DeJong, whose annual salary will be $99,382, received a bachelor’s degree in community and economic development from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning with a concentration in economic development from the University of Iowa. 

Originally from Newton, DeJong has worked for the cities of Coralville and Dubuque. In Dubuque, he led efforts to redevelop and revitalize historic districts and buildings downtown which helped lure IBM to the eastern Iowa city.

DeJong became Louisville, Colo.’s economic development director in 2012. The city, with about 21,000 residents, is located between Denver and Boulder.

“Aaron made his mark on Iowa economic development with his role in Dubuque’s successful recruitment of IBM to our state,” Urbandale’s assistant city manager and economic development director Curtis Brown said in a prepared statement.