RuffaloCODY adding jobs, new location

A southwest Cedar Rapids business is expanding its presence in the community and adding jobs with state and local financial assistance.

RuffaloCODY, founded in 1991, has outgrown its 27,000-square-foot headquarters and call center at 65 Kirkwood North Dr. on the Kirkwood Community College campus.

RuffaloCODY CEO Al Ruffalo said the company will use a loan from the state, $30,000 in matching tax increment financing approved last week by the Cedar Rapids City Council and state training funds to add 43 full-time administrative jobs paying an average $45,000 plus benefits and 75 part-time call center jobs for Kirkwood students.

The Iowa Department of Economic Development Board on Thursday approved $150,000 from the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Fund as a 50 percent low-interest loan and a 50 percent forgivable loan. It also approved $240,000 in Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training program funds through Kirkwood.

Ruffalo on Thursday thanked Priority One in Cedar Rapids for its assistance in “fast-tracking” the funding process at the state and local levels.

Ruffalo said the company will lease 12,000 square feet of office space at 845 Capitol Dr. SW. Job interviews will begin immediately, with all jobs to be filled by next summer.

“Hopefully I'll be standing here next year at this time to make an announcement of equal size,” Ruffalo said. “Colleges and universities continue to need our enrollment management and fundraising expertise. We are not recession-proof, but we have been recession resistant.”

RuffaloCODY provides fundraising, membership, enrollment solutions and software for colleges, universities and non-profit organizations. It received a $55 million capital infusion in July from North Bridge Growth Equity and Westview Capital Partners of Boston.

Ruffalo said he expects RuffaloCODY's revenue to double to $100 million by 2013.

RuffaloCODY employs 180 full-time employees and 286 part-time employees (students) in Cedar Rapids and another 170 full-time employees and about 2,500 part-time employees on 90 college campuses in the United States and Canada.

Dave DeWitte, The Gazette, contributed to this story.