Iowa’s economic development director said the state’s latest record for annual business filings isn’t a surprise and shows the state’s economic power.

Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, responded to a question after Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate reported the state had set its third straight annual record for business filings.

“I’m not surprised to hear we’ve set a new record for number of business filings,” Durham said in interview. “Iowa’s entrepreneur ecosystem is stronger than ever, with solid startup engines and accelerators now established at universities, community colleges and by industry organizations. I like to say in Iowa, it’s one degree of separation rather than six degrees, which means more access for entrepreneurs to state officials, academia, the business community and potential funders.”

Durham said her own organization is seeing the trend toward more business filings. 


“The growth parallels what we’re seeing in IEDA-run programs,” Durham said. “For example, IA SourceLink is recognized as one of the strongest and most active in the country and it provides valuable resources, including access to a ‘business concierge’ for current and potential business owners. Our Targeted Small Business Program certified nearly 100 new businesses in both FY 2017 and FY 2018 compared to about half that in 2016.”

In the year that ended June 30, 23,649 new businesses were created in Iowa, Secretary of State Paul Pate reported. That was up from 21,665 the year before and 20,300 in fiscal 2016. Before fiscal 2016, the state had never seen more than 20,000 new businesses in a year. 

“This is terrific news for Iowa and the state of our economy,” Pate said in a statement. “This shows Iowans have more income that they are willing to invest and create jobs in our state.”

The state launched a new filing system in June that makes it faster to register a business.