The Corridor Newsletter

The Corridor has created a new Entrepreneurial Development Endowment Fund within the Okoboji Foundation Family of Funds. This fund gives us the ability to offer our donors the Endow Iowa Tax Credit available only through a qualified community foundation.

With a contribution to this fund, taxpayers may be eligible to receive a 25% Iowa Tax Credit in additionto normal federal charitable income tax deductions for certain charitable gifts. This is an exciting program that benefits both donors and the Corridor.

Gifts to the Iowa Lakes Corridor Entrepreneurial Development Fund allow the Corridor to use your charitable contribution strategically in response to the most pressing entrepreneurial and economic development issues. Your contribution continues to support economic growth and development during and after your lifetime.

More information, as well as a contribution and pledge form, can be found here. You can also make a donation on the Okoboji Foundation's Website. Just click on the Donate Now tab.

Save the Date!

The Iowa Lakes Corridor's

Annual Meeting

will be here before you know it! This year's meeting will be held late afternoon on Monday, June 27 at

La Chiesa in Spencer.

Upcoming Events

Attention Inventors!
Do you have an idea or product that you have invented? Learn how to turn that idea or product into a successful business! The Iowa Small Business Development Center is hosting Concept to Reality: A Launch Pad to Successful Inventing from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the Spencer Iowa Lakes Community College Campus.

Topics presented will include taking your idea or product to a commercial level, how to protect your idea with a patent or trademark, how to market your product, and how to find the money to make the whole process a reality.

Deadline to register is Thursday, April 21. Cost to attend the seminar is $35. An agenda and registration form can be downloaded here.

Business Succession Workshop

Most small businesses have a plan for growing their company, but less than 14 percent have a plan for a transition in ownership. In an effort to help area businesses plan for succession, the Iowa Small Business Development Centers have partnered with the attorneys of Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC to hold a series of business succession workshops across Iowa. Attendees will receive a resource guide that lists information about the area organizations that help small business.

One of these workshops will be held on Tuesday, May 3, at the Emmetsburg Iowa Lakes Community College Campus. More information can be found by going here, or by calling 712-262-4213 or 515-576-6242.

Be included in

The Corridor!

Do you have a story, event or information that belongs in The Corridor? If so, email Samantha or call her at 712-264-3474 to be included!

The Corridor

April 2011

Greetings!

The Iowa Lakes Corridor recently held its fourth annual Be Your Own Boss seminar for high school students. Approximately 120 students from seven schools attended and learned about entrepreneurship from young entrepreneurs.

Holly Pearson, Economic Development Coordinator at the Corridor, welcomed students to the Be Your Own Boss seminar.

During the seminar, four break-out sessions were held. The students are broken up into smaller groups and attend each of the sessions. They were led by young entrepreneurs and those who assist entrepreneurs. The speakers were Tyler Finchum, a senior at Muscatine High School who started the business Farm Manuals Fast; John Slump and Jared Garfield, Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute Alumni, co-founders of Corvida Medical; Kevin Robinson, CEO of CTJ Enterprises and President of Common Cents Coaching; Anissa Jepsen, County Youth Coordinator for Clay County Iowa State Extension office. A special break-out session was held for the teachers. Dennis McDonald spoke to them about entrepreneurship in the classroom and his involvement in the Little Sioux Cooperative Growers.

Finchum, Slump and Garfield talked to the students about how they started their businesses. All three speakers talked about having a passion for their businesses. They didn't start their businesses to make money; they started them because they saw a need, created a solution, and have passion for what they are doing. Robinson taught the students about networking, and Jepsen taught team building skills.

The keynote speaker was Talia Leman, a 16-year-old from Waukee, Iowa. She is the CEO and founder of RandomKid, a non-profit organization that leverages the power of youth to solve real problems. Six years ago, Leman was watching the coverage of Hurricane Katrina and decided she wanted to help. She rallied her friends to go trick-or-treating for spare change rather than candy. The Today Show found Leman's website and featured her on the show. She was able to reach out to youth across the country. Together, the youth raised over $10 million for Katrina victims.

Jessica Sandy, a sophomore at Spirit Lake said, "When I get older I know I want to be a child psychologist, but I don't know if I want my own business, go in someone else's, or work for the school. I know now I want to have my own business!"

Wild Rose Inn brings back fine dining

Shelene and Mark McDermott with their daughters Madison and Ali. They purchased the Wild Rose Inn in June 2010.

SPIRIT LAKE - The Wild Rose Inn is bringing fine dining back to the Iowa Lakes region. Some may have heard of, or even attended, the monthly Wine Dinners. April's Wine Dinner, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, is already sold out. "Private Chef Jeff Zernechel and consultant Jeff Lenz have been great additions," said Shelene McDermott, who owns the Wild Rose Inn with her husband Mark. The Wine Dinners consist of gourmet continental cuisine paired with wine. Seats are available for the Friday, May 20, dinner.

The Wild Rose Inn is a Victorian estate with 13 suites on 2.5 wooded acres. McDermott's bought the estate in June 2010. They had a bed and breakfast in Boone, The Barkley House, nearly 10 years ago. While on vacation in Okoboji, they saw the Wild Rose Inn, but didn't stop. At home, they looked it up online and came back several times to see it.

They made a number of upgrades when they purchased it, and are continually improving the interior and exterior. Inside, they redecorated the entire Inn, including new bedding, linens, tiling around the fireplaces and paint. Outdoors, they finished the balcony and have done more extensive landscape and lighting.

"We want people to feel like they're coming home when they stay here," said Shelene. "We enjoy pampering our guests. They become family while they're here." Each room has a private bathroom and separate temperature controls. Amenities include a TV, VCR, microwave and refrigerator. The Inn has honeymoons suites, a family suite, business suites, fireplace suites and Jacuzzi suites.

The Wild Rose Inn is a Victorian Estate with 13 suites and sits on 2.5 wooded acres in Okoboji.

The McDermott's are members of the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association. This holds them accountable to state-wide standards, such as standards of cleanliness and comfort, and each room is required to have certain amenities. "We work hard because our reputation is our best advertisement," said Shelene.

The Wild Rose Inn isn't just an Inn. It's also a place to hold weddings, bridal showers, graduation receptions, corporate retreats, business meetings, birthday parties and much more. With a formal dining room, living room, admirals quarters and a commercial kitchen for catering, they can host just about any event.

The pond behind the Wild Rose Inn makes a perfect setting for an outdoor wedding. The large yard to the west of the Inn has been used to put up a tent for wedding receptions. A small wedding was recently held indoors in front of the fireplace in the formal dining room.

Tours and consultations of the Wild Rose Inn are available by appointment. Contact Shelene at 712-332-9986, wildroseinn@wildroseinn.us, and visit the website at www.wildroseresort.com. To reserve space at Wine Dinners, call consultant Jeff Lenz at 712-337-8165.

***

The Iowa Lakes Corridor is proud to launch the Women in Business Club. To join, a woman must own her own business and want to meet with other women in business to share ideas, challenges, successes and grow professional relationships. Those interested in joining should contact Pat McGill, at 712-332-2965, patmcgill@mchsi.com or Jean Tennant at 712-490-5165. Women from throughout the Corridor region are encouraged to attend these meetings.

Iowa Cleantech Network & Innovations Event

Explosive growth in the Cleantech industry has left many running just to keep up, and too few able to share in the collective experience. Renewable energy, clean manufacturing, and bio-product development - these are the foundations of Cleantech. Knowing the right people is the foundation of your Cleantech business's success.

A statewide event is being held to allow professionals to be introduced to like professionals, best practices and maintain the momentum. Our goal is to foster collaboration and networking among key stakeholders in Iowa focused on Cleantech and early stage innovation.

Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the Cleantech Open program and how to get involved as well as to learn about other resources.

The keynote speaker will be Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner John Norris. Commissioner Norris has years of experience in energy policy and regulatory affairs. He was Chief of Staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack of the US Department of Agriculture. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 27 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Des Moines Area Community College's FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa.

Agenda

4:30-5:50 - Networking
5:30-6:30 - Program
Welcome
Keynote Speaker
Cleantech Open Video Presentation
Introduction of service providers in attendance
6:30-7:30 - Learn more about Iowa resources to grow your business at resource tables

Advanced registration by April 22 is $20. Registration at the door is $30. The registration fee includes sandwich buffet and cash bar.

For more information, contact nc_iowaevents@cleantechopen.com

Go here to register.

Corridor board and staff meet new agency directors and state legislators in Des Moines

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Board of Directors and staff held its April board meeting in Des Moines, as well as introductory meetings with three new state agency directors. Face-to-face meetings were held with Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development; Teresa Wahlert, Director of Iowa Workforce Development; and Roger Lande, Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In addition, three of the area's legislators also meet with the Corridor over lunch to hear updates - Senator David Johnson, Senator Steve Kettering and Representative Jeff Smith.

Corridor staff and board members met with Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Debi Durham updated the Corridor group on the proposed Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress (IPEP). Teresa Wahlert highlighted the vision and plans for the agency given significant funding decreases and becoming more of a resource to businesses. Roger Lande and Mike McGhee discussed lake restoration projects and answered questions about possible changes to the agency. Area legislators provided updates of recent floor activity and asked for feedback from Corridor representatives. The Corridor Board of Directors has endorsed the proposed Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and relayed their support again to Durham and to the legislators.

"The Corridor has done this whenever significant changes in leadership at the state level have occurred," said Kathy Evert, president and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor. "They have proven to be good for building relationships with the departments, have provided board members and staff the opportunity to hear and learn directly of plans for the agencies, and ask questions." The meetings were informative and the Corridor will regularly invite the directors to the area to better familiarize them with the region and meet other business and community leaders.

"We are especially interested in Iowa Workforce Development's vision and wanting to make sure more businesses are aware of the goal to provide greater access, more access points, to their services - both job seekers and employers," said Evert. "We want to be a region that helps further the vision and plan and be a partner in the changes ahead."

FastTrac NewVenture Graduation

Ten students recently graduated from the FastTrac NewVenture entrepreneurial training course offered by the Iowa Lakes Corridor.

One of the Iowa Lakes Corridor's entrepreneurial training courses is Kauffman FastTrac NewVenture. This 10 week, 30 hour course is best suited for entrepreneurs in their early stages of business development. It provides the tools to develop a business concept, determine the viability of the business concept, and outline the critical steps to a successful business launch.

10 students completed the course on April 14. The course was facilitated by Brian Dalziel, senior vice president of the Iowa Lakes Corridor, pictured far right above. Each week, a guest speaker talked to the students about different aspects of entrepreneurship, such as market research, financial goals, building a team and monitoring cash flow.

Congratulations graduates!!

Sincerely,

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Staff

Kathy Evert

Brian Dalziel

Shaun Arneson

Holly Pearson

Samantha Heerdt

Joanne Follon