State Resources


Iowa Business Resources

Iowa is located in the central United States. The state’s agricultural efficiency has led it to be the nation’s third most productive agricultural state, only behind Texas and California in terms of total output. Approximately 87% of the total land area is dedicated farmland. Corn and soybeans are the two most important crops to the state. Both crops can be used as feed for livestock, which are also raised on the farms. Soybeans are also used in foodstuffs and manufactured products.

The economic base for Iowa began to shift in the second part of the twentieth century, from agriculture to manufacturing and services. Although Iowa produces ten percent of the US food supply, the value of Iowa's manufactured products is twice that of its agriculture. Other major industries include food and associated products, non-electrical machinery, electrical equipment, printing and publishing, and fabricated products.

Business Data

Per Capita Real GDP$35,662 Rank: 24/50 (2006)
Population2,926,320 Rank: 30/50 (2000)
Per Capita Personal Income$33,236 Rank: 30/50 (2006)
Unemployment Rate3.60% Rank: 13/50 (2008)
Business Tax Climate IndexRank: 45/50 (2008)
Corporate Tax Rate6% - 12%
Individual Tax Rate .36% - 8.98%
Sales Tax Rate 5%

Business Tax Climate Index

Individual Income Tax Index Rank45
Sales Tax Index Rank20
Unemployment Insurance Tax Index Rank37
Property Tax Index Rank31
Business Tax Climate Index45
Corporate Tax Index Rank45

State Information

AbbreviationIA
CapitalDes Moines
Nick NameHawkeye State
State Web Sitehttp://www.iowa.gov
MottoOur liberites we prize and our rights we will maintain

Top 5 Export Partner Countries

Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom

Top 5 Export Merchandise

Primary Metals Sales Machinery Sales Primary Metals Manufacturing Computers and Electronic Products Manufacturing Fabricated Metal Products Manufacturing

Major Cities

Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines

GDP

Total Gross Domestic Product (USD Millions) $129,026.00 (2007)
Per Capita Real GDP (USD)$35,814.00 Rank: 24 (2007)

Population Stats

Population 3,002,555 Rank: 30 (2008)

Age Distribution

Under 18 Population733,638
Under 18 Percent of Total Population25%
65 and older Population436,213
65 and older Percent of Total Population15%

Gender Distribution

Male Population49.1%
Female Population50.9%
Non-English Speaker (at home)124,382
Net International Immigration29,386
Birth Rate13%
Percent of People Under Poverty Level10.9%
Rank37

Expenditure

Per Capita State Spending$16,365
Rank28
Energy Expenditures per Person$4,497
Expenditures of State and Local Government Employee-Retirement Systems$1,123,754

Revenue

Personal Income$38,740
Rank30
State Internal Revenue Collection$18,436,557
Rank33
Cash and Deposits by State Government$772,741
Per Capita State Tax Collection$2,064
Rank39

Education

High School Graduation Rate85.4%
Rank2
Percent of Population with a Bachelor's Degree16.5%
Rank29
Percent of Population with an Advanced Degree7.5%
Rank41

Largest Universities

Iowa State University University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa
High School Graduation Rate85.4%

Logistics

Public Road Length (Mile)114,084
Gas Tax Rate (%)21%
Highway Planning and Construction (USD Thousands)361,208
Number of Public Airports121

Main Airports

CID: Cedar Rapids DSM: Des Moines

Ports

Weather


Map



View Larger Map

State Business Links

Secretary of State

Small Business Administration

Iowa Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ia/
Formed to assist, counsel, support and protect the interest of small business concerns and to assist them in their start-up and growth.

Top 10 Business Links

Business Record
http://www.businessrecord.com/
Business Record is a business journal for central Iowa. A wealth of informative articles provide up-to-date information on the state of business in central Iowa.
Corridor Business Journal
http://www.corridorbiznews.com/
This is a weekly business journal operated from Cedar Rapids. Along with the articles provided in the current issue, business events for the area, archived articles, and various CBJ Lists and market research are accessible.
Iowa Department of Economic Development
http://www.iowalifechanging.com/business/
This site provides useful information on doing business in Iowa. Information is described through statistics and explanations of factors such as business climate, quality of life, target industries; along with insight to starting, expanding, relocating, and investing in a business in Iowa.
Iowa Farm Business Association
http://www.iowafarmbusiness.org/
The IFBA provides business management services for member farm businesses. Available for free is information on agricultural taxes by region and various agricultural news and articles.
Iowa Small Business Development Center
http://www.iowasbdc.org/
The Iowa SBDC, which has a number of offices all over Iowa, provides services to small businesses such as counseling and training for a number of reasons, like starting or growing a business.
Iowa Workforce Development
http://www.iowaworkforce.org/
On this site you can find information not only about Iowa’s workforce, such as unemployment or employment by industry, but also data on trends in Iowa, cost of living, industries, and regions, etc. Technical information related to unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and workforce development is also available.
State Data Center
http://www.iowadatacenter.org/
This site is a useful source for statistical data related to population, housing, business, and government. A number of different maps are available as well.
U.S. Export Assistance Center of Iowa
http://www.buyusa.gov/iowa/
The Iowa branch of the Department of Commerce that specializes in helping small to medium sized companies develop and execute exporting strategies. Fees vary and are based on the service being provided.

Featured Brokers
  • Sunbelt Business Brokers of Atlanta
    Sunbelt Business Brokers offers professional and reliable services for clients who are interested in buying and selling privately held businesses, mergers & acquisitions in the Atlanta, Georgia areas.
    www.sunbeltatlanta.com
  • BTI Group / Business Team
    Business Team, a unit of BTI Group, is the largest Business Brokerage firm in the Western United States specializing in arranging the purchase and sale of privately owned companies
    www.business-team.com
  • Lake Country Advisors
    Confidential, discreet professional services to privately held business owners.Specialists in 401k/IRA business funding.VR has sold more businesses in the world than anyone.®
    www.lakecountryadvisors.com

Business Resources
Recover Password?