Newton Rail Park Earns IEDA Site Certification

July 27th, 2026

Major milestone advances Iowa Interstate Railroad’s next-generation industrial rail park in Newton, Iowa

Newton Rail Park has reached a major milestone with Iowa Economic Development Authority site certification approval for significant portions of the more than 400-acre industrial rail park in Newton, Iowa. Less than one year after Jasper County and Iowa Interstate Railroad, LLC completed a landmark public-private land agreement to establish the park, public- and private-sector leaders gathered on July 9, 2026, to celebrate the achievement and the momentum behind one of Iowa’s most strategically positioned rail-served industrial developments.

Back Row (L – R): Frank Liebl (Executive Director, Newton Development Corporation), Joe Parsons (President & CEO, Iowa Interstate Railroad). Henry Posner III (Iowa Interstate Railroad Chairman), Phil Schneider (Principal, Global Location Strategies), Dennis Jordan (Director of Customer, Community, & Economic Development, Alliant Energy) Mark Ernst (Sr. Account Manager, Black Hills Energy), Nick Peterson (Manager of Economic Development, Alliant Energy), Brandon Talsman (Board Commissioner, Jasper County), Randy Ervin (Mayor, City of Newton), Jeff Davidson (Executive Director, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation).
Front Row (L – R): Jim Bowman (Sr. Director Economic & Site Development, Iowa Interstate Railroad), Debi Durham (Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority), Amanda Accola (Sr. Account Manager, Alliant Energy).

Certified, Connected and Ready for Growth

Located near Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 6, Newton Rail Park is designed to help companies move faster and invest with confidence. IEDA site certification confirms that key due diligence—including environmental and archaeological reviews, utility assessments and mitigation planning—has been completed, reducing risk and helping shorten development timelines.

“Newton and Jasper County continue to raise the bar when it comes to preparing sites for investment,” said Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority. “Newton Rail Park’s certification demonstrates how that kind of partnership and planning can position communities to compete for high-impact projects and strengthen Iowa’s economy.”
“Nearly one year ago we announced our partnership with Iowa Interstate Railroad for the development of a new industrial rail park located just north of Newton. This group of public and private partners, comprising the Iowa Interstate Railroad and Jasper County, has created a unique opportunity for economic development, benefiting both Jasper County and Central Iowa.” – Brandon Talsma, Chairman, Jasper County Board of Supervisors
“The Newton Rail Park will be the cornerstone for generations to come in Newton. The opportunity for growth for jobs, housing and business development is unlimited.” – Randy Ervin, Mayor, City of Newton

Positioned in the heart of Iowa’s agriculture ecosystem, manufacturing base, green energy economy and greater Des Moines workforce, Newton Rail Park is emerging as a premier location for rail-served industrial growth. The park is home to IAIS’s Newton Rail Terminal and the newly developed $9 million Renewable Energy Logistics Center, a truck-to-rail transload facility serving wind energy companies and other industries.

Backed by a strong public-private partnership, Newton Rail Park is the only industrial park in Iowa with an on-site railroad terminal. Project partners include Iowa Interstate Railroad, Jasper County, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation, Newton Development Corporation, the City of Newton, Alliant Energy, ITC Midwest and Black Hills Energy.

“We understand and value the importance of site readiness and how professional site selectors and their business prospects expect sites that offer true speed-to-market,” said Henry Posner III, Chairman of the Board, Iowa Interstate Railroad, LLC. “Now that Newton Rail Park has achieved site certification from IEDA, it is shovel-ready and positioned to attract companies that will bring high-quality jobs, infrastructure and new opportunities to central Iowa.”

The Iowa Certified Sites program has become an important tool for communities competing for high-impact investment. Since the program began in 2012, it has helped attract more than $2.23 billion in capital investment to Iowa. Newton Rail Park’s certification reinforces the site’s readiness and strengthens its position as a competitive destination for companies seeking rail-served access, strong infrastructure and room to grow.

Explore Newton Rail Park: We invite site selectors and prospective customers interested in rail-served development opportunities to contact Jim Bowman at Iowa Interstate Railroad to learn more about available sites, infrastructure, transload capabilities and customized logistics solutions.