PROVIDING UPDATES AS WE LEARN MORE. RIGHT NOW, HUNDREDS OF BUSINESS OWNERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE ARE MEETING IN DES MOINES. IT’S PART OF THE SECOND ANNUAL GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP REGIONAL SUMMIT. KCCI IS OLIVIA TYLER HAS A LOOK AT HOW REGIONAL LEADERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SPARK NEW OPPORTUNITIES HERE INSIDE THE IOWA EVENT CENTER, MORE THAN 350 PEOPLE ARE NETWORKING, COLLABORATING AND DISCUSSING HOW TO DRIVE BUSINESS GROWTH ACROSS THE REGION, FACILITATING A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION IS WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT. SUMMIT GOERS ARE SPENDING THE DAY COLLABORATING IN SESSIONS FOCUSED ON DRIVING IOWA’S GROWTH ACROSS INDUSTRIES LIKE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, AG, BIO INSURANCE AND MORE. LOCAL LEADERS LIKE GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS AND DES MOINES MAYOR CONNIE BOESEN ARE THERE. ORGANIZERS SAY THE EVENT IS A CHANCE TO UNLOCK MORE OF THE REGION’S POTENTIAL. THE WEST SIDE OF OUR REGION DOESN’T GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE EAST SIDE OF OUR REGION. THIS DAY, HOPEFULLY, IS THE TIME FOR THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO START, THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, JAMES CHUNG, TALKED ABOUT THE METRO’S CHALLENGES, STRENGTHS, AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO FURTHER BUILD DES MOINES. IT’S OBVIOUS THAT WHAT MAKES DES MOINES SPECIAL AND PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT CLASS IS THE FACT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER. WE WORK ON REGIONAL PROJECTS, WE WORK TO ADDRESS ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME BIGGER ISSUES. THIS YEAR’S SUMMIT IS HOSTING ALMOST 100 MORE PEOPLE THAN LAST YEAR. ORGANIZERS AND THE GOVERNOR SAY THEY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW THE EVENT, ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, COLLABORATE. HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, NETWORK, AND FIND OUT HOW TOGETHER, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE PROSPERITY AND GROWTH THAT WE’RE SEEING IN THE STATE. IN DES MOINES, OLIVIA TYLER
Business leaders gather in Des Moines to drive regional growth
Updated: 5:25 PM CDT Sep 17, 2025
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More than 350 business leaders from across Iowa met Wednesday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines for the Greater Des Moines Partnership Regional Summit to discuss strategies for driving business growth across the region.Gov. Kim Reynolds said, “Facilitating a culture of collaboration is what today is all about.” Summit-goers are participating in sessions focused on industries such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, ag bio, and insurance. Local leaders, including Reynolds and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, are present, with organizers highlighting the event as a chance to unlock more of the region’s potential.Alex Lynch, director of regional community integration for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, said, “The west side of our region doesn’t get a chance to talk with the folks from the east side of our region. This day, hopefully, is the time for those relationships to start.”Keynote speaker James Chung discussed the metro’s challenges and strengths, stating, “What makes Des Moines special and punch above our weight class is the fact that we work together. We work on regional projects. We work to address issues before they become bigger issues.”This year’s summit hosted almost 100 more people than last year, and organizers, along with Reynolds, expressed enthusiasm for the event’s continued growth. Reynolds said, “Ask the tough questions, collaborate, have those conversations, network, and find out how together we can continue to drive the prosperity and growth that we’re seeing in the state.”» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
More than 350 business leaders from across Iowa met Wednesday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines for the Greater Des Moines Partnership Regional Summit to discuss strategies for driving business growth across the region.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said, “Facilitating a culture of collaboration is what today is all about.”
Summit-goers are participating in sessions focused on industries such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, ag bio, and insurance. Local leaders, including Reynolds and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, are present, with organizers highlighting the event as a chance to unlock more of the region’s potential.
Alex Lynch, director of regional community integration for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, said, “The west side of our region doesn’t get a chance to talk with the folks from the east side of our region. This day, hopefully, is the time for those relationships to start.”
Keynote speaker James Chung discussed the metro’s challenges and strengths, stating, “What makes Des Moines special and punch above our weight class is the fact that we work together. We work on regional projects. We work to address issues before they become bigger issues.”
This year’s summit hosted almost 100 more people than last year, and organizers, along with Reynolds, expressed enthusiasm for the event’s continued growth.
Reynolds said, “Ask the tough questions, collaborate, have those conversations, network, and find out how together we can continue to drive the prosperity and growth that we’re seeing in the state.”
» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
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