Southbridge Business Park Receives Certified Designation

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced that the Southbridge Business Park in Sioux City has been certified through the Iowa Certified Site Program. The Southbridge Business Park consists of multiple properties totaling 272 acres of industrial property located south of Sioux Gateway Airport. One of these properties was previously certified in 2019 and three remaining properties are certified for the first time. 

Mayor Bob Scott stated, "The City Council understands the importance of being shovel-ready in attracting new industrial projects to our community. For years, we've been a regional leader in industrial development, thanks to the City's proactive planning and our ongoing commitment to creating new industrial sites."

The Iowa Economic Development Authority created the Iowa Certified Site Program in 2012 to assist local economic development organizations to better prepare their sites for industrial development. Working in conjunction with Quest Site Solutions, the program was developed based on a combination of national site location standards including suitable soils for construction, plans in place for adequate roads and utilities and proof of no existing wetlands, threatened or endangered species or flood plains. 

With the certification, Sioux City’s industrial sites are better equipped to compete for larger industrial projects. The program follows a rigorous process through which City staff worked with utility partners, Union Pacific Railroad, Iowa Dept. of Transportation, multiple engineering firms, and a variety of federal agencies to prepare due diligence materials proving the site is ready for industrial development. The reports, maps, and other data prepared as part of the process are now available for prospective businesses to review as part of their site selection process. This information can be found here: https://opportunityiowa.gov/business/buildings-sites/southbridge-business-park.

“We’re proud of the progress the community has made in recent years and are confident that our planning efforts will lead to further development in Southbridge,” said Economic & Community Development Director Marty Dougherty. “Certifying these properties will allow us to address site-readiness inquiries and provide detailed engineering data, helping us respond quickly to the needs of prospects.”

About Southbridge Business Park

The Southbridge Business Park is located on the southern edge of Sioux City between the Missouri River and Interstate 29 and is ideal for large-scale industrial projects. Currently, the City owns 272 acres in the park which is served or planned to be served by industrial grade utilities, roads, and other infrastructure to make the land “shovel-ready” for new industry. 

Investments to prepare the area for development include the construction of new roads, a new I-29 interchange set to open in 2027, a water plant, water and sewer utility extensions, an electric substation, natural gas extensions, and various drainage facilities. A major feature of the business park is the 3-track rail yard built by the City in 2015. The yard is served by Union Pacific and has proven to be a major attraction for prospective new businesses to the area. Southbridge is featured by Union Pacific as a “Focus Site” for new industrial development. 

Sabre Industries was the first industry to locate in Southbridge.  The company purchased 150 acres from the City in 2012 to construct an 8-building campus which was completed in 2021 with the opening of a galvanizing facility on the site.  Cold-Link Logistics, a Miami, Florida-based cold storage warehousing firm, opened a 187,000-square foot facility in 2023 (eventually expanded to 343,000 square feet) on a 38-acre site.  A variety of freight companies have also located in Southbridge.

For more information, visit locatesiouxcity.com/certified-sites.