This Month's Latest Tech News in Des Moines, IA - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Des Moines continues its meteoric rise as a tech and AI capital in 2025, powered by landmark investments and regional collaboration. Google's newly announced $7 billion expansion will double its previous investments in Iowa, adding a Cedar Rapids data center, scaling up Council Bluffs, and cementing the state's role in American AI innovation - a move hailed as a “powerful endorsement” of Iowa's future and workforce by state leaders (Google's $7 billion commitment in Iowa).

Microsoft now operates at least five data center campuses in West Des Moines, contributing over 600 high-skill jobs and making the city a national “epicenter” for AI technology, despite ongoing community challenges around resource use and development (Impact of Microsoft's data centers in Iowa).

At the same time, local organizations like the Greater Des Moines Partnership are actively advocating federal policies to fuel economic and talent growth across the 12-county region, working with over 400 investors and 6,700 business members to keep Des Moines at the forefront of tech-driven prosperity (Greater Des Moines Partnership's 2025 policy agenda).

As hyperscale infrastructure, workforce training, and civic action coalesce, Des Moines positions itself not only as an AI hub, but as a model of inclusive, sustainable tech growth.

Google's landmark $7 billion investment is set to transform Iowa's tech landscape, driving new developments in both Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs as the company more than doubles its prior $6.8 billion spent in the state since 2007.

Anchored by a new $576 million data center in Cedar Rapids and an expansion of existing infrastructure in Council Bluffs, the initiative focuses heavily on cloud and AI technologies as well as workforce development.

With statewide tax incentives, access to renewable wind energy, and strategic partnerships - including a $500,000 fund to train over 700 electrical apprentices - Google's project is expected to create 1,200 construction jobs and at least 100 ongoing operational positions.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell hailed the move as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity that changes the game,” while Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds praised the alignment between Google's sustainability goals and Iowa's clean energy resources.

Emphasizing the national significance, Google's President & COO Ruth Porat stated,

“Our investment in American infrastructure and research will help the world continue to lead in AI.”

For more details on this transformative economic boost, see the Des Moines Register's coverage of Google's $7 billion Iowa commitment, the Gazette's breakdown of the Cedar Rapids data center project, and Google's own announcement of expanded AI and workforce initiatives in Iowa.

Location	Investment	Key Developments	Jobs Created
Cedar Rapids	$576 million	New data center, AI & workforce training	1,200 construction, 100 operational
Council Bluffs	Expansion (part of $7B total)	Cloud/AI infrastructure scaling	Ongoing operational roles

Microsoft's data center expansion in West Des Moines continues at an unprecedented pace, with the city council approving a sixth campus that pushes the company's total local investment beyond $6 billion and establishes West Des Moines as a leading hub for cloud and artificial intelligence operations.

Boasting over 600 acres and five operational campuses - with two new buildings recently greenlit at the Ginger East site - Microsoft's footprint has transformed the region's economy, making data centers responsible for over 10% of the city's tax base and creating more than 400 permanent jobs alongside thousands of construction positions.

Despite significant community benefits, including infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy initiatives, local residents have raised concerns regarding long-term construction, increased traffic, light pollution, and the strain on water resources - Microsoft's facilities consumed 68.5 million gallons in 2024, about 2.62% of the city's total water usage.

A breakdown of major West Des Moines Microsoft projects is shown below for perspective on scope:

Project Name	Location	Size (sq ft)	Year Announced/Development	Notes
Project Osmium	SW Kerry Street	1.7 million	2016	5 buildings; ongoing expansions
Project Ginger East	South of Hwy 5	~1.8 million	2022	New buildings & site expansion
Project Ginger West	Booneville Road	~1.8 million	Recent	180 acres; $1B estimated cost

As Mayor Russ Trimble put it,

“We knew that it was going to be a huge game changer for our community, and it absolutely has been.”

For more details, see in-depth reports from Wisconsin Public Radio's coverage on Microsoft data center expansion in Iowa and Wisconsin, a summary of recent city approvals at WeAreIowa's report on new Microsoft data center in West Des Moines, and the latest site acquisitions documented by DataCenterDynamics' article on Microsoft acquiring land for data center campus in West Des Moines.

Iowa's role as a national hyperscale hub continues to accelerate, as major technology companies drive an unprecedented data center boom across the state. In Altoona, Meta's $2.5 billion, 5-million-square-foot campus is on track for completion in 2025, marking it as Meta's largest global facility, while Apple is expanding its $1.4 billion, 400,000-square-foot Waukee data center to support North American users and fuel local economic growth (Iowa Data Center Central: Meta and Apple's Expansions).

Newcomer Edged is making headlines with a $187 million, 105,000-square-foot facility in Ankeny featuring ultra-efficient waterless cooling and 13.2 MW critical capacity specifically for next-generation AI workloads (Edged Breaks Ground on AI-Optimized Data Center in Des Moines).

Meanwhile, Cedar Rapids has landed more than $1.3 billion in investments from QTS and Google, with QTS' 612-acre campus using water-free cooling and pledging $18 million over 20 years to a community betterment fund (QTS and Google Cement Cedar Rapids as a Data Center Hub).

The table below summarizes key projects powering this surge:

Company	Location	Investment	Size / Capacity	Key Features
Meta	Altoona	$2.5B	5M sq. ft.	Largest Meta campus, AI-ready
Apple	Waukee	$1.4B+	400K sq. ft. (+expansions)	100% renewables, community funding
Edged	Ankeny	$187M	105K sq. ft., 13.2 MW	Waterless cooling, AI optimized
QTS	Cedar Rapids	$750M	612 acres (300K–1.4M sq. ft. per building)	Water-free cooling, phased growth

“The types of jobs at data centers are electrical, mechanical, networking, computer and systems engineers and technicians... Data centers have raised awareness for these positions, which are also found in other industries in our area... Having these companies here also helps put us on the map as a great place to work at a tech company.” – Stacie LoVan, Senior VP, Greater Des Moines Partnership

In a major boost to tech education accessibility, the Mark Cuban Foundation - partnering with Corteva - is launching its renowned, no-cost AI Bootcamp for the first time in the Des Moines area this November.

High school students in grades 9-12, especially those from underserved communities, can apply to join a three-weekend program that demystifies artificial intelligence and showcases its real-world career applications across fields like healthcare, business, computer science, sports science, arts, and education.

“As AI becomes an undeniable force, it's crucial to open the door to this knowledge, especially for young people,” said Mark Cuban, underscoring the importance of broadening access to emerging technologies.

The bootcamp, hosted and staffed by Corteva - a leader in agricultural innovation leveraging AI - provides free lunch, transportation assistance, and technology for all participants.

No prior coding or computer science knowledge is required, ensuring equitable entry for first-generation college-bound students and those from low- to moderate-income households.

As Brian Lutz of Corteva highlights, their use of AI delivers advanced crop solutions, inspiring students to envision technology's impact in any industry. For more details and to apply by September 30th, visit the official Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp site, read the full announcement on Yahoo Finance's Mark Cuban Foundation and Corteva partnership article, and explore Corteva's wider mission at their official corporate website.

Below is a quick summary of the key bootcamp details:

Program	Audience	Tracks Offered	Support Provided	Dates
Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp (Des Moines)	Grades 9-12, focus on underserved/underrepresented youth	Healthcare, Arts, Business, Computer Science, Sports Science, Education	Free lunch/snacks, transportation, technology	Nov. 1st, 8th, 15th, 2025

The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) team is earning national recognition as a finalist in the 2025 Community College Innovation Challenge, thanks to its breakthrough “smart tapering vaporizer with AI-coaching” project.

Designed to help combat nicotine addiction, the team's AI-CQD device integrates real-time habit analysis, personalized psychological reinforcement, and adaptive tapering strategies for a structured quitting journey, exemplifying how student-led STEM innovation can address complex health challenges.

As described by AACC President and CEO Walter Bumphus,

“The finalist projects showcase the incredible talent and creativity of the nation's community college students...these student leaders...are positively impacting our daily lives.”

With the finalists heading to an Innovation Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., they will sharpen their entrepreneurial and STEM leadership skills while pitching to a panel of experts on Capitol Hill (read more about the Community College Innovation Challenge finalists).

Simultaneously, DMACC is expanding its AI footprint through a new Artificial Intelligence AAS degree launching Fall 2025, offering hands-on training in machine learning, data science, and neural networks, with fully online options and industry-informed curriculum (explore DMACC's Artificial Intelligence AAS degree program).

This momentum mirrors nationwide trends spotlighted in the healthcare sector, where AI-driven solutions - from remote monitoring and autonomous coding to personalized care - are recognized as game changers (discover the Top 25 Healthcare AI Companies of 2025), underlining DMACC's leadership in nurturing the next generation of tech talent making real-world impact.

In response to a disturbing incident involving AI-generated explicit images of students at Cascade Junior/Senior High School, Iowa's educational and policy leaders are accelerating efforts to tackle deepfake abuse and strengthen digital safety.

The Western Dubuque Community School District outlined a multi-step action plan that includes coordination with law enforcement, improved communication policies, and support services for affected students, while maintaining legal compliance with FERPA restrictions.

A special school board meeting convened after families petitioned for transparency and reform, with emotions running high as parents demanded concrete measures and accountability from district officials.

As reported in the school district's official update, the district conducted internal reviews, offered counseling, and engaged directly with victims to refine future protocols.

According to the coverage by KWWL News, the events have sparked calls for stronger state and federal policies targeting AI misuse and deepfake technology in schools.

The situation highlights a growing national debate: as a cybersecurity expert warned, “You can ruin people's lives” with synthetic media - emphasizing the urgent need for both technological safeguards and legislative clarity in Iowa's classrooms as digital threats evolve.

NarrateAR, a startup founded by an Iowa State University professor, is breaking new ground by leveraging artificial intelligence to support students with disabilities, highlighting the region's commitment to inclusive technology.

Reflecting findings in a recent CoSN report on AI and accessibility in education, NarrateAR's technology focuses on personalized learning, utilizing tools like text-to-speech and AI-integrated augmentative communication to tailor content for students' diverse needs - while also reducing teacher burnout by automating tasks.

However, the push toward AI-driven accessibility comes with challenges such as data privacy and algorithmic bias, emphasizing a need for ethical, transparent development.

As CoSN's CEO Keith Krueger notes:

“By placing a strong emphasis on inclusive design, implementing comprehensive policies and fostering ongoing professional development, we have the opportunity to create a future where every student, regardless of their background or abilities, can thrive and reach their full potential through the thoughtful integration of AI.”

These developments mirror broader trends discussed in resources like the AMA's exploration of augmented intelligence in medicine, which highlights both the promise and responsibility of implementing AI for community impact.

The growing local embrace of such AI initiatives positions Des Moines as a leader in accessible edtech innovation, aligning with the city's ongoing transformation as a regional tech hub.

For more on AI's transformative role in Iowa education, explore this in-depth research analysis of AI's impact on accessibility.

Federal staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) and its parent agency, NOAA, are sparking significant debate in Iowa as experts warn of degraded forecasting accuracy heading into peak tornado season.

Recent layoffs, which reduced NOAA's workforce by as much as 25%, have forced some NWS offices nationwide to scale back vital weather balloon launches and even suspend overnight operations, heightening concerns for communities dependent on timely severe weather alerts.

While the Des Moines and Quad Cities offices continue twice-daily balloon releases, reductions in neighboring regions mean less atmospheric data for models - a development meteorologists believe will erode forecast precision over time.

“The funding cuts risk the safety of Americans, who rely on the agency to release weather hazard warnings and provide forecasting during an emergency,” said David Stensrud, President of the American Meteorological Society.

The shortfalls are already felt: between 2010 and 2025, NWS lost roughly 600 employees, with another 1,000 layoffs planned, prompting warnings from academics that “improvements in forecast accuracy have come because of research.

Cuts in NOAA's research branch would have a very negative impact.” To address critical gaps, private companies are deploying AI-based models and localized radar to supplement federal forecasting, but forecasters emphasize that human expertise remains essential (How National Weather Service cuts could impact Iowa, Can AI Fill the Gaps?, NOAA's Impact on Daily Life in Eastern Iowa).

The following table summarizes key impacts:

Change	Details
NOAA Budget Cut	25% (proposed for 2026)
NWS Employees Lost	600 (2010-2025); 1,000 more planned
Weather Balloon Launches	Reduced/suspended at 11+ offices; Quad Cities continues

“They're a great partner, and a lot depends on what we hear from them on how we do our jobs. Weather affects so many different things that we don't even realize how it affects people and events.” - Kim Elder, Marshall County emergency management coordinator

Drake University Law School in Des Moines has launched a pioneering Artificial Intelligence Law Certificate Program, making it one of the first in the Midwest to offer specialized legal training at the intersection of technology and jurisprudence.

The program, spearheaded by Associate Professor Sayoko Blodgett-Ford and prioritized by Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr., provides upper-level J.D. students unique interdisciplinary coursework, including AI policy, privacy, cybersecurity, machine vision, and quantum computing issues.

Blodgett-Ford highlights this as “a transformative, interdisciplinary approach,” with collaborations spanning the Institute for Justice Reform & Innovation and Drake's undergraduate AI degree.

The curriculum is robust, combining at least 18 credits across foundational courses, experiential learning, and electives. Central learning outcomes focus on practical and ethical analysis, critical research, collaborative problem-solving, and clear client communication.

As Dean Jones, Jr. noted,

“The AI Law Certificate empowers students to lead at the intersection of law and technology - whether in private practice, government, nonprofit, policymaking or academia. Artificial Intelligence is not just changing industries; it's reshaping governance, ethics, and the very framework of legal systems.”

For a breakdown of program structure, see the table below:

Component	Details
Core Courses	AI & the Law, Policy & Governance, Privacy & Cybersecurity
Electives	Environmental Law, Compliance, Copyright, Administrative Law
Experiential Training	Contract Drafting, Mediation, Clinics, Moot Court

Students and legal experts are already praising the curriculum for its real-world relevance and ability to prepare graduates to address legal challenges arising from rapid advances in AI. Learn more about the program at the official Drake Law School announcement, explore the detailed Artificial Intelligence Certificate overview, and read further coverage in Law360's report on Drake's AI Law Certificate launch.

Homesteaders Life Insurance, a national leader based in West Des Moines, is redefining end-of-life insurance through a strategic embrace of AI and digital innovation.

In 2024, the company launched integrations with solutions like Benekiva and the EXL LifePRO® platform, enabling fully digital claims processing and dramatically enhancing service resilience; Executive Vice President Nick Gerhart noted,

“We've seen the combination of Benekiva and LifePRO® transforming customer experience and enhancing customer journeys”

(digital insurance claims partnership).

Homesteaders' AI-driven infrastructure supports funeral businesses with tools for preneed sales, CRM systems, grief support resources, and ongoing customer engagement - helping funeral homes maintain contact with client families and handle complex estate settlement tasks.

A recent report spotlights the sector's digital pivot, revealing that 65% of individuals now use AI regularly, while 91% of adults leverage smartphones and digital tools to connect with service providers (statistics for funeral professionals in 2025).

Meanwhile, financial stability remains strong: AM Best Company recently reaffirmed Homesteaders' A- (Excellent) rating, reflecting record asset growth, profitable lending programs, and sustained investment in technology for customer and agent success (AM Best rating news).

As the company invests in intelligent automation and consumer-facing technology, it sets a forward-thinking benchmark for both the local insurance industry and Iowa's expanding tech landscape.

Des Moines is forging a new identity as a hub for tech growth and inclusive innovation, highlighted by a citywide focus on workforce development, new infrastructure, and educational opportunity.

This July, the Tech Hub LIVE Conference & Expo marks its fifth year in Des Moines, convening ag tech leaders to explore efficiency and sustainability, with state and industry experts emphasizing technology's role in resilience and advancement.

As keynote speaker Jeff Blair noted,

“We're navigating a tough landscape, but we're not standing still. With the right tools - automation, data analytics, precision systems - we're not just adapting, we're advancing.”

The city's commitment to building a future-ready workforce is further demonstrated by nearly $4 million in state grants supporting regional Career Academy expansions, giving high school students pathways to industry certifications and college credit in in-demand fields - a move praised by both Governor Reynolds and education leaders for connecting classroom skills to workplace needs (Iowa Department of Education awards nearly $4 million to expand Career Academy opportunities).

Major tech investments, including Edged's groundbreaking AI-optimized data center offering 13.2 MW of capacity and advanced, waterless cooling systems, further reinforce Des Moines' bid to lead in sustainable digital innovation (Edged breaks ground on data center in Des Moines, Iowa).

While economic headwinds in manufacturing and agriculture remain, the collaborative push across education, tech, and business - including accessible upskilling through options like Nucamp Bootcamp - points to a city proactively shaping a more inclusive and technologically empowered future (Tech Hub LIVE marks 5 years of ag tech innovation in Des Moines).