Challenges and Opportunities
Through the years, JCC weathered good times and bad. The company, then based in Nevada, Iowa, completed numerous projects in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa area from the late 1950’s through 1971. After completing their largest project, a six-lane reconstruction of Highway #218 (University Avenue) through Waterloo, it was no surprise when the decision was made to purchase the assets of Diesch Constructors, a small concrete paving firm which had operated in Waterloo for 15 years. Jackson chose to operate the entity as a separate firm and, thus, on November 1, 1971, Cedar Valley Corp. (“CVC”) was born.
This acquired company had potential for growth in what was already known to be a rewarding market. Immediate major changes in management and the addition of updated equipment set the stage for expansion. In its early years CVC operated from Commercial Street in Waterloo, Iowa. CVC’s paving projects were located in the major urban areas in Eastern Iowa, where they utilized local ready mix concrete. On the few paving projects that required a plant, they borrowed one from Jackson Construction Company.
In 1975, Robins’ son, Steve, joined Cedar Valley Corp. upon graduation from Iowa State University with a degree in Construction Engineering. After a short stint in the office, Steve assumed the position of paving superintendent in 1977. Jackson held this position until 1982, when he took over project management for the company.
1982 became a watershed year for the subsidiaries that had become positioned under a new corporate entity in the late ‘70’s, the United Jackson Companies. First, after congress failed to pass a new highway bill, potential work in the Midwest became almost non-existent. Therefore, when JCC was offered a chance to work in Louisiana, they jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, the move to the Sun Belt didn’t work out and JCC was shut down in 1984. With JCC gone, competition forced Cedar Valley Corp. to purchase its first central mix concrete plant and to start bidding projects throughout the entire state of Iowa. 1982 also saw CVC join forces with the Manatts to purchase Basic Materials Corp., an aggregate producer with now more than a dozen locations in Northeast Iowa.
In 1985 JCC’s Nevada, Iowa property and CVC’s Commercial Street, Waterloo, property were sold and the entire United Jackson Companies operation was moved to its current location at 2637 Wagner Road in Waterloo, Iowa. The company still houses its home office and shop operation at this location.
Aspro, Inc., a Waterloo asphalt paving firm, was purchased with the Manatts in 1981. |
