Big events coming to Des Moines in 2013

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau (GDMCVB) is gearing up for a busy year packed with events. Here’s a quick look at some large-scale events coming to town this year:

The American Society of Animal Science/American Dairy Science Association – This international convention attracts young professionals who have just graduated or will soon graduate from college, which gives employers recruitment opportunities, said Tiffany Tauscheck, the GDMCVB’s vice president of marketing and development.

Date: March 10 to March 13.

Estimated Attendance: 1,200

NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships – The 2013 NCAA wrestling tournament, being held at the Iowa Events Center, promises to be a lucrative event for Des Moines. Tickets for the big meet are sold out, and last year’s sold-out championship event in St. Louis brought in around $14 million, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.

Date: March 21 to March 23

Estimated Attendance: 90,000

USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships – A $15 million renovation to Drake Stadium has helped Des Moines land a major track event for five consecutive years. The city hosted the USA championship back in 2010 and hosted the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

Date: June 19 to June 23

Estimated Attendance: 40,000

U.S. Youth Soccer Association, Region II – About 3,500 players and 12,000 people from 14 states are expected to attend the regional championship. The tournament will attract more than 212 boys’ and girls’ teams, in age categories ranging Under-13 through Under-19.

Date: June 21 to June 26

Estimated Attendance: 12,000

IEDA to lead trade missions to Southeast Asia, Central America

Last year, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) led trade missions to China, Brazil and Chile to help expand trade opportunities for Iowa companies and products. With 96 percent of potential markets lying outside the United States, companies exported more than $13 billion in goods in 2011, according to IEDA figures. This year, the government agency will lead several other international trade missions as well as international trade shows. Here are some upcoming events:

• Vietnam and the Philippines, Feb. 22 to March 2 – Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will lead the mission, which will visit Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila. The mission will focus on increasing exports of Iowa pork to Southeast Asia and fostering export opportunities for Iowa manufacturers that are considering development or expansion in the region.

• Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico, March 17 to March 23 – With more than 19 percent of Iowa goods heading toward Mexico in 2011, the country is the second largest market for the state. Iowa companies exported $167 million in pork and $11.4 million in beef to Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico in 2011.

• EMO Hannover 2013, Sept. 16 to Sept. 21 – The leading trade fair for the metalworking sector will take place in Germany. Participation in the fair can help companies expand in markets throughout western, central and eastern Europe and the Middle East.

• Agri Technica, Nov. 12 to Nov. 16 – The international exhibition for agricultural machinery and equipment will take place in Hannover, Germany.

Those interested in attending the trade fairs or missions can apply for grants, offered through the IEDA and administered through the Small Business Administration.