Musco’s investments in facilities, technology and workforce capture the evolving future of manufacturing in Southeast Iowa
Publish Date: 2026-06-12 07:10:00
Source Domain: www.businessrecord.com
From a small city in Southeast Iowa, Musco Lighting helps illuminate some of the world’s biggest stages.
The company manufactures customized lighting systems for venues ranging from neighborhood ball fields to iconic sports facilities such as Wrigley Field and AT&T Stadium, and its products are used in more than 135 countries.
Now, the manufacturer is expanding its facilities at its Oskaloosa headquarters and 90 miles east in Muscatine, as demand continues to grow.
Musco recently completed a 74,000-square-foot office renovation and expansion in Oskaloosa and is preparing to break ground on a new 94,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility in Muscatine.
The investments come as manufacturing continues to play a major role in Southeast Iowa’s economy. Manufacturing accounts for 26% of the workforce in Mahaska County, where Oskaloosa is the county seat, compared with 14.2% statewide, according to Iowa Workforce Development.
Manufacturing employment in the county grew 4% last year, while employers across the region continue to report plans for expansion and growth.
“We were running out of space,” said Shelly Herr, president of Musco. “We wanted to make sure that we’re providing opportunities for our team not only to have a place to sit, but to grow and learn.”
The expansion, completed last summer, includes additional workspace, conference rooms, collaboration areas, a greenhouse and coffee bar. The project also added a parking garage and new amenities designed to support employees and visitors.
The investment reflects the growth Musco has experienced since Joe Crookham and Myron Gordin purchased Muscatine Lighting and Manufacturing Co. 50 years ago. Today, the company employs about 2,100 people worldwide, including more than 800 in the Oskaloosa area.
LED technology fuels growth
For Musco, much of that growth can be traced to a shift that has transformed the sports lighting industry over the past decade:…
