Ankeny's #1; no surprise there.

Good morning Ankeny! Today is the first digest of March. We can (almost) smell the fresh flowers. Our thaw mode is activated. Today’s email is going to feel a little shorter; we’re running no sponsors on this one.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chance McCollom

Baker Group plans to build a 37,500-square-foot expansion at its Ankeny headquarters and manufacturing facility at 1600 Corporate Woods Drive. The project will add 100 jobs paying $48.44 per hour or more and represents an $11 million investment from the multi-trade construction company.

The Ankeny City Council is considering a development agreement tonight that would provide a property tax rebate equal to 90% of TIF-eligible property taxes paid on improvements. Construction is expected to begin this summer with completion in 2027.

The expansion will primarily provide space for project management, engineering, and collaborative training areas to meet growing client demand across all sectors of Baker's business. Baker Group currently employs more than 1,300 people, with 500 at its main Ankeny campus. (Info)

U.S. News & World Report just dropped its 2025-2026 Best Places to Live rankings, and Ankeny came in at #18 out of 850 cities evaluated nationwide. We also snagged #1 in Iowa and #11 in Best Small Cities to Live.

The ranking looked at quality of life, job market strength, and desirability; which apparently means our 100+ miles of trails, safe neighborhoods, and solid schools are doing the heavy lifting. The average commute here is 21 minutes, which is exactly the national average, so we're able to pass as "medium impressive" in traffic.

Johns Creek, Georgia took the top spot overall, which is fine. They can have it. We'll be over here enjoying our spot in the top 20 and reminding Des Moines that we beat them again.

If you think a friend should move to Ankeny… Check back next week, we have an upcoming sponsor from a local realtor.

Tyler Folkerts @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️8PM

David Watson @ B&B Theaters | 🕰️6:30-9:30PM

Keith Davis @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️8PM-12AM

Ankeny Community School District earned a "High Performing" rating on Iowa's new district-level School Performance Profile, placing it among just 81 districts statewide in that category. The rating looks at proficiency, student growth, attendance, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness.

At the high school level, both Ankeny and Centennial transcripted more than 18,800 grades at the end of first semester, with over 98% of those being passing marks. Elementary and middle school students continue to show steady progress in reading and math based on mid-year assessments. Looks like Ankeny is full of some smart cookies!🍪

Last November, voters approved funding for what's now called The Innovation Hub; an $80 million hands-on learning center for high schoolers. It's being built on Northview Middle School's south parking lot, with construction kicking off in April and students moving in for the 2028-2029 school year.

Here's what makes it different: The Hub will offer courses like health sciences and agriculture that neither Ankeny nor Centennial currently has. Students will learn in real-world environments; mock hospitals, working gardens, career-focused labs. There will also be short one- or two-week "micro courses" so kids can test-drive different careers before committing.

Rather than duplicate programs across two high schools, the district is centralizing career training in one spot and giving students from both schools equal access. The hope is that it helps students narrow down what they want to do after graduation before they actually graduate.

One casualty: Northview's baseball and softball fields, which will move to a new facility on the south side of town.

Trivia Night @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️7-9PM | Another laid back trivia night with fun competition, drinks and prizes. (Details) 

DJ Bingo @ The Other Place | 🕰️7PM | Free bingo with… A DJ! (Details)

Truckin’ Trivia @ Firetucker Brewery | 🕰️7-9PM | Round up a team, grab a drink, and get ready for a night of Seinfeld-themed trivia. (Details)

Uno Tournament @ B&B Theaters | 🕰️7-9PM | Grab a seat, shuffle up, and get ready for wild cards, revenge Draw Fours, and friendships tested over skips. (Details)

Marquee Night Out @ Sterlings | 🕰️7:30PM | A fun night out where you’ll learn about and enjoy drinks with some friends. Limited spots available! (Details)

The Office Trivia @ Uptown Garage Brewing | 🕰️6PM | Grab your coworkers (or your very own office nemesis), order a drink, and get ready for a night of The Office themed trivia. (Details)

Mom & Son Game Night @ Lutheran Church of Hope | 🕰️7-9PM | Moms and sons age 3 to 6th grade. Crafts, food and a night of games. (Details)

Macbeth Show @ DMACC Campus, Building 5 | 🕰️7:30PM | Free performance of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, adapted by Carl Lindberg. (Details)

Golden Girls Pinball Weekend @ The Operating Room | 🕰️12PM | Women’s weekend pinball tournament. Sign ups start at 11:30. Dress in your Golden Girls attire for a shot at extra prizes! (Details)

Books & Bagels @ East Elementary School | 🕰️9-11AM | (Details)

March - 1st Saturday Breakfast @ Uptown Dairy | 🕰️8AM | Belgian Waffles, Affogatos (I’ve never heard of this either), espresso bar and more! (Details) 

Have anything interesting? Curious about partnerships? Reply to this email. I read every single one!

If you found this useful, share it with someone who claps when the plane lands. We don’t know what to do with them.

Chance McCollom