City of Ames, IA

What City of Ames, IA does

The City of Ames, Iowa is a full-service municipal government entity founded in 1864 and headquartered at 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, Iowa. It delivers essential public services to residents and businesses within city limits through 18 departments staffed by 500+ employees, spanning electric distribution (Ames Electric Services, in operation for over 120 years), water and wastewater treatment (Ames Water Plant, Water Pollution Control), public safety (Police, Fire, Emergency Communications), public transit (CyRide, operated jointly with Iowa State University), parks and recreation, public works, planning and housing, animal control, and general administrative functions.

The city's underlying technology infrastructure includes utility management systems, emergency communications platforms (Rave Public for alerting, GovDelivery for e-notifications), digital resident-service tools (Ames on the Go integrated with SeeClickFix for issue reporting, ParkMobile for parking payments), and an online services portal supporting utility billing, permits, and reservations. The website is localized into 13 languages to serve a diverse resident population. Service delivery occurs through City Hall, departmental offices, community facilities including the animal shelter and water treatment plants, the CyRide transit network, and digital channels.

The City of Ames funds operations through property taxes, utility fees (electric, water, pollution control), licenses and permits, and state and federal grants. Revenue is collected under statutory authority granted by Iowa Code, with the Board of Review exercising authority over property assessments. Pricing on utility rates and permit fees is set by city ordinance. Customer segments consist of all Ames residents and businesses as the captive service population, with Iowa State University and Story County serving as key institutional partners rather than revenue customers. The city also maintains sister-city relationships with Koshu City, Japan and Podujeva, Kosovo through the Ames International Partner Cities Association, and operates 18 resident-volunteer boards and commissions supporting civic governance.

Name

City of Ames, IA

Legal name

City of Ames, Iowa

Website

https://cityofames.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The City of Ames, Iowa is a full-service municipal government serving Ames residents and businesses with 500+ staff across 18 departments, providing electric, water, and wastewater utilities, public safety, transit (CyRide), parks, housing, and community engagement services funded by taxes, utility fees, and permits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Property taxes collected from residential and commercial properties within the city limits to fund general operations, public safety, and municipal services.
2. Utility Fees: Revenue from electric services, water treatment, and pollution control services provided to residents and businesses.
3. Licenses and Permits: Fees collected for building permits, business licenses, rental property registration, animal licenses, and various city permits.
4. State and Federal Funding: Grants and funding from Iowa state government and federal agencies for infrastructure, public safety, and community development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The City of Ames, Iowa is a full-service municipal government providing essential public services to residents and businesses of Ames. Its core offerings include municipal electric, water, and wastewater/pollution control utilities; public safety services (police, fire, emergency communications); public transit (CyRide); parks and recreation; planning, housing, and inspections; animal shelter and control; community engagement programs; and permitting/licensing. These services are delivered through 18 departments and divisions employing 500+ staff, plus a digital self-service portal.

Product overview

The City of Ames, Iowa operates as a full-service municipal government offering a comprehensive portfolio of resident services and utilities. The city's product portfolio includes utility services (electric, water, and pollution control), public transit (CyRide), community engagement programs (Strong Neighborhoods, HOST, Human Relations Commission), environmental sustainability initiatives with rebate programs, municipal services (animal shelter, block party trailer rentals, mobile issue reporting via Ames on the Go), and neighborhood development programs. These services are delivered through a network of 18 departments and are supported by digital platforms for parking, emergency alerts, and e-notifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ames on the Go Mobile reporting platform that allows Ames residents to submit reports on municipal issues such as potholes, broken signals, and storm drain problems with photo submission and issue tracking. Powered by SeeClickFix.
• CyRide Public Transit Public transit system serving Ames with fixed routes, Dial-A-Ride paratransit service for people with disabilities, and Moonlight Express late-night service. Operated in partnership with Iowa State University and ISU Student Government.
• Ames Animal Shelter Municipal animal shelter providing animal adoption, foster programs, lost and found pets, volunteer opportunities, and wildlife management services for the Ames community, achieving a 98%+ animal placement rate.
• Street 'N' Greet Block Party Trailer Community rental program providing a mobile party trailer equipped with street barricades, tables, benches, canopy tent, portable lights, and outdoor games for neighborhood block party events.
• Ames Electric Services Municipal electric utility providing power distribution to Ames residents and businesses with over 120 years of service history, including Smart Energy rebate programs for energy efficiency.
• Water & Pollution Control Municipal water treatment and pollution control services ensuring clean water supply and wastewater management for the Ames community.
• Community Engagement Programs City programs connecting residents with local government, including the Engagement Coordinator role, Ames Human Relations Commission, ADA coordination, and Belonging & Inclusion initiatives.
• HOST (Homeless Outreach and Support Team) Collaborative partnership between Ames organizations providing connections to housing, food, utility assistance, and support services for homeless individuals in the community.
• Strong Neighborhoods Program Neighborhood development initiative including Neighborhood Associations, Neighborhood Connections Road Trip, Neighborhood Improvement Grants, and community building events.
• City of Ames Rebates Program Financial incentive programs promoting energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainability including Smart Energy Rebates for residential customers, Commercial Energy Rebates for commercial and industrial customers, and Smart Watersheds rebates for native landscaping, rain barrels, and composting.
• Homelessness Action Plan Collaborative initiative between City of Ames and Story County to develop solutions for homelessness, including a comprehensive action plan and network of service providers addressing housing assistance, food security, and related resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98%+ animal placement rate - animals are placed in new homes or returned to original owners

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ames-Story County Homelessness Service Providers NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Network of public agencies and non-profit human services organizations working together to address housing needs, including housing assistance, homelessness support, food security, and other vital resources. In April 2025, the City and County commissioned a comprehensive homelessness action plan.
• Iowa State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership where ISU is a key stakeholder in the Ames community. ISU participates in CyRide transit governance (Transit Agency Board of Trustees), ASSET human services funding committee, and various city-university coordination initiatives. ISU Student Government is represented on the Transit Agency Board.
• Story CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on human services including the 2025 Ames-Story County Homelessness Action Plan study commissioned by both entities. Story County participates in the ASSET (Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team) program for coordinated human services planning and funding.
• United Way of Story CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the ASSET (Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team) program for coordinated human services planning and funding alongside City of Ames, ISU Student Government, and Story County.
• Koshu City, JapanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sister city partnership through the Ames International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) promoting cultural and educational exchanges between the two cities. AIPCA has four delegates appointed by the Mayor.
• Podujeva, KosovominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sister city partnership through the Ames International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) promoting cultural and educational exchanges between the two cities. AIPCA has four delegates appointed by the Mayor.
• HOST (Homeless Outreach and Support Team) CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative including Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames Police Department, ARCH-MGMC, Salvation Army, and community organizations working together to provide housing assistance, transportation support, and homeless outreach services. Coordinates with Project Share for utility assistance to low-income customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• City of Waterloo, IA: Iowa municipal government operating municipal utilities, transit, and public safety. Comparable departmental structure and revenue diversification.
• City of Fort Dodge, IA: Mid-sized Iowa municipal government with comparable full-service profile. Similar scope of utility, recreation, and community-service delivery.
• City of Urbandale, IA: Iowa municipal government serving the Des Moines metro with full-service operations. Comparable governance structure and tax/utility revenue mix.
• City of Marion, IA: Mid-sized Iowa municipal government with similar administrative structure and service portfolio. Comparable scale of operations and resident-services model.
• City of Council Bluffs, IA: Iowa municipal government with comparable full-service operations and elected-council governance. Similar departmental breadth and revenue model.
• City of Ankeny, IA: Fast-growing Iowa suburb-municipality with similar full-service operations including utilities, parks and recreation, and community engagement programs.
• City of Dubuque, IA: Mid-sized Iowa municipal government with own utilities, transit, and full departmental structure. Comparable in scope of public services and revenue model diversity.
• City of Iowa City, IA: Comparable Iowa municipal government operating its own utilities, public transit, and full-service departments. Both are university-adjacent cities (Iowa City with University of Iowa) with similar full-service municipal profiles.
• City of West Des Moines, IA: Larger Iowa municipal government operating utilities, parks, and public safety services. Comparable governance model and revenue mix including property taxes and utility fees.
• City of Cedar Falls, IA: Iowa municipal government serving a similar-sized college town (University of Northern Iowa). Operates municipal utilities and comparable departmental structure, making it a direct functional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityofames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AmesChannel12
• Facebookfacebook.com/cityofames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-ames-iowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/CityofAmes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Ames, IA