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February/March 2011
West Central Iowa Development Bulletin
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The Organization is Strong
By: Jason E. White
I like quotes. One quote that I particularly like at this point in time comes from Benjamin Cardozan, who wrote in The Nature of the Judicial Process, "Nothing is stable. Nothing absolute. All is fluid and changeable. There is an endless 'becoming'."
These words certainly ring true in economic development, as a local economy is never truly stagnant. Businesses start, decline, and grow. Some companies even go out of business in spite of best intentions and strong effort. Forces at various levels exert "change" onto a local economy - some of which we can control, some of which we cannot.
Change, too, is coming to our organization in a different form right now. As you might have heard, our three person staff will be losing two people very soon. Michael Cooley, the organization's Economic Development Coordinator, will leave on March 10. I will be leaving on March 24. While we are both excited about our new opportunities, we have great love and appreciation for the organization. We will miss all of our friends, partners, funders, and stakeholders.
Transitioning forward, I encourage you to continue supporting Midwest Partnership EDC. Never before has the organization been in such good shape for the future. I was very proud, for instance, with the organization's receipt of the Silver Shovel Award by the Iowa Area Development Group. Also, in addition to a strong base of public sector support, the private sector has never been more supportive of our efforts to help businesses in our region grow and recruit new ones to the area. Every county in the region has a handful of economic development projects. Board members are determined to see the organization's mission succeed. During the last five years, the organization's reputation has been enhanced as one that keeps its word and follows through on its promises.
Change is oftentimes difficult, but it is our reaction to change that reveals true character. Thank you for the support. I will miss you.
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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 [email protected] for more information. |
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Upcoming Events |
3/19/11 - Legislative Briefing (Audubon) 3/19/2011-3/20/2011 - Country Players Community Theater (Audubon) 3/24/2011 - "Music of the Germanic Lands" (Audubon) 3/31/2011 - "The Courage to Continue" (Audubon) 4/7/2011 - Gardening Program with Paul Walther and Guests (Audubon) 4/13/2011 - Adair and Guthrie counties Storm Spotter Class (Menlo) See the full list of events.
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List Your Event! |
To have your event listed on our website and in this monthly newsletter, email: [email protected] |
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 Marty Fisher
Ryan Frederick
Renee Schwartz
Matt Wedemeyer
Audubon County:
Lyle Hansen, Jr.
Jason Hocker Sam Kauffman
Todd Nelsen
Tom Nielsen
Greene County:
John Clark
Mary Jane Fields
Rick Morain
Amy Milligan
Teresa Mobley
Brad Wilson
Guthrie County:
Steve Bireline
Everett Grasty
John Rutledge
Forrest Schnobrich
Jack Smith
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Steve Carter Capstones Dinner Event
Attendees learn more about ISU's job-creating research park
Nearly 100 community and business leaders from Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie counties recognized regional economic development successes at the Midwest Partnership EDC annual dinner meeting on January 27th at the Lake Panorama National Conference Center. The group also left better informed about key Iowa State University facilities that can help small businesses and entrepreneurs in the area succeed. Steve Carter, director for the ISU Research Park and the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, topped the event with a presentation on the programs he manages.
Carter discussed with the group how the ISU Research Park has helped fifty businesses successfully start up and grow in Iowa, accounting for over 2,000 jobs. The facility was founded in 1986 and currently provides 69 companies and research units with over 350,000 square feet of space. Those companies also get access to key research facilities at Iowa State University, including USDA labs and other specialized facilities. Additionally, the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship helps to provide internships for students at these companies and has created entrepreneurship courses in all of ISU's separate colleges.
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Silver Shovel Award for Organization
Midwest Partnership recognized for successes throughout region
Midwest Partnership EDC received a special recognition at its annual dinner meeting, as the Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) bestowed its coveted Silver Shovel Award upon the organization. The Silver Shovel Award honors outstanding leadership, innovation, and achievement in business and community development, as well as collaboration with IADG and its utility partners. IADG is the business and community development leader for Iowa's rural electric cooperatives, member municipal electric systems and independent telephone companies.
Rand Fisher, IADG president, presented the award to Midwest Partnership EDC executive director Jason White, highlighting numerous accomplishments of the organization, like the regional and statewide leadership by White in a variety of economic development matters, as well as other strategic planning and marketing initiatives for businesses and communities within Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie counties.
The award also came with a $1,000 check presentation from the IADG Community Foundation, which will allow Midwest Partnership EDC to advance economic development through contributions to local nonprofit organizations.
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Guy Powell Award to Local Family
St. Gregory Retreat Center founders receive honor
Mike and Rose Marie Vasquez, founders of the St. Gregory Retreat Centers in Bayard and Adair were recently recognized for their contributions to economic development by Midwest Partnership EDC, the four-county economic development organization that covers Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie counties. The Vasquez's were the recipients of the organization's Guy Powell Award, presented at Midwest Partnership's annual dinner meeting.
The Guy Powell Award was established in honor of the late Guy Powell of Greenfield, who served as president of the Midwest Partnership EDC board of directors and was an active volunteer in several other community organizations.
The Vazquez's were nominated by Jeanne Haverman of Bayard. Jeanne, assisted by her husband Gary, mayor of Bayard, presented the award. She noted the economic impact of St. Gregory in the two communities.
The family of Guy Powell was also present at the dinner to assist in honoring the Vasquez's. This is the second year the award has recognized the economic development contributions of an individual in the Midwest Partnership EDC region.
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Bireline Recognized for Board Service
Guthrie County business owner rounds out three-year term
Outgoing Midwest Partnership EDC board member Steve Bireline of Adair was recognized for his service to the organization at their annual dinner meeting in January. Bireline was one of eight representatives for Guthrie County who serve on the board.
Midwest Partnership EDC board directors govern the affairs of the organization. Directors lead the quarterly meetings, are responsible for creating a strategic plan, approve a budget, plan events, and provide community-level representation for the organization.
Bireline, owner of Westline Fencing & Material, completed a three-year term on the board. At the Midwest Partnership EDC annual dinner, Steve received a certificate in honor of his service to the organization.
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Bridgewater Office Complex Space
Community group offers to lease space in former elementary school
Bridgewater Activities Center, LLC, the corporation that purchased the former elementary school building in Bridgewater is making former classroom space available for lease to small business owners or other companies interested in office space. Each office space is approximately 900 square feet and includes direct outdoor access and bathrooms. Tenants would also enjoy reduced-rate access to the community center space, and the grounds also offer a basketball court and walking trail. To see all the buildings and spaces available in the Midwest Partnership EDC region, click here.
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Venture Award to Local Business
Puck Custom Enterprises honored in Des Moines
The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) in December presented the distinguished Venture Award to Puck Custom Enterprises, Inc., of Audubon County. Ben and Kathy Puck started their custom manure handling systems in the late 70s. Over time, the company began to make design improvements to their manure application equipment, which spurred growth and demand for their umbilical cord design spreader. The company has captured both national and international interest for their products and service.
IADG President Rand Fisher says the Iowa Venture Award is highly regarded as a business achievement and recognition awards program with a strong history. The family received recognition at a ceremony held in December in Des Moines.
Puck Custom Enterprises was nominated for the award by Western Iowa Power Cooperative.
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GCDC Secures Brownfield Funds
Dollars will help with renovation of industrial building in Jefferson
The Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) was recently approved for funds from the Iowa Department of Economic Development in the amount of $45,000 from the Iowa Brownfields program. The funds will allow GCDC to acquire a 33,000 square foot industrial building. The building is currently owned by Chicago Rivet, which left the community of Jefferson in 2007. The company employed roughly 35 people at that time. Once acquiring the building, GCDC will renovate the building in the hopes of making it available to an expanding Greene County manufacturer. The company involved would like to create approximately 20 jobs to start, and possibly more in the future. GCDC had earlier sought and received funding assistance from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to complete a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment of the building and site. The Phase 1 report was completed by Environmental Resource Services. Region 12 Council of Governments assisted in the completion of the Iowa Brownfields application, which was sponsored by the Greene County Supervisors.
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Midwest Partnership Annual Report
Organization releases summary of accomplishments in 2010
Midwest Partnership EDC recently released its annual report for 2010, outlining 15 major accomplishments for the organization over the past year. In 2010, the organization focused on business recruitment, as well as business retention and expansion efforts.
Those efforts yielded 40 visits to leading employers in Audubon and Greene counties, new signage for three major business parks in the region, and several project proposals to attract companies looking to locate in Iowa. Among the more prominent proposals were a Fortune 500 agribusiness company that was considering six sites in Iowa and Nebraska, two of which were in the Midwest Partnership EDC region. Additionally, the Stuart Rail Park received an in-person visit from a European wind manufacturer.
Meanwhile, the organization also assisted a variety of existing small and large business with many projects, ranging from expansion to just starting up.
To see the full report, click here.
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Investor Highlight: Energy Providers
Quality infrastructure helps attract new and expanding companies
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Resource of the Month |
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Employers who hire low-income, vocational rehabilitation referrals, former Aid to Families with Dependent Children program participants, veterans, ex-felons, food stamp recipients, and Supplemental Security Income recipients, are eligible for tax credits through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program at the federal level.
Through the program, an employer may take a tax credit of up to 40% of the first $6,000 (up to a $2,400 tax credit) in wages paid during the first 12 months of each new hire who fits into one of the above targeted groups. Eligible employees must work 180 days or 400 hours, while summer youth must be employed for at least 20 days or 120 hours. However, partial credit is available for employees who work 120-400 hours.
To find out more about the program, click here.
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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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