Newton’s two at-large city council members made statements at the City Council meeting this week discussing their excitement for projects currently going on in the city. Joel Mills highlighted his enthusiasm for projects going on downtown and a future softball complex by Iowa Speedway, while Randy Ervin focused on new housing being built in Newton.

Mills said “We have so many great things happening downtown, Project Fastpitch, there’s a lot of good things happening around Newton.” Ervin added “There are a lot of good things in 2025 you are going to be hearing about in the next few weeks and months. If you go out to Arbor Estates and see all the new houses being built, it is a great time to be in the City of Newton.”

Seventy-eight market-rate apartments have just opened downtown in building 18 of the former Maytag campus, which is now known as Legacy Plaza. In northeast Newton, several new homes are under construction in the Arbor Estates Phase Two subdivision. Project Fastpitch, a $30-million  indoor/outdoor softball complex, is projected to break ground mid year. Ervin calls it a national and regional project.

“This is a project we need to get behind. It’s good for the City. It’s good for the future. It increases tourism and provides local jobs, and is great for Iowa.”

Newton’s closed windblade manufacturing plant is also scheduled to re-open this year, creating 300 to 400 jobs.