Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (January 28, 2026) – Layton Construction, Weitz Company, and QTS team members, in partnership with Meals from the Heartland and the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), packaged 32,400 meals for Iowans facing food insecurity.
One in Six Children in Iowa is Battling Hunger
January marks National Poverty in America Awareness month. On January 28, Meals from the Heartland brought ingredients and equipment directly to the Layton-Weitz jobsite, where 130 construction workers and staff assembled the meals. HACAP then delivered the packaged meals to local food banks.
“Layton-Weitz construction teams are proud to stand with Cedar Rapids and strengthen the local food bank network,” said Blake Westbroek, Vice President of Operations at Layton Construction.
The Layton-Weitz partnership brings together two leaders in data center and mission-critical construction to build a QTS data center campus. For the team, being part of the community means more than delivering infrastructure.
“This effort is driven by our people and their desire to serve in the community where we live and work,” Westbroek said. “Ensuring thousands of meals are available to local families is exactly the kind of impact we want to have.”
This seven-building data center campus represents a landmark investment in Iowa’s technology economy. At peak construction, the multiphase data center is expected to employ over 4,500 high-quality construction and permanent jobs, providing a boost to local employment and to Cedar Rapids’ growing role in the technology economy.
“We are committed to being a part of the community in every sense,” said Andy Bates, Director of Operations at Weitz. “Fighting hunger is a mission-critical priority for us this month, and we want our impact to be felt long after the workday ends.”
About Meals from the Heartland
Meals from the Heartland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering communities to fight hunger through meal packaging and delivery.
About HACAP
The Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving nine Eastern Iowa counties, committed to empowering families facing poverty.
Have questions about Layton Mission Critical? Or have a data center project coming up? Get in touch with our team to discuss.
About Layton Construction
Layton Construction is a privately held national general contractor, delivering predictable outcomes in commercial construction since 1953. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton operates from 16 strategic offices across the United States, employing more than 1,700 construction professionals who serve diverse markets including healthcare, education, commercial office, industrial, hospitality, and multi-unit residential. Founded on the core values of honesty, unity, safety, and quality, Layton has built a reputation for excellence in complex project delivery while maintaining strong partnerships with clients, architects, and trade partners nationwide.
Considering the complexities of cold storage facilities, their construction demands a specialized approach and expertise. And with such a rapidly growing market, key players like Layton are primed and poised to step up.
Layton depends heavily on the expertise and capabilities of our trade partners. Led by Cherelle Cortez, our Trade Partner Engagement and Development team is focused on increasing economic impact and the growth of our trade partners.