Iowa Lakes Corridor News & Events

News & Events

"Why do I live where the air hurts my face?"

Friday, February 19, 2021

There’s a meme on social media that makes me laugh while I nod in agreement each time I see it. It’s a sketch of a sad stick person in snow apparel with the caption “The air hurts my face. Why am I living where the air hurts my face?” Sometimes this photo is alone, but sometimes it is accompanied by a picture of a very large snake or spider or other creature from a part of the country or world that I personally would rather not come face to face with and the caption “Oh right. That’s why I live where the ai...

OEI Alum purchases ownership shares in Spencer Company

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Perseverance and passion are two attributes that describe Andrew Pauley, a 2017 OEI alum and a new part-owner in Specialty Archery L.L.C. in Spencer. Pauley started his first business at the age of 12, which kick-started his love for business. In college at Iowa State University (ISU), he started a new business venture, U Conceal It. “I knew the best way to learn would be to start a business and immerse myself in the business process,” said Pauley. Throughout his time at ISU, Pauley had many opportunities to learn, including being accepted into the 2017 Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute. Going into the week-long experience at OEI, Pauley mad...

Microgrants available for businesses in the Iowa Lakes Corridor

Monday, February 01, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT Alyssa Petersen Coordinator of Administration & Communication, Iowa Lakes Corridor Phone: 712-264-3474 Email: apetersen@lakescorridor.com Microgrants available for businesses in the Iowa Lakes Corridor The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) and Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission announce a microgrant program available to businesses in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The Corridor COVID-19 Business Recovery Grant is a competitive grant program that assists regional businesses and industry with recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The program is funded through a grant from the US Department of Commerce. “These microgrant awards will empower Corridor-region businesses with resources needed to take a step forward towards recovery an...

The clubs in our 'Economic Development' golf bag

Friday, January 29, 2021

Some years ago, I read a book about golf. Before anyone makes fun of me, know that it was Golf for Dummies, and given my handicap, it didn’t work. I should have read Golf for Athletically Impaired Invertebrates. There was one takeaway that stuck with me, though. The author, former PGA pro and announcer Gary McCord, suggested that amateurs match their swing tempo to their temperaments. If you’re relaxed and easygoing, swing slow and smooth like Freddie Couples, but if you’re wound tight, whirl that 3-wood like Nick Price. The message, be who you are, is as applicable to life and leadership a...

Corridor announces Interim CEO appointment

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces appointment of Interim CEO The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) announced today the appointment of Brian Dalziel to the position of Interim CEO effective February 2021. The Corridor provides professional economic development services for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. Dalziel has been the Senior Vice President and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Corridor for over ten years. His appointment comes following the announcement of current President and CEO Kiley Miller’s departure from the Corridor. “Dalziel has a strong record of organizational leadership and extensive experience working in the nonprofit economic development arena,” said Debra Satern, Chair o...

A patchwork of memories

Friday, January 08, 2021

Winter morning for me means a walk with the dog. We head west from the house to the park and then loop south through the neighborhood to our own back door. There are many waypoints along this journey, signposts both literal and figurative. El Mago, our mini sheepadoodle (imagine a curly, stuffed toy panda) sniffs his way past transformer boxes, fence posts, a guy wire and a large oak to the yard where a noisy spaniel lives. Then it’s on to Sawmill Bridge, where Mago tracks the rail to the far side before a hard switchback to the right and dow...

Business owner year-end opportunities

Thursday, December 17, 2020

The end of 2020 is quickly approaching, and with the year’s end, business owners have opportunities. First is to celebrate! Despite setbacks caused by the pandemic, many businesses in our Corridor region accomplished a lot in 2020. It is important to spotlight and celebrate our achievements with employees, suppliers and customers. Employees Business owners know that employees are critical to their company’s success. Invest time and effort into providing feedback to your employees. Annual reviews are important and necessary. Visit with each team member to see how their year went, identify professional development goals for next year and define training opportunities an...

Corridor announces resignation of Chief Executive Officer

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces resignation of Chief Executive Officer The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) today announced that President & Chief Executive Officer Kiley Miller is resigning from the organization effective in February 2021. “We thank Kiley for six great years leading the Corridor,” said Debra Satern, Chair of the Corridor Board of Directors. “His energy, knowledge and creativity have helped bring about significant economic growth in the region and prepared our organization for continued success in the years ahead.” The Corridor provides professional economic development services for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties. Miller joined the organization in Augus...

Supporting Small

Monday, December 14, 2020

Want to support your local businesses, but don’t necessarily need something from their inventory right now? Here are a few other ways to support them! Ask if you can order something special through them Even though a small business you love may not have exactly what you’re looking for, you might be able to talk to them to see if they can order it in for you! Like, Comment, and Share their posts This may seem simple, but likes, comments, and shares help businesses by exposing their posts to your friends and followers. And with more interactions, social media sites are more likely t...

Shopping Small: Chamber Fun

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

It’s that time of year again. A time of giving and enjoying the season with loved ones. The weather is colder, our homes seem that much warmer, and we’re thinking of those in our lives who make each day better. With this year looking different than most, shopping local is as important as ever. Our local businesses are integral to our communities, and they have a variety of products for our family, friends, and even a few things just for us! Shopping small not only supports the business owners in our communities, but it helps keep your money circulating in the region, whic...

Iowa, immigration, and the best show I've watched this year

Friday, November 20, 2020

“Be curious, not judgmental.” That quote, Apocryphally attributed to Walt Whitman, became the through line for one of the very best scenes of Season 1 of the “Ted Lasso,” comedy series about a small-college American football coach who moves to England to take over a Premier League soccer team. If you have access to AppleTV and haven’t watched “Ted Lasso,” please do so. It is warm, cheering, traditional if somewhat vulgar, and very funny—the perfect antidote to 2020. As for the quasi-Whitman quote, it came back to me in a new light Wednesday during the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s Quarterly Investor Meeting...

Veterans Day and the battle for equity

Friday, November 13, 2020

Would a true friend recommend a book that leaves you crying? A few months ago, Mike McKim, Plant Manager at Safco in Milford and a member of the Corridor board of directors, suggested I check out Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship & Sacrifice, by Adam Makos. Mike had read something I wrote for this newsletter and knew I was interested in military history. What he probably didn’t know is that I’m a softie and would weep through the final chapters. Devotion tells the story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the son of a Mississippi sharecropper who became one of the Navy’s first black aviators, an...

Working together works

Friday, November 06, 2020

A few years back, I discovered leadership coach Patrick Lencioni’s best-known book, “Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” Lencioni writes so-called business fables. They’re bright and breezy, perfect for someone like me who has the concentration of a hummingbird on TikTok. They’re also insightful, but I have to admit to some initial skepticism about Lencioni’s first dysfunction: Trust. Trust is squishy and nebulous, business is about numbers. Trust is a feeling, business is concrete. Time has taught me, though, that Lencioni is right; trust is the foundation of team success. With trust, team members ask for help, they venture ideas, they call each othe...

Women in Manufacturing: Tyson Foods

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Check out other Women in Manufacturing stories: Demco Products GKN Safco Products Danielle Massukado is an FSQA Manager at Tyson Foods, The Hillshire Brands in Storm Lake. A veterinarian working in the Food Industry for the last 20 years, Massukado has experience with beef, pork and poultry plants. A mentor in her early career encouraged Massukado to make the world a better place through her skills acquired at Vet School, which sparked the idea to improve Food Safety and Quality of Animal Protein offered to the world. “Being a woman in a male-dominated field can pose challenges, but it’s not as intimidating as you think &ndash...

Women in Manufacturing: Safco Products

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Welcome back to our series on Women in Manufacturing! In case you missed it, check out our other features! Women in Manufacturing: Demco Women in Manufacturing: GKN Tiffany Plagman is an Assembly Group Lead at Safco Products. The Laurens native now lives in Spencer and commutes to her job in Milford. Before getting a job a Safco, Plagman only had experience in retail, and she wanted to do something different. Her hands-on job makes the days fly by, and she doesn’t get bored because there is always something new to learn! “I had never worked in manufacturing before and had no idea what ...

Women in Manufacturing: GKN

Monday, October 26, 2020

Both Jody Hobmeier and her husband work at GKN in Estherville. Hobmeier, an Estherville native, enjoys building parts and finished products to contribute to the agricultural and earthmover industries. One of the biggest things she has learned in her time at GKN is that you gain valuable skills. “It’s rewarding as you learn skills that you can use inside and outside of work. I have learned several problem-solving techniques.” “You can come in with no experience and learn the trade through training,” she says. “Keep an open mind that there is room to grow and learn. It’s always great to see wha...

Moneyball works for communities too

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays is tied at one game apiece. Not many people know that because not many people are watching; television viewership for game one on Tuesday was the lowest in history. That’s too bad, because those who do watch will see a collision of divergent organizational styles brought about by economic realities. The most important message—there is always more than one way to win. The Dodgers are gorgeous. They play under the open LA sky. Their stars are fast, fluid and frequently have great hair. (Well, except Mookie Betts.) They also planne...

Women in Manufacturing: Demco

Thursday, October 22, 2020

October is Manufacturing Month and the Corridor is excited to share a few features on Women in Manufacturing throughout our region over the next couple of weeks! Today’s feature highlights a few of the manufacturing stars at Demco Products in Spencer. Carrie Engelkes is an Engineering Clerical Assistant at Demco. She’s been at her position for the past six years, but is more than willing to assist in other areas of the business as needed. The growing manufacturing industry that is constantly moving and providing opportunities to improve or learn new skills is what brought Engelkes to her career in manufacturing. “Manufacturin...

Don't Drop the Ball on Recruiting People to Iowa

Monday, October 19, 2020

Trigger warning: Breaking with normal practice, this column will for the next two weeks touch on politics. Some years ago, when reports revealed that nearly half of students at the University of Iowa were from out of state, lawmakers began voicing criticism. The Board of Regents responded with a new funding formula that rewarded our state’s three universities for enrolling native Iowans. It was an unfortunate response to a misguided concern. For decades, Iowa observers had lamented the loss of our best high school and college graduates to other states, the so-called brain drain. By attracting students from elsewhere, the regents universitie...

From the Corridor to the World - Remotely

Monday, October 12, 2020

Economic development is frequently a game of follow the leader. What are the bigger towns doing? We should do that, too. One recent fad is recruiting telecommuters/remote workers/gig workers (pick your title). Often this involves with cash money. Vermont has offered grants of $10,000 to lure remote workers. So have Topeka, Kansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa Remote, perhaps the best known of these initiatives, conveys a bit of a mixed message on its landing page: “You’re going to love it here,” comes right after, “We’ll pay you to work from Tulsa.” The COVID-19 pandemic will absolutely accelerate the transition to the digital workplace...

Three hospitals, two surgeries, one truth about economic development

Friday, October 02, 2020

I’m a brand new man. Well, almost. For nearly two decades, I have endured pain in my heels and Achilles’ tendon. A day of exercise—running, basketball, or even a long walk—meant two days of shuffling down stairs sideways. So three weeks ago, I headed up to Lakes Regional Healthcare and let Dr. Tim Blankers of Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint and Sports Surgeons do his thing. He removed some bone, shaved down the heel, and basically gave me a foot as delicate as a geisha’s. The entire experience was great because it involved great people. Great nurses, great anesthetist, great doc. Shoot, great greeter...

It takes a village

Friday, September 25, 2020

We’ve all heard it said, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and I’m sure most of you who are parents would agree. Replace the second half with “…to build a community,” and you have a different statement that holds true and economic developers agree with! Looking back at my high school years I remember driving through the small town downtowns where I grew up in rural Southwest Iowa, dreaming of a job where I could help play even a small part in revitalizing the communities. Yet, I didn’t plan to go into economic development when I started at Buena Vist...

The Measurement is People

Friday, September 11, 2020

The conversation was with a senior executive. Her topic was obstacles to hiring. Her summary was compact and incisive: “Housing, childcare, and air travel, those are the reasons I lose people.” Here at the Corridor, we hear about these issues regularly, but this was the first time someone had tumbled them into a single sentence for me and stated so emphatically their importance. It was jarring, and it made clear the challenge. No, not to provide housing, childcare, and air travel, but to shift attention and effort from jobs, jobs, jobs to continuous community improvement. New technologies and a connected global econom...

A shoe, a sheepadoodle, and getting our message across

Friday, August 14, 2020

There’s a new pooch at the Miller pad. He’s a mini-sheepadoodle—an English Sheepdog and poodle cross. We call him El Mago (the Magician) after Cubs shortstop Javier Baez and, curiously enough, a sickly magnolia tree that grew in front of our family’s first home. He’s cute in a ridiculous way, with a white and black face, forlorn eyes and fluffy polar bear paws. He looks like a stuffed animal sewn together by an overly emotional Japanese anime seamstress. He's also a pain in the … thumbs, nostrils, earlobes. Wherever his tiny teeth happen to nip. Any parent of a toddler understands th...

Defining the problem in economic development

Thursday, July 30, 2020

In The Best and the Brightest, his magisterial account of the American run-up to the Vietnam War, journalist David Halberstam cogently assesses the ???????mistaken assumption that led the Kennedy Administration to escalate US involvement in the region: “The problem was political, the response was military.” Fearing that North and South Vietnam would unite as a communist country, and, in turn, other Southeast Asian nations would raise their own red banners, the so-called Domino Theory, the United States threw support behind the western-leaning government in the south. Someone obviously had to stop the North Vietnamese hordes from streaming south across the borde...

Four Corridor housing projects to receive tax credits

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Four Corridor housing projects to receive tax credits Awards totaling more than $2.55 million were announced today for four housing development projects in the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) Region through the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Workforce Housing Tax Credit program. In total, the state awarded nearly $10 million in tax breaks for 19 projects across the state. The four projects in the Corridor region were: Emerald Woods Townhomes, a 10-unit single-family development in Storm Lake An unnamed 25-unit housing development in Spirit Lake Deer Creek Apartments & Townhomes, an 84-unit development in Estherville IGL West Beltway Residential Home Development, a 10-unit development in Spencer Kile...

Corridor announces Board of Director election Results

Friday, July 17, 2020

Corridor Announces Board of Director Election Results The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) recently welcomed two new board members for Fiscal Year 2021: Michael McKim, Plant Manager at Safco Products in Milford, and Edwin Waleh, President and CEO of Heartland Team Solutions in Estherville. The new members will add their leadership experience and guidance to the Board of Directors as the Corridor continues to help the region’s businesses thrive and to ensure its residents enjoy an active and rewarding quality of life. Voted by members to return for a second three-year term were Doug Benjamin, Northwest Bank in Spencer, who serves a...

A financial lesson from a 19-year-old

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Over the past 12 years, I've had two jobs. My daughter, Carson, has four this summer. That's right, four jobs. Quatro trabajos. She works full-time at a resort, holds a pair of online gigs for her university and a local ag company, and once a week cares for a high-octane 4-year-old. In business terms, we would say that Carson has multiple revenue streams. She's diversified. Should the college deal dry up or the toddler toddle off with another nanny, she'll still be able to pay the note on her new set of wheels. The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is trying to follo...

Principled Financial Management

Thursday, July 09, 2020

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s new 5-year plan, Partnership, Progress, Prosperity: FY 2021-2025, could best be described with a bro-culture cliché: “Go big or go home.” Through aggressive, results-driven business development, entrepreneurship, and workforce and housing programs, the Corridor expects to support the following: 900 direct and 593 indirect jobs $59 million in annual payroll $500 million in capital investment 50 start-ups creating up to 250 jobs Net population growth 300+ new housing units. The first and most important element in the success of Partnership, Progress, Prosperity lies outside the Corridor office. It is the ingenuity, passion, and persistence of local business leaders. An economic development organizatio...

Tornado sirens and social distancing

Thursday, July 02, 2020

My family is not known for moving fast. With the possible exception of my older son, a pretty decent cross country runner, we lack significant straight-line speed. We’re even slower in collective action. Faced with a joint decision, my daughter crafts a plan, I and that same middle son argue against said plan, my wife offers an intelligent compromise against which I also argue, and my youngest son thumbs through Instagram. But set off a tornado siren when we’re sleeping in tents and, by gosh, we can get up and move. I know this because it happened last week at a campground i...

The forgotten war and the value of history

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Today is an anniversary that history ignores. Seventy years ago, the North Korean army under Kim Il-Sung crossed the 38th Parallel and began a surge south that would nearly push South Korea’s defenders off the peninsula. Those defenders included more than 20 countries fighting under the United Nations Command, led by the United States, which would supply more than 90 percent of UN troops. The Korean War is a middle child, living between the war we all believe in, World War II, and the one that ripped out and reordered the pages of our national narrative, Vietnam. Few school children, and too fe...

Wood, Wine & Blues postponed until 2021

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Contact: Lee Dutfield FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 712.732.3780 Email: lee@stormlakeunited.com Storm Lake, Iowa – Wood, Wine & Blues Postponed Until 2021 This year’s Wood, Wine & Blues, scheduled for August 14th -16th, will be postponed due to concerns and uncertainty attributed to COVID-19. We will focus our efforts and budget on next year’s event, which we expect to return bigger and better than ever before. Our top priority is the well-being of our attendees, volunteers, wood carvers, vendors, wineries, and musicians. We have been closely monitoring the situations with COVID-19 , and with input from Buena Vista County Public Health, the City of Stor...

Corridor welcomes Mia Simpson as Summer Office & Events Assistant

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is excited to welcome Summer Office and Events Assistant Mia Simpson to the team.??????? Simpson is going to be a senior at Spencer High School this fall. She is involved in cross country, National Honor Society, student council, Key Club, and volunteers with the Spencer Community School Foundation. She is also a participant in No Boundaries, a project-based learning program bringing businesses and students together to complete passion-based, real-world projects. After graduating, Simpson plans to attend Des Moines Area Community College and study marketing. ?“I am excited to work with the Iowa Lakes Corridor because I hope t...

Corridor Business & Industry Update

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

During these last several months everyone has felt the direct impact of COVID-19. ???????The ??????????????challenges have been great for business/industries in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region. Many employers are deemed "essential" and are implementing important measures to protect the safety and well-being of their employees. In my role as Business Retention and Workforce Partnership Coordinator for the Corridor, I have been reaching out to employers to assess their needs and offer assistance. This has shown me yet again the power of the Corridor network and the willingness of businesses here in Northwest Iowa to help one another. Our team ha...

Gov. Reynolds signs new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration

Monday, April 27, 2020

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Governor Kim Reynolds ? Lt. Governor Adam Gregg FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday Apr. 27, 2020 CONTACT: Pat Garrett, (515) 802-0986, Pat.Garrett@iowa.gov Amy Mccoy (IDPH) (515) 240-0530, Amy.Mccoy@idph.iowa.gov Gov. Reynolds signs new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration DES MOINES - Today, Gov. Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration until May 27, 2020. The proclamation loosens social distancing measures in 77 Iowa counties effective Friday, May 1 and continues other restrictions until 11:50 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2020. Watch the governor’s news conference here. In the 77 counties, the proclamation permits restaurants, fitness centers, malls...

A major opportunity to invest in our people and our businesses

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Most of us involved in business leadership agree that our people are our greatest asset. We also recognize that investing in our people with meaningful professional development often gets lost in the busy-busy-busy nature of daily operations. We spend so much time working IN our businesses that we fail to work ON them often enough to build on what we are doing right and to correct what we are doing wrong. As we practice social distancing and face broad economic restrictions on business activities due to COVID-19, we have a opportunity to invest in our people and our businesses. In particular...

Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act

Monday, March 30, 2020

The Small Business Owner's GUide to the CARES Act The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA...

IEDA announces Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Fund

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Iowa Economic Development Authority announces Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Fund The Targeted Small Business (TSB) program is designed to help women, individuals with minority status, service-connected disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities overcome some of the hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa. A fund has been created to support TSBs with zero employees that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers eligible small businesses grants ranging from $5,000-$10,000 to businesses that are sole proprietors or single-member LLCs that are also TSB certified, or have an application submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA...

Gov. Reynolds issues a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Governor Kim Reynolds ? Lt. Governor Adam Gregg FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2020 CONTACT: Pat Garrett, (515) 802-0986 Amy McCoy (IDPH) (515) 240-0530 Gov. Reynolds issues a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency DES MOINES - Gov. Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency activating the public health response and recovery aspects of the State Disaster Emergency Plan effective at noon today. It takes significant steps to require social distancing and limit community spread of the virus by implementing temporary measures including moving restaurants to drive-through, carry-out, and delivery only and closures of certain entities suc...

Corridor receives Entrepreneurial Investment Award from IEDA

Thursday, February 27, 2020

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 MEDIA CONTACT Alyssa Petersen Coordinator of Administration & Communication Iowa Lakes Corridor Phone: 712-264-3474 Email: apetersen@lakescorridor.com Corridor receives Entrepreneurial Investment Award from IEDA SPENCER, IOWA – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) as a part of the Entrepreneurial Investment Awards program. The grant will support the Corridor in launching additional entrepreneurial development programming through videos, outreach and networking events. Corridor Senior Vice President Brian Dalziel envisioned the initiative, wrote the grant application and led the presentation to the review panel. In the past decade, the Corridor has assisted 228 early-stage ventures, 9...

A thank you to our Cities & Counties

Thursday, February 13, 2020

A humming downtown. New houses. Smooth streets. Safe neighborhoods. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Folks in rural Iowa demand a lot of our cities and counties, and we rarely say thank you. As we near the end of our series on vital economic development partners, let’s correct that offense. Thank you for investing in the infrastructure to support growth. When spring finally gets here the backhoes, dump trucks and pavers will come out of hibernation across the Corridor. Businesses and residents alike will benefit from the results—improved water, sewer and roads. Without these projects, friction would cause our economy to seize. Thank you for development-friendl...

Corridor participates in BEST of Iowa interviews

Monday, February 10, 2020

Corridor participates in BEST of Iowa interviews Goal to provide a state-wide existing business strategy SPENCER – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation announces the beginning of the 2020 Business Expansion & Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa interviews. BEST of Iowa is a strategic partnership between economic development organizations and utility companies throughout Iowa that provides a state-wide existing business strategy. The Corridor has conducted these interviews for 14 years. BEST of Iowa, formerly known as the Existing Industry Call Program, is used to identify opportunities for growth, potential threats to retain jobs and any impediments that discourage local expansion. Economic development organization...

Energy utilities keep the lights on and the jobs coming

Thursday, February 06, 2020

On the edge of many small Iowa towns is an industrial park with a cluster of manufacturing companies. How did they get there? You can thank in part your local energy utilities, essential partners in economic development. The same folks who keep the lights on also keep the economy growing. That’s particularly true here in the Lakes of Northwest Iowa where we are blessed to have energy utilities that are innovative, aggressive and generous. Dare we say they are energetic? The Corridor is proud to include seven energy providers among our membership: Spencer Municipal Utilities, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Corn Belt Power Cooperative...

Kiley Miller awarded recertification in economic development

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Kiley Miller awarded recertification in economic development SPENCER, IOWA – Kiley Miller, President & CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, has been awarded recertification by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) through April 2021. Miller first achieved the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation in 2015. Recertification required that he fulfill demanding standards for continuing education and service to the profession. Miller has served as President & CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor since 2014. He previously was Executive Vice President of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Over his 11-year career, he has facilitated projects yieldin...

USDA makes spec buildings, revolving loan funds to rural communities

Friday, January 24, 2020

In our look at the partners that make economic development successful in the Corridor, we next turn to the US Department of Agriculture, specifically USDA Rural Development. That’s right, the federal government. The USDA web site describes rural development as a “mission area.” That somewhat uncertain description is made more specific with this passage: “We offer loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services such as housing; health care; first responder services and equipment; and water, electric and communications infrastructure.” An essential piece of the USDA’s broad portfolio is the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant program. Throug...

Professional Developers of Iowa a strong partner at the Statehouse and at home

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Professional associations are only as good as the people who make them up, but that’s hardly a limitation for the Professional Developers of Iowa. More than 300 leaders across the state are members of PDI. They range from local economic developers to city administrators, workforce pros and engineers. There are even a couple of mayors thrown in. That breadth of expertise makes PDI, like the Iowa Area Development Group that we wrote about in last week’s newsletter, a valued partner of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. When our team is looking for creative ideas to benefit our communities and businesses, hel...

Iowa Area Development Group: A partner powering growth

Thursday, January 09, 2020

The same statewide community development organization that recently helped a local business secure $2 million in low-interest financing from the federal government and captured several hundred thousand dollars to support construction of a spec building in Spirit Lake, also routinely brings industrial development prospects to the region, offers expert guidance on ag business, advertises vacant properties in our area, and even assists our tiniest towns in filling critical service gaps such as dental health care. Given all of that, how is it that the Iowa Area Development Group sometimes goes unnoticed? Based in Des Moines, IADG is sponsored by more than 22...

2020 Healthiest State Annual Awards finalists announced

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Kollauf Healthiest State Initiative lauren@iowahealthieststate.com 563-495-0357 2020 Healthiest State Annual Awards finalists announced Lyndsey Fennelly will give keynote speech at Feb. 6 ceremony DES MOINES, IA (Jan. 6, 2020) — The Healthiest State Initiative has announced the finalists for the 2020 Healthiest State Annual Awards. Individuals, communities, K-12 schools, early care providers, out-of-school programs and workplaces will be recognized for their efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans in their respective sectors at an awards ceremony on Feb. 6 in West Des Moines. The finalists in the eight categories include: Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark Community Award Creston Dallas Center Dickinson County Manning Washington Waverly West Union K-12 School Irvin...

TAI announces 2020 Iowa Technology Roadshow

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

TAI Announces 2020 Iowa Technology Roadshow Des Moines, Iowa (December 18, 2019) — The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is proud to announce the first-ever Iowa Technology (IT) Roadshow that will travel to ten rural communities across the state of Iowa in 2020. “The Iowa Technology Roadshow will influence and elevate Iowa’s technology industry, professionals, and businesses all across Iowa. TAI believes that all companies are technology companies and that’s why we are proud to bring Iowa technology industry experts to ten Iowa communities,” stated Brian Waller, President of TAI. The IT Roadshow will have a spring and fall tour. IT Roadshow Spring Schedul...

Iowa Prison Industry and Prison Industry Enhancement program visits

Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Last week Corridor Business Retention & Workforce Partnership Coordinator Joanne Follon and Bob Becker, Spencer IowaWORKS, traveled to the North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City. They had the opportunity to meet with Daniel Clark, Director of the Iowa Prisons Industry (IPI) Program and see the IPI training programs available for inmates to gain the education, soft and hard skills needed to be successful citizens upon their release. There are three private-sector work partnerships available through the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program: 1) employers transport offenders to/from the workplace 2) employers subcontract with IPI 3) employers set an operation inside a prison. The Stat...

This Thanksgiving, we're thankful for our communities

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

In a matter of days, friends and family will gather around kitchen and dining room tables to celebrate Thanksgiving. There will be food - lots of food - and maybe some football, too. But we hope that you and yours will pause and take time to consider and share with each other what you are all thankful for. Here in the Lakes Region of Northwest Iowa, we truly have so much to be thankful for. We thought we would share with you some of the countless blessings the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation and Get A Lakes Life teams are thankful fo...

Iowa Lakes Corridor featured on Develop This! Podcast

Monday, November 25, 2019

Develop This! podcast is published multiple times a week to explore topics related to transformational community leadership including economic development, non-profit engagement, organizational management and policy development. It's a candid conversation with professionals in the economic development realm and inspiring interviews with today's thought leaders. Co-hosts Dennis Fraise and Jason Hutcheson visited Spencer last month to keynote the Corridor's Business Recognition Luncheon on November 13th. While visiting the Corridor Region, they recorded podcasts about some of the great things happening in the Iowa Lakes Corridor. Spencer City Manager Amanda Mack spoke with Hutcheson on the importance of Community Placemaking and how she i...

Iowa Lakes Corridor receives Dakota BUSINESS Finance grant

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) received a $1,000 grant from Dakota BUSINESS Finance thanks to the hard work of a local lender Brett Johnson of Central Bank in Spirit Lake earned the award on behalf of the Corridor through Dakota BUSINESS Finance’s inaugural community lending awards. Dakota BUSINESS Finance is a Certified Development Company that provides Small Business Association (SBA) 504 loans to businesses in South Dakota and parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In 2019, Dakota BUSINESS Finance established new community lending awards to give back to the communities in which they provide loans. The prizes awarded are base...

Hiring & Honoring Veterans

Monday, November 18, 2019

Two local entities have recently been recognized: one business for their commitment to hiring and retaining veterans, and one business owner who has served in the military and is now committed to serving his local community. Iowa Lakes Regional Water awarded Platinum Medallion Award Iowa Lakes Regional Water was one of five Iowa businesses that received a Medallion award, and one of three that were awarded the Platinum Medallion Award from the HIRE Vets Medallion program. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Act was signed into law in May 2017. The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment an...

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces 2019 Business Recognition Award winners

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) once again recognized great achievements by local businesses Wednesday at the organization’s 10th Annual Meeting and Business Recognition Luncheon at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. Winners of this year’s Business Recognition awards are: · Young Professional of the Year – Candace Daniels, Spencer Hospital, Spencer · Entrepreneur of the Year – Jay Butterfield, Stickers and Posters, Storm Lake · Small Business Excellence – Oleson Chiropractic, Armstrong · Large Business Excellence – Janitor’s Closet, Spencer · Chairman’s Award – Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Barry Sackett of Sackett Law Firm and Rick Olesen, President of Iowa Lakes Electri...

We should celebrate manufacturing for more than a month

Thursday, October 24, 2019

As manufacturing month chugs toward completion, it’s worth a few minutes to consider how important the sector is to our region. We are sometimes tempted to undervalue the making of things in our service age. The news is dominated by apps and quants and financial instruments. Meanwhile, the number of US manufacturing jobs has declined 4.3 million since the peak year of 1979. That’s the state of Iowa, with Rhode Island thrown in for good measure. But folks with oil under their nails know that manufacturing output continues to point north. In fact, our neighbors to the north offer a nice comparison...

October is Manufacturing Month

Friday, October 18, 2019

October is Manufacturing Month! Created to show the reality of modern manufacturing, Manufacturing Month and Manufacturing Day help employers show their communities what manufacturing is really about. FUN FACT: Manufacturing accounts for 87.9% of Iowa’s exports. The first Friday of October is Manufacturing Day, a day focused on showcasing what manufacturing is and dispelling myths of what it isn’t. Many companies throughout the nation hosted events to give students and community members a chance to step into the manufacturing realm and learn more about the industry. The goal of Manufacturing Day is to affect the public perception of manufacturing, to allow th...

Hosts of America's #1 economic development podcast to keynote Corridor Business Recognition Luncheon

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is happy to announce Dennis Fraise and Jason Hutcheson, hosts of the #1 iTunes economic development podcast Develop This!, as this year’s Business Recognition Luncheon keynote speakers. The Develop This! podcast explores topics related to transformational community leadership in candid conversations with veterans of the economic development profession and inspiring interviews with other thought leaders. Co-host Dennis Fraise – As President and CEO of the Lee County Economic Development Group, Dennis benefits from an eclectic professional background that includes owning a small business that generated more than $3 million in sales. He is a nationa...

Corridor joins forces with Buena Vista University in winning Google grant

Friday, August 23, 2019

Vote for People's Choice now through August 30th! Storm Lake, Iowa (Aug. 23, 2019) – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) in partnership with Buena Vista University (BVU) has won a prestigious Google grant to advance programming aimed at facilitating business transitions across Iowa. The Corridor joined with BVU’s Center for Rural Entrepreneurship in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business to embark on a “Match, Learn, Launch” initiative. This project pairs retiring business owners with up-and-coming business operators throughout Iowa and provides mentoring and educational support to new entrepreneurs from succession match to new launch. The partnership won a $175,000 competitive gran...

Press Release: Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Installs Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Thursday, August 15, 2019

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2019 Press Contact: Tresa Hussong tresah@ilec.coop 800-225-4532 Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Installs Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station Estherville - Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative is doing its part to alleviate range anxiety in northwest Iowa by installing a charging station in the parking lot of their headquarters’ facility in Estherville, Iowa, adjacent to the 140-kW solar array the Cooperative energized in October 2016. The Cooperative’s first chargin...

Intern Spotlight: Kailye Hromatko

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Kailye Hromatko is the Wealth Management Intern at Bank Midwest for the summer. After applying for a general internship at Bank Midwest, they decided to place her in the wealth management position, likely due to the Applied Math and Business Management degrees she is earning at Grand View University in Des Moines. Hromatko is originally from Milford and graduated from Okoboji High School in 2016, so the internship at Bank Midwest’s Okoboji branch was a perfect fit. In her role, Hromatko is helping the bank transition into its new system, saying “I do a lot of updating and uploadin...

Intern Spotlight: Lauren Laven

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Lauren Laven first attended the University of Iowa planning to major in music. However, like many first-year college students, she decided that wasn’t for her and found herself enrolling in business classes. Now majoring in Marketing with a minor in Music, the 2017 graduate of Spirit Lake High School is the Marketing Intern at Bank Midwest of Spirit Lake. Last summer, Laven worked as a teller at Bank Midwest’s Okoboji branch where she thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the people who work there. She reached out again this summer with hopes of equally enjoying an internship position...

Intern Spotlight: Cassy Olesen

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Cassy Olesen is currently the summer intern for Spencer Radio Group. She is majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications at Iowa State University with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Olesen is originally from Graettinger, Iowa, where she graduated from the Graettinger-Terril school district in 2016. Olesen secured this position after calling the radio station to see if they had interest in a summer intern. “I grew up listening to this station and always thought they did a good job covering the area, so I knew I’d like to work here.” She also stated that she had an internship at ...

Intern Spotlight: Brock Jungjohan

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Brock Jungjohan, a 2018 graduate from Spirit Lake High School, is the Marketing Intern at annLeo. Located in Milford, annLeo helps healthcare facilities get the staff they need by being a single point of contact between healthcare locations and multiple medical staffing agencies. Jungjohan is a rising sophomore at the University of Iowa, where he studies Psychology and Enterprise Leadership. When asked what types of classes an Enterprise Leadership major entails he responded, “It’s mostly entrepreneurial classes with some general business, too.” Jungjohan knows Steve Heeg, CEO of GrapeTree Medical Staffing, through his parents, so he used that connectio...

OEI 2019: Meet the Class

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Buena Vista University Joseph Lind - Belton, MO Junior, Business: Finance, Financial Decision Making & Sport Business Lincoln Rock - Mahtomedi, MN Junior, Business: Corporate Finance & Wellness Management Tyler Tennyson - Truman, MN Senior, Accounting & Business Hannah Wuebker - Grimes, IA Junior, Accounting and Business Iowa Lakes Community College Lexus Gorospe - Baltic, SD Sophomore, Accounting Aaron Kintzle – Estherville, IA Sophomore, Accounting Jacob Pearcy - Laurens, IA Sophomore, Business Iowa State University Geert Boelen - Brooklyn, IA Senior, Agricultural Business w/ Entrepreneurship Minor Logan Borchardt – Mason City, IA Junior, Entrepreneurship Ahmed Ismail – Iowa City, IA Senior, Data Science Cameron Lynch – Iowa City, IA Junior, Industrial Engineering Delaney Quance – Spirit Lake, IA Junior, Entrepreneurship & International Business w/ Spanish Minor Marissa Sanke...

Intern Spotlight: Luke Thompson

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Luke Thompson, a 2018 graduate of Okoboji High School, is a mechanical engineer intern for the summer at 966 Industries, located in Milford. He just finished up his first year at South Dakota State University where he studies mechanical engineering. 966 Industries is a new and quickly growing manufacturing and automation company, and they were originally not looking for an intern when Thompson approached the owner, Kevin Frodermann. “I asked a family friend of ours who works there if they were looking for any interns, and he referred me to Kevin and said I should just ask and se...

Intern Spotlight: Rachel Harmon

Friday, June 28, 2019

By: Laura Nielsen Rachel Harmon is the Marketing Solutions Intern at Blink Marketing this summer. She is studying Graphic Design at South Dakota State University. Having graduated from Okoboji High School in 2017, Harmon said she landed this position because she reached out to local marketing agencies: “When I was thinking about coming home for the summer, I researched agencies in the area and then sent them all an email asking if they’d be interested in having an intern for the summer.” She also stated that finding an internship in your major can be difficult in this area, so she wa...

University of Iowa Hydrology Report - Flooding in the Iowa Great Lakes

Friday, June 14, 2019

June 4, 2019 Jen Johnson-Ross Community Development Manager Iowa Great Lakes Association 712-330-1178 jennypattyjohnson@yahoo.com University of Iowa Hydrology Report – Flooding in the Iowa Great Lakes High water levels in 2018 promoted the Iowa Great Lakes Association (IGLA) to engage the University of Iowa’s Institute on Hydroscience & Engineering Department to evaluate and present options to prevent further devastation to the environment, personal property and the recreation/tourism industry that drives the economy of Dickinson County. On Wednesday, June 26th at 1:30 pm the public is invited to the Sami Bedell Center for Performing Arts in Spirit Lake as world-renowned research engineer and professor of civil and environmental engineerin...

Creating an Inclusive Corridor

Thursday, June 13, 2019

This was a busy week in the Iowa Lakes Corridor! On the evening of Tuesday, June 11, the community came together for a screening of "Do We Belong?" at the Spencer Community Theater. A panel and community discussion followed the short documentary about a tragic hate crime against an Indian immigrant in Olathe, Kansas. On the panel were Jay Dahlhauser, a Youth Advocate & Operations Director at The Bridge of Storm Lake; Sunayana Dumala, a Database Developer at Intouch B2D, founder of Forever Welcome and subject of the documentary "Do We Belong?"; Tina Shaw, an Executive Officer in the Iowa Department o...

Miller named Consultant Connect Top 50 Economic Developers of 2019

Monday, May 13, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carla Sones Consultant Connect PO Box 50664 Kalamazoo, MI 49005 269.207.4982 carla@consultantconnect.org Consultant Connect Announces North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2019 KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announces its 2019 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development industry and the site consultant community for excellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve. Each top 50 economic developer will be featured individually starting May 20 through the selected socia...

Workforce Resources 101: Federal Bonding Program

Thursday, March 28, 2019

What is it? The Federal Bonding Program provides a business insurance policy to protect employers who hire "at-risk" individuals that can be hard-to-place in the workforce. This fidelity bond covers loss of money or property that is due to employee dishonesty such as theft, larceny, forgery or embezzlement. Who does it cover? The program covers individuals involved in the justice system, those in recovery from substance abuse, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients, those with poor credit, economically disadvantaged individuals without work history, and dishonorably discharged military. What doesn't it cover? Poor workmanship liability, job injuries, work accidents, bail bond, contract bond, performance o...

Spirit Lake ranks #41 for Most Dynamic Micropolitan

Friday, March 08, 2019

The Walton Family Foundation recently released the Most Dynamic Micropolitans Index ranking 531 micropolitan areas throughout the United States. Ranking at #41, Spirit Lake was the lone Iowa micropolitan to make it into the top 100. A micropolitan is defined to be a geographical area consisting of a city with a population of 10,000 to 50,000. The Most Dynamic Micropolitans Index collects metrics on both short- and long-term growth. These metrics include job growth, wage and income gains and the proportion of total jobs at young firms. The sources of the data used include the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau o...

Corridor welcomes Katie Simpson as summer assistant

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has added Summer Office and Events Assistant, Katie Simpson, to their team. The daughter of Scott and Alison Simpson, and a 2017 graduate of Spencer High School, Simpson recently completed her first year at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she is pursuing degrees in marketing and public relations. Throughout her time with the Iowa Lakes Corridor, Simpson will create profiles of area interns, complete marketing and administrative tasks and will assist with the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute. “Working with the Iowa Lakes Corridor is such an incredible opportunity,” Simpson said. “I am excited t...

Iowa Lakes Corridor receives award for business retention and expansion effort

Thursday, May 03, 2018

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) honored economic development organizations from Ames, Ottumwa, Iowa Lakes Corridor, and West Central Iowa during the SMART Economic Development Conference held in Des Moines on May 2. Sponsored by Blane, Canada Ltd and Smart Solutions Group, the PDI Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Awards Program recognizes the outstanding efforts of local and regional economic development initiatives in supporting growth and expansion of existing Iowa companies. Receiving an award for Single Project Success - Single/Smaller Community - Iowa Lakes Development Corporation and the GrapeTree Medical Staffing Company in Milford. What’s a “grapetree”? ...

Get A Lakes Life: Find opportunity, fun in the lakes of northwest Iowa

Thursday, July 20, 2017

You can find opportunities in many places, but you have to look harder to find the right combination of opportunity and fun. The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is telling folks to look no further and get a lakes life. Visit getalakeslife.com, the Corridor's new website dedicated to spreading the word about what our region has to offer, to either find opportunities for yourself or for people you know. In the Lakes of Northwest Iowa region, you can land a job that launches you into a career. You can raise a family in safe, welcoming communities with spectacular schools. You can also live right next t...

Iowa's newest solar garden tests battery-storage solution

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Iowa’s newest solar garden tests battery-storage solution Alliant Energy customers to receive energy from solar-battery combo during the day and night MARSHALLTOWN – October 21, 2020 – More than 9,500 solar panels now generate clean energy at Alliant Energy’s new Marshalltown Solar Garden. This pilot project combines solar power and a battery to generate, store and deliver electricity to customers. The Marshalltown Solar Garden sits next to Alliant Energy’s Marshalltown Generating Station, one of the most efficient natural-gas-fired facilities in the country. Both energy sources are part of the company’s diverse energy mix, helping Alliant Energy to continue providing reliable and cost-effective energ...

Fast Facts About Iowa Lakes

Employment Opportunity

The Corridor offers career opportunities in the key industries of agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and health services.

Employment-new

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

The cost of living and housing prices in the Iowa Lakes Corridor are below the US averages.

Affordability-new

Healthy Income

Median household incomes in Dickinson Country are greater than the Iowa and nation median incomes. Clay, Buena Vista and Emmet Counties have median household incomes ranging from $44,556 to $50,289.

Household Income-new

Highway improvements...

Safe and efficient highways are throughout the region for commercial, resident and tourist traffic. Recently improved roads include Iowa 86 and 9, and US 20 and 71.

Highway 86-new

After 5 p.m. you are on vacation!

The Iowa Lakes Corridor offers balance in life. Spend time with loved ones, meet career objectives, and enjoy scenic commutes, excellent schools, safe communities and endless recreational opportunities.

Life-new

Trails, trails and trails. . .

There are more than 200 miles of trails throughout the Iowa Lakes Corridor region for the cyclists, runners, walkers, cross country skiers and snowmobilers.

Trails-new

News & Events

News & Events

Fast Facts About Iowa Lakes

Employment Opportunity

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

Healthy Income

Highway improvements...

After 5 p.m. you are on vacation!

Trails, trails and trails. . .

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