City of Des Moines - Small Business

06/24/2026

Craving some engaging reading material to get you through the middle of the week? You're in luck! Our June small business newsletter has landed. A bevy of new business openings, details about our just-launched downtown incentive program and our Request for Proposals for former Fire Station 4, and resources and upcoming trainings and events catered for small businesses and their enthusiasts.

Email from City of Des Moines View as Webpage City of Des Moines Small Business Minute June 2026   RESTORE THE CORE Contemplating opening a new business or relocating downtown? Now is the time! The C

06/11/2026

Former Fire Station 4 at 917 University Avenue is ready for its next use, and the City of Des Moines is seeking creative proposals.

This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneur, small business, development team, or community-minded operator to reimagine a highly visible civic building along the University Avenue corridor.

The one-story, 8,620-square-foot former fire station includes apparatus bay space, office and common areas, a commercial-style kitchen, overhead doors, and a hose tower. The building could support creative small business uses such as food and beverage, flexible commercial space, maker uses, recreation or wellness, or other uses that bring regular activity to the area.

There’s strong momentum nearby, including ongoing investment along the 6th Avenue Corridor, the new Reichardt Community Recreation Center, and the Central Place Levee Trail. Former Fire Station 4 is also near major medical and educational anchors with large workforces, creating a strong setting for uses that serve nearby employees, residents, students, and visitors.

The City is looking for proposals that build on that energy, respect the building’s history, respond to community priorities, and support long-term economic activity along University Avenue.

Request for Proposal (RFP) responses are due by Thursday, December 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Learn more and view the full RFP at www.dsm.city/Station4RFP

06/09/2026

Big news for small business in Des Moines’ Downtown Core!

The City of Des Moines has launched Restore the Core DSM: Ground Floor Activation, a new incentive program designed to help bring long-vacant ground-floor commercial spaces back into active use.

This program is an investment in the future of small business in the heart of our city. As Downtown continues to grow as a neighborhood, employment center, visitor destination, and place for events and entertainment, active storefronts matter more than ever.

Restore the Core DSM can help eligible businesses make the permanent improvements needed to prepare vacant spaces for occupancy, including interior buildout, building systems, storefront improvements, accessibility upgrades, code compliance work, permanent built-in fixtures, and related professional services.

The goal is simple: fill vacant spaces, support small businesses, increase foot traffic, and create a stronger, more active Downtown Core.

Learn more about eligibility, program guidelines, and how to get started: www.dsm.city/restorethecoredsm

06/02/2026

Small businesses + books + the library = a Saturday well spent!

Don't miss the Grown-Up Book Fair on Saturday from 12pm - 4pm at the Central Library.

05/01/2026

Our friends at the Greater Des Moines Partnership are still taking applications for their ScaleDSM program - a free series of business development trainings that assists small business owners with developing their skills in business finance, marketing, HR, business planning/growth, networking, and much more. To be eligible, businesses must have at least $150,000 in annual revenue, one employee besides the business owner, and have been in operation for at least two years. Class participants should anticipate a weekly commitment for 7 months, with additional follow-ups after the completion of the program. Applications close May 8 at 11:59pm. For more information and to apply, visit the Partnership's website:

This Greater Des Moines business accelerator program helps business owners learn, network and implement insights and knowledge to grow their business.

03/31/2026

It's everyone's favorite time of year....tax time!

The IRS Stakeholder Liaison Area 3 is hosting a "2026 Filing Season Tips and Resources for Individuals and Small Businesses" information session on April 2 at 12:00pm via Teams. We're unable to upload PDFs, so the link in the image below will not work if you try to click on it. The link to the meeting is below.

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/25752356974666?p=4h79IgD3J23NLGmdqR

03/24/2026

The calendar is heating up - and so is small business activity in the City. You can read up on the slate of business openings, plethora of small business events on the calendar, and more in the latest edition of the City of Des Moines' Small Business Minute.

Email from City of Des Moines View as Webpage City of Des Moines Small Business Minute March 2026   SMALL BUSINESS OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS Bella Salon Calling all Des Moines divas: Bella Cosmetic Artis

03/05/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our quarterly Small Business Connect event on Monday! It was a fun, informal gathering full of good conversation. Thanks in particular to Mayalu Coffee for hosting. Delicious drinks with plants and a colorful, cozy interior - the perfect setting for a late winter evening.