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MidAmerican touts new facility being built in Decker Development Park

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Workers put up scaffolding Tuesday afternoon at the new MidAmerican Energy site.

A new MidAmerican Energy facility that is under construction in Fort Dodge was celebrated Tuesday with a presentation and beam signing.

The presentation was held at the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, 24 N. Ninth St.

It marked the construction of a new 72,000-square-foot customer office and service center, which is being built in the city’s new Decker Development Park.

The space will consolidate various facilities already in Fort Dodge into a single location.

Speaking to a crowd that included city, county and state officials, Kathryn Kunert, MidAmerican’s vice president for economic connections and integration, said the project is a result of a number of partnerships between MidAmerican and the Fort Dodge area.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Construction workers help a driver get his load of structural steel onto the site Tuesday afternoon at the new MidAmerican Energy site.

Kunert called the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance “a true economic development partner.”

“MidAmerican does have a very strong relationship with our communities,” she said. “We do economic development and we support economic development.”

Kunert said the new facility is an investment in Fort Dodge.

“Obviously that’s something we’re very proud of,” she said. “It shows the commitment to the community, to the region, to our customers and to our employees. We’ve been here for decades and we’re going to continue to be here for decades to bring you our reliable service.”

She added that this is the first new facility being constructed under the MidAmerican Energy name. Kunert said MidAmerican Energy was founded in 1995.

Nearly 60,000 customers are served out of Fort Dodge, which includes direct support for Webster, Hamilton, Pocahontas and Humboldt counties, as well as indirect support for Palo Alto, Kossuth and Wright counties, according to Kunert.

Jim Dougherty, vice president of electronic delivery, called it “a very exciting day, very exciting time for MidAmerican Energy.”

He said the new facility will benefit both customers and employees. Right now there are 66 employees working between the current customer service office and service center, and they’re responsible for a variety of jobs.

“All those folks will reside in this new facility,” Dougherty said. “We’re more than doubling the square footage, so we’re preparing for future growth in the area that Kathryn referenced.”

He added the existing facility has been around since the ’50s, and MidAmerican wants the new customer service and service center to serve the community for the next 100 years.

Adam Wright, vice president for gas delivery, called the new service centers “a very bold vision,” and said they want to make sure they’re the best fit for employees.

“This is a visible, tangible outcome of that bold vision,” he said. “I think it’s going to set us up really nicely for employees to want to come to work, be energized and really be innovative, come up with solutions that help us stay competitive.”

Mayor Matt Bemrich said MidAmerican and Fort Dodge have the same vision.

“It’s the vision to serve our constituency, or serve customers, with the utility,” he said.

Bemrich said the new facility will help benefit not only Fort Dodge, but the area as well.

“The 60,000 people they serve are an important part of not just Fort Dodge, but the greater region,” he said. “Their outlook on regionalism and innovation and vision matches what we want to duplicate in our economic development on a daily basis.”

He added MidAmerican are great partners and leaders in terms of economic development.

“They put their money where their mouth is,” he said. “They put their resources, their time, their talents, to help be that partner that helps you get over the hump. Helps you find the solution to the problem.”

“It’s that type of innovative thinking that’s led to this service center being here in Webster County, in Fort Dodge,” Bemrich added. “To serve not just us, but the greater region, with the opportunity for that region to grow, prosper, use that wind energy, use those resources that they’re investing in to capitalize and create more opportunity in the private sector and to just serve the general public.”

Bemrich went on to say that “MidAmerican’s investment today is the investment for tomorrow.”

Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, also touted the new facility.

“MidAmerican’s new office and service center will be a tremendous addition to Fort Dodge and to the service they provide through the company’s partnership program,” Plautz said. “Many people do not know how much MidAmerican partners with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance in promoting economic development and assisting in our efforts. I’d like to express my appreciation for all they do through their investment in our community which enhances our entire region.”

In addition to the presentation, there was also an opportunity for everyone there to sign a beam that will be used to build the new facility.

It is expected to open in September 2018.

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