Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation - HEDCO

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

They are still goin' strong after 40 years! We celebrated that moment with Hometown Restyling and a ribbon-cutting by the Hiawatha City Council and Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation - HEDCO Board members. Congratulations for all the hard work, dedication and economic growth you've made over the years. We're proud to have you located in the City of Hiawatha,.

05/28/2026

We celebrated today!

In June, Cedar Run Company Training & Wellness Center, one of the area’s premier animal boarding, daycare, grooming and training providers, will open its new training & wellness center and vet clinic at 2701 Robins Road in Hiawatha. Owner Sonia Wiltsey, Dr. Loni Ellsworth DVM, the Cedar Run Company team, Hiawatha City Council and HEDCO Board members are pictured here at a ribbon cutting Thursday, May 28. An open house celebration will be held Saturday, May 30th.

The new facility is 9,000-square-feet on a 2.82-acre lot and offers a comprehensive suite of animal health and wellness services under one roof line. The veterinary clinic features state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment capabilities, while the wellness & training center will provide individualized sessions and group classes using positive reinforcement methods. The facility also includes an underwater treadmill, an advanced therapeutic tool used to support post-surgical recovery, weight management, and conditioning for dogs.

The ribbon cutting marks the latest milestone in Cedar Run’s growth story. It was founded in 2011 by Wiltsey, who co-founded Last Hope Animal Rescue in 2004 and ran a shelter for rescue dogs out of her home before launching Cedar Run. The company has grown from four employees to more than 90, with Hiawatha locations (2705 Stonegate Court and 860 N. 20th Ave.) offering boarding, daycare, grooming, and training.

Cedar Run Company #1 Cedar Run Company #2 North Star Veterinary Clinic

05/27/2026

Part of my work with the Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation is visiting our local businesses — and one of the conversations I always look forward to is with Kevin Gunderson at P&K Midwest in Hiawatha.

P&K Midwest is part of a larger dealer group with a strong presence here in the Midwest. They carry John Deere equipment and they're deeply connected to the customers and communities they serve.

Right now, the Hiawatha location has an open full-time Parts Specialist position they've been working hard to fill — and I'd love to help get the word out.

This role is a great fit for someone who:
✔️ Has experience in a parts department (1+ years preferred)
✔️ Knows how to take care of customers — in person and on the phone
✔️ Is comfortable in a hands-on, warehouse and retail environment
✔️ Wants the backing of an established company with local roots

The position includes a strong benefits package — health, dental, vision, life insurance, company-matched 401(k), and PTO starting on Day 1.

If you or someone in your network has an equipment or parts background and is looking for a great opportunity in the Cedar Rapids Corridor, I'd encourage you to apply or share.

🔗 Apply here: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/DFBEEA28751C08DE867F9108E094703B/jobs/132272

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05/12/2026

(Hiawatha, IA) - The City of Hiawatha, Merit Development, and the Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation - HEDCO have announced the formal advancement of Phase I of The Core of Hiawatha, a mixed-use workforce housing and commercial development to be constructed at the intersection of Center Point Road and Robins Road. The Phase I project, along with Phase II and III will represent one of the most significant private investments in Hiawatha's downtown in a generation and, its backers say, the beginning of a long-overdue chapter in the city's evolution.

Phase I of The Core of Hiawatha, led by Merit Development, will include a four-story building on 4.75 acres, featuring 39 residential units and room for approximately 6 ground-floor commercial units. The cost is estimated at $12-13M. When complete, all three phases will deliver more than 120+ residential units with a total project cost estimated at $27M. Located along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and near key community assets, the development is designed to support Hiawatha’s continued growth while enhancing walkability and placemaking.

“The Core isn't just a building project. It's Hiawatha deciding what kind of city it wants to be. This intersection, this block, this site — is being activated. We’re working with a developer who understands what we're trying to accomplish and a project that reflects it,” said Hiawatha Mayor Steve Dodson.

The Core of Hiawatha will sit along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, steps from Hiawatha City Hall, Guthridge Park and the new Cedar Rapids Prep, and within easy walking distance of the Hiawatha Public Library and Hiawatha Elementary School. A planned pedestrian bridge will further improve trail and neighborhood connectivity.

"We’re incredibly excited about The Core of Hiawatha and what it represents for the community. Hiawatha has all the right ingredients, and this development will play a meaningful role in shaping its downtown identity, enhancing vitality, and expanding opportunities for small businesses and workforce housing. The City’s strong vision and leadership are helping take things to a whole new level, and we’re proud to be part of that momentum." said Wes Schulte of Merit Development.

The project timeline includes the Hiawatha City Council’s approval on a few items before this summer’s groundbreaking.

“We're watching companies struggle to recruit and retain talent partly because there simply aren't enough quality housing options nearby. The Core directly addresses that. And beyond housing, the commercial component gives local entrepreneurs a genuine shot at a street-level presence in a high-visibility location,” said Liz Mathis, Executive Director, HEDCO

Additional project details TBA. Merit Development https://www.developmerit.com/

Linn County Trails Association City of Hiawatha Parks and Recreation

04/27/2026

I'm always moved by this event. I was honored to keynote Quota of Cedar Rapids' Honors Luncheon, where local teachers, principals, and counselors nominate students who've done something remarkable that might otherwise go unnoticed. Each student honored had grown in real, meaningful ways — their skills, their relationships, their confidence. And the looks on their families' faces? Absolutely priceless.

04/27/2026

Be sure to register for the next Hiawatha Business Summit, May 19 that we are co-hosting with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. Ray Wheaton, NextEra Energy Resources Director of Restart Operations at the Duane Arnold Energy Center will be speaking.

May 19 2026 | May's program will be presented by NextEra, discussing the reopening of the Duane Arnold Power Plant, the effects on the community, and their training ce...

04/20/2026

Big day in Hiawatha! 🎉 Today we joined NextEra Energy for the ribbon-cutting of their new training center right here in our community.

NextEra is restarting the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo — Iowa's only nuclear power plant — to produce clean, reliable power for a new Google data center. The training center in the City of Hiawatha, converted from a former call center, is where the next generation of nuclear workers will prepare to bring that plant back online.

The numbers are remarkable: approximately 400 high-quality, full-time jobs coming to Eastern Iowa, and an estimated $9 billion in economic impact to our region over the plant's operating life. And Iowa ratepayers? Not on the hook — Google is funding the restart.

This is exactly the kind of investment that makes our community stronger. We are proud to be part of it.

04/08/2026

ARA Gallery has moved to Hiawatha. Come and celebrate with Tony!