Views of the scenic Loess Hills and the 59-foot-tall Golden Spike Monument overlooking Union Pacific’s vast rail-yards will greet more than 500 Iowa business leaders making tracks to Council Bluffs for ABI’s Taking Care of Business Conference at Mid-America Center June 10-12.
“We’re really proud of Council Bluffs and the things that have occurred here over the past 20-30 years,” says Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Chris LaFerla, who is eager to showcase the city he touts as a key part of the nation’s hottest housing market and Iowa’s largest metro area.
He quickly lists two of Council Bluffs top attractions. Nightlife, entertainment and dining options abound in the thriving Hundred Block of West Broadway, a historic district of restored commercial and residential buildings. River’s Edge, along the east side of the Missouri, has attracted significant residential, commercial and recreational development, and is one of the region’s most high-profile amenities.
Union Pacific Senior Director Public Affairs Kelli O’Brien says, “I’m most excited for attendees to discover Council Bluffs’ unique blend of history, Midwestern hospitality and forward-looking vision, all while connecting with fellow Iowa business leaders.”
Major Metro, Booming Housing Market
“A lot of visitors would be surprised by all of our investments in arts, culture, mixed use development and innovative approaches to addressing housing shortages,” Mr. LaFerla says. “Being part of the Omaha metro area, we feel a little bit like a small town but are right across the river from a metro of 1 million people, the largest in Iowa. Because of that, our residents have access to really a lot of unique amenities you might not find in other parts of the state.”
The cross-border cities do a good job collaborating, he says. “Our community and Omaha community in last 10 years have taken a more regional approach to planning for the future. We really work well together, our chambers and city governments, in planning for the future of the area. It truly is a partnership.”
U.S. News & World Report recognized the success of that partnership with a number one spot for Omaha-Council Bluffs in its March 25 “Hottest U.S. Housing Markets” rankings, outpacing Austin, Houston, Charleston, S.C. and Denver in the top five.
“Whether in Nebraska or South Carolina, what these hottest markets seem to share are big-city amenities without the high housing costs of MSAs closer to the megacities along the West and East coasts,” U.S. News noted.
One of those big-city amenities is River’s Edge. The area offers a spectacular view of the Omaha skyline via the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connecting both sides of the metro, commercial and residential development and recreational features still coming online.
“Construction in that area is really interesting and unique,” says Mr. LaFerla.
Phase 4 includes Belle’s Play Garden, featuring a 15-foot-tall pelican play structure and a restored woodland; a half mile of treetop-level walkways; and the 138-foot MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower, which includes a 50-foot rock climbing wall and caving and gliding experiences. A river pier is in the works.
The community’s 40-mile recreational trail system connects to the Kerrey pedestrian bridge and runs through Tom Hanafan Park, which protects key habitats and offers a pavilion, five-acre great lawn and landscapes for hosting events and festivals.
Mid-America Center has long been a focus of Council Bluffs’ development, Mr. LaFerla noted. “They’ve invested heavily in recreation, youth venues and sports. It attracts visitors and provide amenities for local youth sports programs. The venue does a great job of bringing in touring groups from all off the world.” Built in 2002, the convention center has 64,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 24,500-square-foot exhibit hall, an 18,500-square-foot ballroom and a 30,000-square-foot arena.
Mr. LaFerla invites ABI members to consider Council Bluffs for their operations. “Anytime you can showcase the community, particularly to businesses that might be thinking about expansion on investing in other parts of Iowa, it’s wonderful for them to see all the things happening here. Council Bluffs, as part of the Omaha metro area, has opportunities to take on some growth. We’re uniquely positioned here to make some of that growth happen.”
Union Pacific: ‘Deeply Woven into the Fabric of Council Bluffs’
Omaha-Council Bluffs earned its title as the birthplace of Union Pacific when President Abraham Lincoln selected Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1863. Initial construction occurred in Omaha, but when the legal dust settled, Council Bluffs’ crucial role was upheld, leading to development of a major transfer depot, says Ms. O’Brien in an email. “Today, the legacy lives on through the city’s extensive railyards, the Golden Spike Monument commemorating the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion and the continued presence of Union Pacific as a key employer and integral part of the community.”
Union Pacific, with its corporate headquarters in downtown Omaha, sprawling yards, high-tech intermodal terminal and historic sites in Council Bluffs, “is deeply woven into the fabric” of the community — economically, culturally and historically, she says. “For many residents, working for the railroad is a proud family tradition, and its contributions remain central to the city’s identity and growth. From President Lincoln’s designation to its modern role as a key intermodal hub, the railroad has shaped generations of livelihoods.”
ABI attendees can learn about Council Bluffs’ key role in transportation history by touring the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and visiting the Golden Spike Monument. That role and its importance to the region’s vibrancy continues, Ms. O’Brien is keen to emphasize. “The railroad’s ongoing investments in infrastructure, technology and safety initiatives, along with its significant contributions to the local economy, create a stable foundation for continued economic activity. Visitors will find a city that honors its past while actively embracing innovation, infrastructure modernization and workforce development, making it an increasingly attractive place for businesses and entrepreneurs,” she writes.
Both Mr. LaFerla and Ms. O’Brien urge attendees to dive deep into Council Bluffs’ many attractions. The home of General Grenville Dodge, called “the greatest railroad builder of all time,” Railroad Museum and Pottawattamie’s Squirrel Cage Jail are on the conference’s Council Bluffs History Tour. Other community experiences available include industry tours of Conagra Brands and Black Hills Energy and a public arts tour sponsored by the Iowa West Foundation.
Time is built into the schedule for attendees to explore Council Bluffs on their own. Not to miss is the Hundred Block, where locally-owned businesses keep things “lively morning, day, and night!” according to the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau website.
Attendees who make tracks to local landmarks, experience the city’s vibrant downtown scene and take time to learn what makes the metro’s economy thrive will find their visit memorable.
As Ms. O’Brien puts it, “I hope they leave with a deeper appreciation for Council Bluffs’ past and its exciting potential for the future.” ABI
