International Travelers in Greater Des Moines

Welcome to Iowa and its capital city of Des Moines. Even though Des Moines is the third largest insurance capital of the world, you are never far away from farming, because agriculture is one of Iowa's largest industries. Agriculture's impact on Iowa is not limited to farms in the countryside. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, one of the world's largest seed companies, is headquartered in Johnston, a suburb of Des Moines.

We are here to assist you in itinerary suggestions, arranging for city dignitary welcome, individualized visitor information packets and much more. All of our services are available to groups of eight or more.

For further assistance, contact:
Katie Stien
(515) 699-3432
kstien@desmoinescvb.com
International Long Distance Calls
Dial 011 + Country Code + City Code + Phone Number

Country Code
0
International Cell Phone Rental
Global Rental - (800) 7118300

Exchange Rates
Find currency exchange rates here.

Exchange Locations
Bankers Trust Company, N.A.
453 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-2728

Department of Homeland Security
dhs.gov

Iowa Department of Economic Development
iowalifechanging.com
200 E Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-4700
Fax: (515) 242-4809
info@iowalifechanging.com

Location

Iowa comprises approximately 145,741 square kilometers (56,271 square miles), primarily of rolling prairie, located in the middle latitudes between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Elevation changes are small, varying from a maximum of 500 meters to 140 meters.

* Chicago is approximately 536 kilometers (333 miles) east of Des Moines
* Washington D.C. is approximately 1,636 kilometers (1,017 miles) east of Des Moines
* Minneapolis is approximately 393 kilometers (244 miles) north of Des Moines

Des Moines is located at the intersection of our interstate system where I-80 (coast to coast) meets I-35 (border to border).

Translation Services

Iowa Council for Understanding (ICIU)
International Language Programs
cameo.medici@iciu.org

Translators are available for over 40 languages, including:

Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin), Danish, Dari, Dutch, Farsi, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Luyia, Norwegian, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Sudanese (Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk), Swahili, Swedish, Tai Dam, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Agriculture Facts & Events

* 89% of Iowa land is used for farming
* Iowa ranks first in corn and hogs, second in soybeans, sixth in cattle and twelfth in dairy products nationally
* A majority of Iowa crop acres are devoted to corn - 13+ million acres annually
* A single Iowa farm produces enough food and fiber to feed 279 people - one fourth of these people live overseas

Check out the following agriculture events:

• Iowa State Fair - August
• Farm Progress Show - August (of every even year)
• World Pork Expo - June
• World Food Prize - October
• Iowa Power Farming Show - February

Agriculture Tours

Click here for more information.

Important Contacts

Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau
Becky Gruening
Director of Group & International Travel
bgruening@desmoinescvb.com

Iowa Department of Economic Development
Peggy Kerr
International Marketing Manager
peggy.kerr@iowalifechanging.com

Iowa State University
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
agmrc@iastate.edu

U.S. Department of State

Cultural Organizations

The following is a list of ethnic organizations in Greater Des Moines that ensure all people of all backgrounds have access to useful services and information they need.
African American

Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/saa/index.html
Abraham L. Funchess, Administrator
Department of Human Rights – Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3855 or (800) 351-4659
Fax: (515) 242-6110
Abraham.Funchess@iowa.gov

or

Kim.Cheeks, Program Coordinator
(515) 281-3274
Kim.Cheeks@iowa.gov

American Indian/First Nations People
American Indian Council
Indian Employment & Training Program
Jennifer Hunt (Lakota & Omaha)
215 Watson Powell Jr. Way
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 281-9702 or (800) 546-4898

Asian
Iowa Asian Alliance
iowaasianalliance.com
Liem Hua, Executive Director
Regency 1 Building
1501 50th Street, Suite 200
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 309-6047
liem@iowaasianalliance.com
info@iowaasianalliance.com

Asian Indian
Sayes N. Ganpat, President
1223 65th Place
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 222-1622
snginc@aol.com

Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Iowa
iowatemple.org
3392 155th Lane
Madrid, IA 50156
(515) 795-2635

Iowa Commission on the Status of Asian and Pacific Islanders
iowacapi.org/index.asp
Cyndi Chen, Administrator
Lucas Building
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-4223
Cyndy.chen@iowa.gov

Chinese
Chinese Association of Iowa
iowachinese.org
Swallow Yan, President
1947 NW 152nd Street
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 987-2289
iowachinese@yahoo.com

Lao
Wat Lao Buddhavas
Khampheng Manirath, Contact
1824 SE Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 263-1654
Kmanirath@aol.com

Cambodian
Iowa Asian Alliance/Wat Khmer
Liem Hua, Executive Director
Regency 1 Building
1501 50th Street, Suite 200
West Des Moines, IA 52066
(515) 309-6047
liem@iowaasianalliance.com

Japanese
Japan America Society of Iowa
japaniowa.org
P.O. Box 12093
Des Moines, IA 50312

Vietnamese
Vietnamese American Cultural Association
c/o Des Moines Public Schools ESL Program
Casady Central Office Building – DMPS
1801 16th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 371-9759, (515) 242-7853 or (515) 277-7853
vinh.nguyen@dmps.k12.ia.us

Other European
Society of Italian Americans
2200 S Union Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 280-3179

Latino
Division of Latino Affairs
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/la/Index.htm
Armando Villareal, Director
Department of Human Rights
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-4070
Armando.Villareal@iowa.gov

Islamic Resources
Islamic Center of Des Moines
Mohamen Khan
6201 Franklin Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50322
(515) 255-0112

Muslim Community Organization
Mohamed Khan, Imam and Director
1087 25th Street
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 266-7591
mwkhan@mac.com

State of Iowa Resources

Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/saa/index.html
Abraham L. Funchess, Administrator
Department of Human Rights – Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3855 or (800) 351-4659
Fax: (515) 242-6110
Abraham.Funchess@iowa.gov

Or

Kim.Cheeks, Program Coordinator
(515 ) 281-3274
Kim.Cheeks@iowa.gov

Iowa Commission on the Status of Asian and Pacific Islanders
iowacapi.org/index.asp
Cyndi Chen, Administrator
Lucas Building
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-4223
Cyndy.chen@iowa.gov

Division of Latino Affairs
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/la/Index.htm
Armando Villareal, Director
Department of Human Rights
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-4070
Armando.Villareal@iowa.gov