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October 2010
West Central Iowa Development Bulletin
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 Director's Report
By: Jason E. WhiteThe Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) recently held a conference at Stephens Auditorium in Ames. The event literally took "center stage" as the original venue, the Scheman building, was shut down due to destruction resulting from summer flooding. The theme of the event centered on "Business Retention & Expansion", otherwise known as BR&E. One of the early sessions featured three site selectors. Site selectors are consultants who represent the handful of businesses each year which are seeking to relocate or expand somewhere in the Midwest, United States, or even internationally. My question to the site selectors related to BR&E. I asked, "We economic developers always want to get leads from you so that we can compete for new business. However, it frightens us to think that our companies might be contacting you to find a location outside of our area. What are some reasons why companies choose to leave?" The three site selectors collectively came up with the following answers: 1) The business concept for the company has changed and they are no longer a good fit for the area (e.g. company started out manufacturing toasters and now are making aircraft components). 2) The workforce makeup is a problem (e.g. the company cannot find the right people with the right skills for their operation). 3) The company is under different ownership as a result of a merger or acquisition (and the new owners decide to move the company elsewhere). 4) The company's lease expires on their existing building (and they perhaps also have a difficult relationship with their landlord or with the community for some other reason). Contrarian to popular belief, companies are rarely lost because another community decides to give the company more incentives. In sum, our existing companies are other area's best prospects. Are we, as a region, doing everything we can to keep our companies happy?
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| Connect and Follow! | |
Connect to Midwest Partnership EDC on social networks.
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| Become a Member |
Support area economic development by becoming an investor-member of Midwest Partnership! Email info@midwestpartnership.com for more information. |
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To have your event listed on our website and in this monthly newsletter, email: info@midwestpartnership.com |
| Midwest Partnership EDC Staff | |
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| Board of Directors |
Executive Committee:
Mike Underwood, President, Guthrie County
Sid Jones, Vice-President, Greene County
Brett Irlmeier, Secretary, Audubon County
Warren Varley, Treasurer, Adair County
Mike Carey, Immediate Past President, Guthrie County
Scott Homan, Adair County
Troy Wessel, Audubon County
Norm Fandel, Greene County
Eric Tiernan, Guthrie County
Adair County:
Duane Armstead
Merlyn Brown
Ryan Frederick
Renee Schwartz
Matt Wedemeyer
Audubon County:
Lyle Hansen, Jr.
Jason Hocker
Todd Nelsen
Tom Nielsen
Greene County:
John Clark
Mary Jane Fields
Rick Morain
Amy Milligan
Teresa Mobley
Brad Wilson
Guthrie County:
Steve Bireline
Mike Dickson
John Rutledge
Forrest Schnobrich
Jack Smith |
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| Holiday Open House at MWP
Stop by for refreshments, meet the staff, check out improvements
 Midwest Partnership EDC invites you to a come-and-go holiday Open House December 1st - 3rd. Stop by anytime that Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between 8am and 4pm for some delicious treats, a chance to meet our three-person team, and the opportunity to check out our office and recent improvements. If you're receiving this newsletter, you're invited! We look forward to seeing you!
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| Renewable Fuel Progress Continues
Biomass Field Day held, IRFA encourages voting in KCCI poll
 A biomass field day held south of Stuart saw a tremendously successful turnout. The event featured the demonstration of new-age corn cob collectors that can be attached to combines. The cobs collected could then be transported to a proposed SynGest facility near Menlo, which has plans to turn corn cobs and other biomass into bioammonia. Representatives from several implement companies, as well as statewide agricultural groups, seed companies, SynGest, and Midwest Partnership EDC, got a chance to speak during the lunch provided. The event was organized by Southern Iowa RC&D and the Adair County Corn and Soybean Association.
 In related news, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is encouraging Iowans to vote on a recent KCCI poll after a story the news station did related to proposed changes that would allow a 15% ethanol blend to be sold by gas stations in Iowa. The IRFA says the story was one-sided and is hoping Iowans will show their support for ethanol by voting in the supplemental poll. You can find it here.
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| Region Great Fit for Biosciences
Video highlights reasons why company located here
 A video filmed and produced by Midwest Partnership EDC shows why West Central Cooperative chose the region as the location for their SoyChlor facility. Milan Kucerak, vice-president of soy processing and nutrition at West Central, discusses in the video the workforce quality and transportation infrastructure. Check out the video on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
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| MWP Counties Rank High Studies
Health, quality education, and business support strong in region
 The Rural Renaissance Community Index research project conducted by the Iowa State University College of Human Sciences looked at 128 rural communities across Iowa which display high levels of economic activity, as well as a wide array of services and other amenities. Those communities were then ranked against each other based on several economic and quality of life factors. All four county seats in the Midwest Partnership EDC region were included in the survey, and did particularly well in health, quality education, business support, as well as other categories.
- Greenfield ranked #3 in the state for business support per capita, #7 in overall tax rate, #9 in 11th grade math proficiency, and #10 in 11th grade reading proficiency.
- Audubon ranked #1 in the state for 8th grade math proficiency, #2 in 11th grade math proficiency, tied for 1st with three other communities for total number of sunny days per year, #6 in average math and reading scores for school children, #7 in 8th grade and 11th grade reading proficiency, and #10 for healthy residents and for percent of residents in the same house since 1995.
- Jefferson ranked #2 in the state for percent of gay and lesbian population in the community.
- Guthrie Center ranked #4 in the state for healthy residents, #6 for overall tax rate, and #9 for business support per capita.
Find the full RRCI report and more details by clicking here.  Meanwhile, County Health Rankings released their annual study, which ranked three of the four counties in our region in the top half of Iowa counties for health outcomes, which include factors like premature deaths and percent of the population in poor or fair health. Audubon County ranked #27, Greene County ranked #42, Adair County ranked #47, and Guthrie County ranked #70. Find the full Iowa report here.
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| Audubon Co. Business Connections
Major employers will help identify economic development priorities
 Staff and board members from Audubon County Economic Development (ACED) and Midwest Partnership EDC will soon be visiting leading employers in Audubon County. The Business Connections project happens every other year in counties covered by Midwest Partnership.
The 'Business Connections Initiative' provides identified employers the opportunity to weigh in on a number of issues, pro and con, impacting their ability to be successful in Audubon County. Later, larger strategic issues are identified to help build a better future for businesses and their workers. Finally, responses are aggregated and benchmarked against other counties.
Visits will be conducted in November. Individual company responses are confidential, but aggregated results will be reported at various ACED meetings and further utilized as the organization performs strategic planning.
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| New Signage for Local Byways
Lincoln Highway, Western Skies Byway both have new design
 New signage is set to be in place, if it's not yet already, along the region's two official state byways. The Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway (Greene County) and Western Skies Scenic Byway (Audubon and Guthrie counties) are among the dozens of featured roadways to get the updated designs. Work on placing the signs was to start in October.
 They were created by the state program, in conjunction with each respective by way committee and Shive Hattery Architecture and Engineering.
The two byways are among only 11 official byways in the state of Iowa.
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MWP Region Sales Study
Region sees significant sales leakage, but excels in areas
 The Iowa Department of Revenue recently released retail sales data for fiscal year 2009, as reported by tax returns filed with the State of Iowa. The study shows the counties of Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie well below the state average for taxable sales per capita. The region's combined average sales per capita is $5,347, while the statewide average is pegged at $11,468.
Two communities in the Midwest Partnership region outperformed the state average in sales per capita. Panora companies turned over $18,246 per capita in sales, while Adair saw $14,839 per capita. All four of the region's county seats came in just below the state average, ranging from $10,105 to $10,595 per capita.
Breaking down the sales by category shows the region's strengths in the types of businesses located here. Of the total sales in the four counties covered by Midwest Partnership, more than half of the total dollars in sales came from just four categories: Utilities and Transportation, Service, General Merchandise, and Wholesale.
To see the full report, including how individual communities stacked up against each other and how the region compares to the state, click here.
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| MWP Staff Present to WCV Students
Entrepreneurship class hears about being in business
 Deb Bergemann's entrepreneurship class at West Central Valley High School heard all about starting and maintaining a business, as well as the importance of business in a sound economy, this month when the Midwest Partnership EDC staff were asked to make a presentation. Michael Cooley and Sarah Gomez each took time discussing their own part-time businesses they've started, followed by a presentation from Jason White about the steps involved with starting a business and the impact businesses have on local economies. We're hoping the students had as much fun as the Midwest Partnership staff did!
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| Macke Discusses Entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurship development was key focus
 Don Macke, director of strategic engagement for the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) at Lincoln, Nebraska, engaged a dozen Greene County residents in a distance education opportunity to look at the importance of entrepreneurship in regional economic vitality. Most notably, Macke says even though half of our region's young people leave high school with plans of coming back, only 20% of them do. Of that 20%, nearly half of them are looking to run their own business. According to Macke, studies by the RUPRI show that communities and regions investing more in entrepreneur support are experiencing more economic growth than those that aren't.
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White Finishes Term as PDI President
Midwest Partnership EDC executive director enjoyed time in position
 Jason White, executive director for Midwest Partnership, turned the gavel over to president-elect Kathryn Kunert at the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) fall summit held at Iowa State University's C.Y. Stephens Auditorium last month. During White's tenure, PDI met its membership goals, protected legislative tools like tax increment financing (TIF), held several events, and enhanced the level of dialogue with leaders at economic development and workforce agencies. White will remain on the board of directors for at least another year, serving as past-president.
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Industrial Park Signs Installed
Two of three parks now advertised thanks to several funders
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Other Economic Development Tidbits
Preservation Iowa deadline approaching, wind energy future bright
 Preservation Iowa's Most Endangered Properties List has helped boost awareness of unique historic properties that may soon no longer be there without help. Several properties listed over the years have seen enhanced support and dollars to go toward renovation efforts. The deadline for the 2011 list is November 5th to submit an application for a building that is in danger of 'going extinct'. The nomination process is simple, and you need not have ownership in the property to submit a form. Find the nomination form here. Thanks to Koester Construction for providing the details and offering assistance to those interested in the program.
 Meanwhile, the future of wind energy in the Midwest Partnership region is looking brighter following the results of a study released by MidAmerican Energy and partner AEP called Smart Transmission. According to the report, a proposed transmission line is needed for the growth of wind energy and should be in place by 2025. The line would ship wind energy from the Midwest to the East Coast, and one branch of the line would move through Greene, Guthrie, and Adair counties before heading east. Click here to view the full report.
 Also, State of Iowa Energy Sector Partnership grants were recently announced, two of which will impact the Midwest Partnership region. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association will get $400,000 to provide safety training for all of Iowa's 39 ethanol plants, including the three in our region. Additionally, the Southern Iowa Green Jobs Partnership will utilize nearly $300,000 in grant money to create a wind energy training program at Southwestern Community College to initially train around 50 employees.
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| Investor Highlight: Manufacturing
Providing quality jobs, economic growth, and great support
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| Resource of the Month |
Entrepreneur Startup Guides
 Thanks to the assistance of the North Central Iowa Small Business Development Center, our office has a great library of literature available for check out. We have Entrepreneur Startup Guides on almost any type of business you might be looking to begin. Whether you're want to get into the car wash business, start your own graphic design business, or become a personal shopper, you can find a wealth of knowledge in these binders.
Each binder is packed with hundreds of pages that cover the industry from start to finish. Find out everything you need to know - the challenges, the opportunities, how to set prices, doing market research, finding the right location, legal and financial issues, publicity, and so much more.
To find out how to check out one of these helpful startup guides, call, email, or stop by our office. You can reach us by phone from at 515.523.1262, email sgomez@midwestpartnership.com, or stop by our office at 615 S. Division Street, Stuart, Iowa - in the lower level of the Rolling Hills Bank & Trust building.
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About Us
Midwest Partnership EDC is the non-profit, collaborative economic development organization formed to strengthen the economic vitality of the communities of Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie counties of west central Iowa. |
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