ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, ISU Research Park President Rick Sanders, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, and Ames Mayor John Haila at the new Collaboration Place expansion site which was celebrated at an Aug. 28 ribbon cutting.

AMES, Iowa — The Ames Chamber of Commerce hosted an Aug. 28 ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of Collaboration Place. This new section of Collaboration Place will link University Boulevard near the Economic Development Core Facility to Riverside Drive on the east border of the Iowa State University Research Park. The project provides the necessary infrastructure to allow more accessibility as expansions take place and businesses join the Research Park.

The estimated $3.2 million project was funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the City of Ames and opens up 100 new acres in the Research Park.

Wednesday’s event featured speeches from U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, Ames Mayor John Haila, ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, Vice President of Economic Development and Industry Relations and Raisbeck Endowed Dean of the Ivy College of Business David Spalding, Sarah Schinckel, Lead for Tech Stack Innovation at John Deere, Stu Anderson, Director – Planning/Programming/Modal Division at the Iowa DOT, and Research Park President Rick Sanders.

The speakers touted the potential economic impact, innovation and growth that will come of this newly available property.