City of Laurens

What City of Laurens does

The City of Laurens is a municipal government entity located in northwest Pocahontas County, Iowa, officially platted on December 24, 1881. It serves approximately 1,258 residents (2010 census) and brands itself "The Busiest Little Town in Iowa" due to its concentration of major industrial employers including Jack Link's, BOBALEE Hydraulics, Fisher Hydraulics, and Positech Corporation. The city is governed by an elected Mayor (Rod Johnson) and five-member City Council, administered by City Manager/Clerk Hilary Reed, with department heads overseeing public works, water, sewer, streets, solid waste, police, fire (volunteer), library, and parks & recreation.

The city delivers a comprehensive portfolio of municipal services. Utility services include water (in-city: $17.94/month + $11.55 per 1,000 gallons; out-of-city: $28.41/month), sewer ($12.88/month + $6.70/kgal), garbage ($11.51 + $11.63/month with $1 stickers for extra bags), storm water ($3.25/month residential, tiered commercial), and electric/internet/telephone through Laurens Municipal Power & Communications (LMPC). Public safety is delivered through the Laurens Police Department, Laurens Volunteer Fire Department (21 volunteer firefighters maintained for over 100 years), and ambulance service affiliated with Pocahontas Community Hospital. Recreation infrastructure includes the newly built 2025 Laurens Aquatic Center, an 18-hole golf course, multi-segment crushed-limestone trail system, the Time to Spare Campground, multiple parks, and the Laurens Public Library (24,833-item collection, 39,820 circulation reported in 2014).

The revenue model is fundamentally that of a municipality: property tax levies set by City Council resolution combined with subscription-recurring utility fees billed monthly and ancillary fees for campground stays ($15/night), swimming lessons ($30/session), and commercial garbage services. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer within city limits through City Hall (272 N 3rd Street), municipal utility infrastructure, parks & recreation facilities, the library, and partner sites including UnityPoint Health, Laurens Care Center, and the Northwest Career Academy. Economic development is coordinated with Pocahontas County Economic Development and the Laurens Chamber & Community Boosters to attract and retain major employers.

Name

City of Laurens

Legal name

City of Laurens

Website

https://laurens-ia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The City of Laurens is a municipal government in northwest Pocahontas County, Iowa, serving 1,258 residents with water, sewer, electric, internet, telephone, solid waste, storm water, public safety, library, and parks & recreation services, including a new 2025 aquatic center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Waste Collection (56211), Other Waste Collection (562119), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Wastewater and water treatment
• Public library services

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary municipal revenue source through property taxation, with annual budget cycles and tax levy determinations by City Council. Property tax rates set through resolution process with public hearings.
2. Water & Sewer Utility Fees: Monthly service charges plus per-gallon usage fees for water; monthly service charges plus per-gallon fees for sewer. Rates set by city ordinance.
3. Solid Waste & Garbage Fees: Monthly residential garbage pickup fees, landfill fees, and commercial dumpster services. Additional sticker fees for extra garbage bags.
4. Electric, Internet & Telephone Services: Revenue from Laurens Municipal Power & Communications (LMPC) providing electric, internet, and telephone services to residents and businesses.
5. Storm Water Fees: Monthly storm water charges based on property type and impervious surface area.
6. Campground Fees: $15 per night camping fees at Time to Spare Campground.
7. Swimming Pool & Swim Lessons: Revenue from swimming pool operations including $30 per session swimming lessons for children ages 5 and up.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The City of Laurens is a municipal government that provides essential public services to its residents and businesses. Its core offerings include municipal utilities (water, sewer, electric, internet, telephone via LMPC), solid waste collection, public safety (police, fire, ambulance), recreation facilities (aquatic center, golf course, trails, campground, parks), public library services, and economic development support.

Product overview

The City of Laurens offers a comprehensive portfolio of municipal services and community facilities. The city's product portfolio includes utility services (water, sewer, garbage/recycling, electric, internet, telephone via LMPC), public safety (police, fire, ambulance), parks and recreation facilities (aquatic center, golf course, trail system, campground, multiple parks), library services, and economic development programs. The most significant recent addition is the 2025 Laurens Aquatic Center, a state-of-the-art facility that replaced the existing Earl Macke Memorial Swimming Pool. These services are provided directly by the city government and are funded through utility rates, taxes, and fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water & Sewer Services Municipal water treatment, distribution, and sewer/wastewater services provided to Laurens residents and commercial customers. Water rates include $17.94 monthly service charge + $11.55 per 1,000 gallons within city limits; $28.41 monthly service charge outside city limits. Sewer rates include $12.88 monthly service charge + $6.70 per 1,000 gallons.
• Garbage & Recycling Services Residential garbage pickup at $11.51/month plus $11.63/month landfill fee (includes 2 bags, extra bags $1.00/each with sticker). Commercial dumpster services with tiered pricing from $28.64 (light commercial) to $124.12 (5 dumpsters).
• Laurens Municipal Power & Communications (LMPC) City-owned municipal utility providing electric, internet, and telephone services to Laurens residents and businesses.
• Storm Water Services Monthly storm water charges based on property type and impervious surface area. Residential rate $3.25 per single family unit per month; commercial rates $7.50 (<7,000 sq ft), $15.00 (7,000-30,000 sq ft), $25.00 (>30,000 sq ft).
• Laurens Aquatic Center (Earl Macke Memorial Swimming Pool) State-of-the-art swimming pool facility opened in 2025 at 602 E. Veterans Road, Laurens, open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Offers public swimming, $30 per session swimming lessons for children ages 5 and up, and swim team programs.
• Laurens Golf & Country Club Municipal golf course at 12582 Highway 10, Laurens, offering 18-hole golfing, clubhouse dining, and membership options.
• Time to Spare Campground City-owned campground at Sportsman's Park offering $15 per night camping with water/electric hookups, fishing pond, playground, and access to trails.
• Trail System Crushed limestone trail network including Laurens Prairie Preservation Trail (0.8 mile), Sportsman's Park Trail (0.5 mile), and Prairie Park Trail connecting trail segments.
• Parks System Multiple parks including Sportman's Park (ball fields, disc golf, fishing pond), Memory Lane downtown park, and Downtown Park with playground equipment.
• Laurens Public Library Public library at 273 N 3rd Street, Laurens, offering books, media, reference materials, patron computers with internet, interlibrary loan, and children's programming. Library collection of 24,833 items with 39,820 circulation in 2014.
• Police Department Services Public safety law enforcement provided by the Laurens Police Department at 107 Highway 10 West, with support from the Pocahontas County Sheriff's Office.
• Voluntary Fire Department Services Fire suppression and emergency response by the Laurens Volunteer Fire Department, which has maintained an average of 21 volunteer firefighters for over 100 years.
• Ambulance Service Emergency medical services provided as a satellite service of Pocahontas Community Hospital, serving Laurens and surrounding area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Library collection of 24,833 items with 39,820 circulation (2014 data)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• UnityPoint HealthcoreOthersHealthcare clinic providing family medicine services to Laurens and surrounding area residents at 307 Highway 10, Laurens, IA 50554
• Pocahontas Area Community SchoolcoreOthersWhole-grade sharing agreement for grades 9-12; students from Laurens-Marathon attend Pocahontas Area Community School for high school education
• Pocahontas County Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partnership promoting Laurens businesses, workforce development, and business attraction
• Laurens Chamber & Community BoosterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber organization promoting community events, businesses, and tourism through Facebook and community activities
• Laurens Care CentercoreOthersSenior health and rehabilitation facility providing long-term care and senior services to local residents
• Pocahontas Community HospitalcoreOthersParent organization of Laurens Ambulance Service, providing emergency medical services as a satellite service
• Iowa Central Community College - Northwest Career AcademystrategicOthersCareer and technical education (CTE) for high school students, adult education, and hands-on company training offered at the Northwest Career Academy facility
• Alliant EnergycoreOthersGas service provider for Laurens residents, with contact at 800-ALLIANT

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• City of Fort Dodge: Larger regional Iowa municipal government providing the same categories of municipal services (utilities, public safety, parks, library) but at significantly greater scale and with broader service portfolio.
• Tyler Technologies: Leading software vendor serving municipal governments with ERP, utility billing, and public records platforms — comparable as a technology/services provider to the small-city municipal administration market Laurens operates in.

Direct peers

• City of Manson: Very small Iowa municipality in the same region, providing the same core municipal services (water, sewer, solid waste, parks, emergency services) to a similarly sized rural population.
• City of Algona: Larger northwest Iowa municipal government operating a comparable municipal utility and parks/recreation stack, with overlapping regional economic development coordination.
• City of Pocahontas: County seat of Pocahontas County, Iowa; a similarly sized rural Iowa municipality providing overlapping municipal services (utilities, public safety, parks) and sharing economic development partnerships with Laurens.
• City of Emmetsburg: Small northwest Iowa municipal government of comparable scale, offering a similar portfolio of utilities, parks/recreation, library, and public safety services to residents and local employers.

Others

• CivicPlus: Provider of municipal website, civic engagement, and recreation management software specifically built for small and mid-sized local governments like Laurens.
• Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities: Industry association serving Iowa municipal utilities (electric, gas, water, telecommunications) — directly relevant as Laurens operates its own LMPC electric/internet/telephone utility.
• Iowa League of Cities: Membership association representing Iowa municipalities, providing training, advocacy, and resources to city governments of Laurens' size and scale.

Regional players

• Alliant Energy: Regional gas utility serving Laurens and surrounding Iowa communities; a comparable utility provider operating in the same regional market, though focused on gas rather than Laurens' full municipal utility stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Xx.com/LaurensIowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Laurens