Dallas County is officially home to three certified sites, after Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announced Perry as one of the six communities included in the second round of locations in the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s certified site program.

The Perry Industrial Park has 134 developable acres of land available for light industrial or agricultural usage.

The certified site program was rolled out in May of 2014.  It is designed to consider a combination of national site location standards, along with the state’s natural assets and industry needs.

Local officials, utility partners and consultants have been working toward this designation since 2013.

Dallas County’s other two certified sites, which were included in the first round of announcements last year, are in Dexter and Van Meter.  All three sites are managed and promoted by the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance.

Other locations that were included in Monday’s announcement are sites in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Norwalk, Marion and Mason City.

In related news, Branstad also announced a new Green Certification initiative Monday as part of the Iowa Certified Site Program.  This will recognize “the growing demand for environmentally sensitive design for companies that are committed to reducing the environmental impact of development.”

Woodward’s Eco Business Park will serve as the pilot site for the new program, with additional applications being accepted in July of 2016.