News & Impact

Founded in 2004 by Phillip and Michelle Dornbier, this family-run business has grown from a home-based operation to a new 2025 facility in Garner’s Touchstone Energy Park. The headquarters consolidates all operations under one roof with updated offices, an in-house repair shop, a wash bay, and amenities for drivers. Prairie Energy Cooperative and Corn Belt Power helped support the project through the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan Program.

Founded in 2001 by Henry Byl and Randy Vreugdenhil, Summer View Partners has grown into a successful hotel management company with eight properties and 170 employees across Iowa and Minnesota. Their newest project, the Fairfield by Marriott in Sioux Center, opened in May 2024 and features 76 guest rooms, meeting space, a wellness center, and a pool. The hotel enhances local lodging options while supporting area businesses, schools, and organizations. North West REC also installed Level 2 EV charging stations as part of its infrastructure support.

Since 1966, ICCC has delivered high-quality education across Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, Fairfield by Marriott Sioux Center was honored for its new hotel. Iowa Central Community College was honored for building a state-of-the-art learning center in Storm Lake. Kids Express Daycare Awarded Grant and Webster City. The college received a Venture Award for Leadership following the construction of a new $10 million, 24,000 sq. ft. learning center in Storm Lake. The facility supports nursing, high school career academies, and adult literacy programs, with future growth planned in trades training. Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative helped secure $2.3 million in low-interest funding through USDA programs.

Founded in 2010 with a single service truck, Richarz Repair LLC has grown into a full-service heavy equipment and heavy truck repair operation based in Larchwood, Iowa. What began as a one-person operation quickly expanded. By 2011 the company had its first full-time employee, and by 2012 a purpose-built facility was constructed outside of Larchwood. The company has continued to grow since, adding buildings and equipment to accommodate an expanding customer base. Today, Richarz Repair employs 45 people and operates 5 service trucks covering a 400-mile radius across the Midwest, serving dairies, feedlots, construction operations, and over-the-road trucking customers. The company carries a full line of heavy equipment and heavy truck parts and recently expanded into the used equipment parts market.

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The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG), in collaboration with its Rural Electric Cooperative partners, proudly honored Metal Wholesale with an Iowa Venture Award.  The presentation was made in conjunction with the annual meeting of Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative in Bloomfield.

Founded in 2015 by brothers Wilson and Abram Weiler in Bloomfield, Metal Wholesale began production of metal roofing materials for agriculture, commercial and residential use.  Ten years later, the company has expanded and now includes six manufacturing locations across four states with an additional new facility in Wyoming currently under construction. Metal Wholesale products are distributed through a dealer network of lumberyards servicing 15 states throughout the Midwest.

As the company grew, it added logistics, trucking, and supply chain divisions to its family of companies under the name Metal Capital.  The company is headquartered in Bloomfield, Iowa, where it employs 45 people. Its total workforce is 107 people.

Metal Wholesale was nominated for this prestigious award by Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative for their entrepreneurial vision and their multiple expansions in the community. To help this growing business, Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative utilized the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan Program to provide Metal Wholesale with the financial backing needed to purchase new equipment and launch two new product lines.

Greg Proctor, Manager/CEO of Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, nominated the company and expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative proudly nominated Metal Wholesale to receive a 2025 Venture Award due to their entrepreneurial vision, innovative spirit, and their ability to inspire others.” He went on to say, “It has been a pleasure to watch the story of Metal Wholesale unfold, and I am so happy Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative has been able to play a small role.”