An employee-owned company in Cedar Rapids is expanding to the Chicago and Omaha markets. Van Meter, Incorporated distributes 800 different brands of electrical and mechanical products to contractors as well as industrial and commercial clients. It operates out of 14 locations in Iowa and has just completed its purchase of Bright Electrical Supply in Chicago.

Bright is a leading lighting distributor in the Chicago area. Its offices in Chicago will keep the Bright Electric name. Van Meter executives say they plan to open a branch location in Omaha by the end of March to serve customers in Nebraska.

Van Meter has operations in Burlington, Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keokuk, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Urbandale and Waterloo. Van Meter’s product line includes lighting as well as data communications and power transmission equipment. Once the Omaha branch is opened, Van Meter will be operating out of 16 locations in three states.

(Radio Iowa)