In a first-of-its-kind episode for the Real Success podcast, host Nate Kaeding welcomes Corridor Business Journal Editor Alexandra Olsen and CEO/Owner John Lohman to break down the five most significant business stories that shaped the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor in 2025.
The team’s small but mighty newsroom had their hands full covering a year of remarkable economic activity. Together, they selected stories based on both newsroom expertise and reader engagement data.
Coming in at number five is the Cedar Crossing Casino, which finally received approval after years of debate and quickly rose from the ground in downtown Cedar Rapids. The project promises 1.2 million annual visitors and a $2.25 billion economic impact over its first decade, potentially providing the downtown revitalization boost the city needs.
The conversation takes a more sobering turn with story number four: the $28 million foreclosure of Marc Moen’s downtown Iowa City properties, including some of the district’s most prominent buildings. This exclusive story, broken by CBJ reporter Annie Barkalow, raises questions about commercial real estate challenges affecting markets nationwide.
Number three spotlights the dramatic transformation happening at Iowa City’s I-80 and Highway 1 interchange, where the old Pearson building and 400-acre ACT campus are being reimagined into mixed-use developments—a prime example of turning pandemic-era challenges into opportunities.
The MidWestOne-Nicolet Bank merger lands at number two, an $846 million all-stock transaction that will reshape the region’s banking landscape while raising concerns about losing another publicly traded headquarters.
Topping the list is Iowa’s energy boom and the potential restart of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Center. With data centers driving unprecedented electricity demand, the discussion explores what this $10 billion investment means for Iowa’s future.
The trio closes by looking ahead to 2026’s storylines, from healthcare expansions to downtown revitalization efforts.
Sponsored by MidWestOne Bank, this is the latest edition of the CBJ’s Real Success with Nate Kaeding and notable Iowa business and cultural leaders.
Real Success with Nate Kaeding was named Best Business Podcast at the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards.
