Iowa to the forefront of technology in additive manufacturing and establish a premier center for support of its manufacturing base. This funding is a critical step in advancing the state’s technology base and providing a central location for technology advancement.

Cedar Valley of Iowa – With plans moving forward at the Cedar Valley TechWorks to establish the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center, a position has been created and filled to oversee the startup operations of the new center and its incubator/accelerator. Wes James joins the TechWorks team as the former General Manager of NABL Center, which previously operated in TechWorks’ Tech 1 building. Mr. James’ background also includes incubator development and operations management. He holds a B.S. in Ag Business with an Economic Analysis/Policy Emphasis from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Cary Darrah, TechWorks General Manager, commented, “We’re excited and honored to include Wes on our team to partner with the Iowa Innovation Corporation in establishing the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center and moving the TechWorks campus forward. Wes has a wealth of experience in strategic planning for business start-ups as well as incubation management – key attributes necessary in connecting the industry resources required to launch the center.”

TechWorks Campus and Iowa Innovation Council welcome Wes James into the role of Director of Operations, Industrial Incubator/Accelerator

TechWorks will partner with the Iowa Innovation Corporation to establish and house the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center (IAMC) in the Tech I building on the TechWorks Campus. This newly created position is jointly funded by the Iowa Innovation Corporation and TechWorks as part of the IAMC start-up.

TechWorks is a 30-acre campus containing 20 acres of development sites and 300,000 square feet of space in two existing buildings undergoing renovation. In 2007, Deere & Company donated land and buildings to start this innovation-driven economic development project. This historic plant was the site of manufacturing and assembly of the earliest John Deere tractors. The TechWorks Campus is a subsidiary of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.