Our History

With just a single Studebaker truck, Junie Manatt starts his own trucking firm in his hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Junie and his brother Clair join forces in 1951.

The first Manatt’s ready mix plant is established in Brooklyn. A second ready mix plant would be added in Montezuma two years later.

After purchasing Tama Sand and Gravel, the company is formally incorporated as Manatt’s Inc. Merlin Manatt, Junie and Clair’s brother would join the company next year.

The company purchases ground in Newton and begins concrete and asphalt operations and completes its first asphalt paving project. In the following year, Manatt’s would become the first company in Iowa to introduce trenching and subdrain on roadways.

The company purchases Cecil Crouse’s portion of United Concrete in Waterloo. The Manatt’s team completes a 100,000-ton shouldering project on Highway 30.

Manatt’s grows into the Ames market after buying Iowa Road Builder’s asphalt-paving assets and ready mix plant. Along with partner Robins Jackson, the company forms Basic Materials Co. in North Central Iowa.

Manatt’s buys the ready mix supplier C.W. Shirey Co. in northeast Iowa, with headquarters out of Waterloo, doubling its ready mix footprint. Also, purchases Wendling Quarries and IIIowa Investments Co.

Second-generation Manatt’s family members Brad, John, Mike, Tim, and Tony purchase Manatt’s Inc., Wendling Quarries, and IIIowa Investment from Merlin and Junie. The ready mix plant in Grinnell is built.

Manatt’s invents an on-grade recycling system called “The Paradigm” and puts it to use during a PCC inlay job in Jasper County.

The company wins the NOVA Award for construction innovation, thanks to the development of the Paradigm.

1997: Manatt’s celebrates 50 years in business

The company enters the Des Moines ready mix and PCC paving market after buying GNA Trucking and its interest in Iowa Paving Contractors.

The company completes a new state-of-the-art ready mix plant at United Concrete in Elk Run Heights.

Manatt’s begins building the Iowa Speedway—the company becomes a majority owner of the racetrack. Ready mix plants are built in Ankeny and Grundy Center.

The Iowa Speedway, a state-of-the-art 7/8 mile racing facility, opens in Newton. One year later, the track hosts the Iowa Corn Indy 250, the first high-level race for the track. Over 30,000 fans attend.

Manatt’s purchases Allied Construction, Allied Redi Mix, and Greene Limestone, forming a new company: Allied-Manatts Group, LLC. The company also purchases Determann Asphalt in Camanche, Iowa.

Manatt’s thanks our nation’s military with five custom-painted ready mix trucks. The trenching division lays over 700,000 feet of subdrian pipe—a new record. And Manatt’s Waterloo gets a new plant.

PCC division completes I-680 flood repair project with help from Metro division. Manatt’s acquires Flynn Ready Mix in partnership with BARD Materials. PCC division completes its first single lane concrete overlay project open to traffic in Chickasaw County. Manatt’s sells its ownership of the Iowa Speedway.

Manatt’s celebrates 65 years in business. The PCC division buys a new GOMACO GHP-2800 paver capable of stringless paving. Manatt’s also acquired Douds Stone from Douds, Iowa.

The ready mix division unveils three “Concrete Cares” trucks to promote organ donation, the ALS Associations of Iowa, and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society (LLS) of Iowa.

Manatt’s acquires Kimm’s Ready Mix in Blairstown. The company makes a significant donation to Grinnell Regional Medical Center to open the Manatt Family Urgent Care Center.

Manatt's Ready Mix expands market into the Quad Cities, creating East Ready Mix area. Pella and Ottumwa locations were acquired from Skyline to grow South Area presence.

Manatt’s completes a major internal project to outline company values—Family, Excellence, and Human Potential—that help guide all employees as the company continues to strengthen.

Manatt's began partnering with Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) to deliver career development programming that includes leadership training, career education, individualized guidance, and employer services.

When it came time to decommission the Sullivan Brothers Memorial Drums, Manatt's instead saved them and created a monument in Waterloo to honor our veterans.

Manatt's celebrates 75 years of continued excellence in the construction industry. A company-wide celebration was held on the Brooklyn Campus to thank all ofits employees for their continued dedication to our values.

Manatt’s completed work on a 3-phase overhaul of the I80/I35 interchange in Des Moines. These renovations will enhance the traveler experience and improve safety throughout the area.