John Deere Earns Civic 50 Recognition for Fourth Year in a Row
Company’s Community Commitment Aligns with Its investment in American Manufacturing
John Deere has been named one of America’s most community-minded companies for the fourth straight year. The Civic 50, presented by Points of Light, honors companies that prioritize social impact and civic engagement. Deere joins a group of U.S. firms recognized for integrating community support into core business operations. John Deere employees volunteered more than 340,000 hours in 2024 — a 31 percent increase over the previous year. That’s a new record for the company. These hours included mentoring youth, supporting education programs and helping with hunger relief. The John Deere Foundation also awarded $61.7 million to nonprofit organizations last year. Since its founding in 1948, the foundation has distributed over $400 million in total. That’s pretty amazing. According to this press release:
“We’re honored to receive this recognition from Points of Light,” said Taryn Edgin, director, Community Relations and president, John Deere Foundation. “It reflects our commitment to trust-based philanthropy and unrestricted giving while highlighting the incredible efforts of our employees, who work tirelessly to improve our customers’ lives while building stronger communities.”
Key milestones from 2024:
- 115,000 youth supported
- 4 million hours of STEM education delivered
- 600 employee mentors engaged
- $12.2 million in multi-year grants for food and education
Why It Matters to Equipment Owners
Contractors, landscapers and fleet managers expect performance from the brands they buy. But buying from a company with deep community roots matters too. When you buy from John Deere, you’re supporting a business that invests in the towns where its machines are built. Deere helps train future workers, support families in need and build stronger local economies. Those actions benefit entire regions — including the ones where customers live and work.
$20 Billion Pledged to U.S. Manufacturing
Deere isn’t just investing in people. It’s also making long-term bets on its U.S. manufacturing base. The company recently pledged $20 billion over 10 years to build new factories, expand existing plants and enhance worker training.
Highlights include:
- A new excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina
- A $13.5 million remanufacturing facility in Strafford, Missouri
- Assembly line upgrades in Waterloo, Iowa, and Greeneville, Tennessee
Since 2019, Deere has invested $2.5 billion in U.S. factories and $80 billion in domestic supplier networks. The company operates 60 facilities in over 16 states, with 30,000 U.S. employees and a further 50,000 at John Deere dealerships.
A Brand That Builds More Than Equipment
John Deere’s commitment to civic leadership and U.S. investment gives customers more than just durable machines. It gives them confidence in the company behind the iron — one that invests in the workforce, local economies and the future of American manufacturing. For compact equipment pros, that matters.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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