Kemin Industries has deepened its roots in Iowa while continuing its strategic growth in global trade and supporting regional economic development.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for its new Des Moines corporate headquarters included a footprint of the more than 90,000-square-foot building with hundreds of Kemin employees inside their future office spaces.
The company has steadily marched forward with its growth plans after an event in October 2010, during one of the worst economic recessions in history; when publicly announcing a $40 million expansion plan that would add new jobs, multiple manufacturing and research facilities and a new global headquarters.
Then in September 2014, Kemin increased the total expansion investment to $125.5 million, more than tripling the initial investment to support its focus on providing safe and healthy food to a growing world.
“We are in a race with the global population growth to find molecular solutions which help improve the lives of others through molecular science that helps feed the world, said Dr. Chris Nelson, CEO and president of Kemin Industries. As lofty as our goals are and as technically complex our research and related science is, our success comes down to relationship – starting here at home. We could not have made this commitment without the help of the City of Des Moines, Polk County, the State of Iowa, and of course, our employees”
“Every time I visit Kemin, I am reminded that this is a global company and can choose to have their corporate headquarters anywhere in the world – and they continue to choose Iowa,” said Gov. Terry Branstad. “Kemin is a family-owned company with a culture of innovation, setting ambitious goals and exceeding expectations. Specifically, a couple of years ago they committed to adding 98 jobs. Instead, they went well beyond that by adding approximately 140 full-time jobs and I am pleased to learn that they are looking to hire even more.”
“Expansions like what we’re seeing at Kemin today are occurring throughout the state of Iowa, which has led to our unemployment rate decreasing to a seven-year-low of 3.8 percent,” said Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. “The careers created by Kemin are high-quality and demand a skilled workforce. Our commitment to companies like Kemin is to continue providing a world-class education that incorporates innovative STEM education to ensure we have a talented workforce ready to fill the jobs of tomorrow.”
The new building is designed as an expansion that will connect the recently opened Molecular Advancement Center (MAC) on the northeast side of the campus to the new headquarters. The headquarters will house nearly 350 employees along with a fitness center and dining facility.
Recent Kemin Des Moines projects:
- 23,000 square-foot warehouse completed in 2012
- 45,000 square-foot, $16.7 million Molecular Advancement Center research facility opened in July of 2013
- 16,000 square-foot, $17 million encapsulated manufacturing facility which will be operational in November
- 90,000+ square-foot corporate headquarters to be completed in early 2017
The corporate headquarters is scheduled to be complete by early 2017. Combined with the MAC the new building will be approximately 125,000 square-feet and complete a 5-year investment of $125.5 million in the greater Des Moines community.
