Iowa Lakes Corridor News & Events

News & Events

Iowa Lakes Corridor seeking nominations for Business Recognition Luncheon

Thursday, September 23, 2021

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is excited to announce the nomination period for the eleventh annual Business Recognition Luncheon to be held Friday, November 5th. This ceremony thanks the businesses and individuals in our region for stimulating the region through job creation, investment and fostering quality of life throughout Corridor communities. Nominations are open for four awards to be given during the luncheon: Small Business Excellence (fewer than 30 employees), Large Business Excellence (30 or more employees), Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Professional of the Year. Businesses may be nominated for various reasons: contribution to the local economy, recent expansion, new product or service, custome...

Workforce Housing Tax Credits awarded

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Awards totaling more than $2.4 million were announced yesterday for three 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 $30 million in tax breaks for 49 projects across the state. The three projects in the Corridor region were: Berkley Heights, a 15-unit development in Spirit Lake Westfield by IGL Phase II, a 24-unit development in Spencer Sunrise Pointe, a 94-unit development in Storm Lake “The Workforce Housing Tax Credits awarded in the region will support the development of additional housing units needed to accommodate workforce housing goals,” said Corridor President & CEO Shannon Landauer. “Housing has been identified as ...

New soy processing plant to be built in Buena Vista County

Monday, August 30, 2021

Alta, Iowa –Aug. 30, 2021—A new soybean crushing plant that will be built in Buena Vista County near Alta, Iowa, pending state and local approvals, will propel value-added agriculture forward in Iowa. Development partners Mike Kinley and Nick Bowdish have joined forces to develop Platinum Crush, LLC, the second, modern soybean processing facility in the state. Kinley is also leading the development of Shell Rock Soy Processing (SRSP), which is under construction in Butler County in northeast Iowa. “Platinum Crush is positioned to extract all the value possible from locally-grown soybeans,” said Kinley, the managing member of Ag Development Group LLC...

2020 Census Data Released

Friday, August 20, 2021

The United States Census Bureau has released the 2020 Census Redistricting Data. The 2020 Census marks the 24th count of the nation's population. Easy-to-use data tables are scheduled to release on data.census.gov by September 30. You can take a look at the 2020 Population and Housing State Data here. The state of Iowa saw a 4.7% increase in population to 3,190,369. The number of housing units in the state increased by 5.7%. In the Corridor Region, two counties saw a population increase, and two saw a decrease. Overall, the region saw a slight increase in population over the last 10 years. The Corridor also has 34,416 housin...

Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute 2021 Wrap Up

Thursday, August 12, 2021

This week we welcomed the 15th class of Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute students to our region to network, learn about entrepreneurship and business, and have fun at the Lakes! The students joined us at Lakeside Labs on Sunday to meet each other and kick off the week. Then after getting together with their teams and their first session of the business simulation, they got some time to meet their host families before heading to Arnolds Park to network with community members. Monday, they kicked things off early, jumping right into the business simulation after breakfast with an opportunity to hear from To...

Corridor announces resignation of Senior VP

Thursday, July 15, 2021

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) announced today that Senior Vice President and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Brian Dalziel is resigning from the organization effective at the end of the month. “We want to thank Brian for his 11 years at the Corridor,” said Debra Satern, Corridor Board Chair. “He has cultivated the entrepreneurial atmosphere in the Corridor region and facilitated economic development through thoughtful programming and entrepreneurial and small business support. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” Dalziel has been supporting entrepreneurs in the Corridor since he joined the organization in June of 2010. He is leaving to b...

Letter from the CEO: July 8, 2021

Thursday, July 08, 2021

As the new President & CEO at the Iowa Lakes Corridor, I first want to introduce myself to the stakeholders in the region that are investing their time and talent into making this reason strong and special! As an economic developer that began in rural Nebraska, then transitioned to Carroll, Iowa, my experiences have been broad with regard to project work. On the recruitment side, I have worked with renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, food production, and a number of small business startup and expansion projects. Many of these experiences align with the momentum within the Corridor, and it is exciting t...

Corridor announces results of board elections

Friday, June 25, 2021

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is welcoming three new board members for Fiscal Year 2022: Keith Deitering, Market President at Bank Midwest in Spirit Lake; Roger Jacobson, Owner of Jacobson Broadcasting and KILR Radio in Estherville; and Donavon Wunschel, Branch Manager at Midwestern Mechanical in Spencer. 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. They will also begin their terms alongside new President and CEO Shannon Landauer, CEcD, wh...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor on The Iowa Gallivant's T-Bone Trail

Friday, June 18, 2021

The Iowa Gallivant’s JayJay Goodvin is visiting the Iowa Lakes Corridor Region June 28th through July 1st, 2021, as part of the Gallivant’s Western Iowa T-Bone Trail. The Western Iowa T-Bone Trail has stops planned in over 30 Western Iowa counties this summer, including stops in each of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s four counties. The goal of the T-Bone Trail is to showcase Iowa’s communities through discovery, entertainment, scenery and Iowa-raised beef. Goodvin will be in Clay County on June 28th, Dickinson County June 29th, Emmet County June 30th and Buena Vista County on July 1st. The T-Bone Trail started i...

What is Coworking?

Friday, June 11, 2021

Discover Coworking Coworking is a working environment that is designed to promote collaboration and community. You’ll find these shared workspaces all over the world. Entrepreneurs, creative professionals, coders, independent consultants, freelancers, and business owners that may have traditionally worked from home are now finding the benefits of coworking spaces designed to foster collaboration. Organizations of all sizes see coworking spaces as community hubs of entrepreneurship beyond simply providing physical spaces for people to work and meet. These spaces typically become the first choice location for small group meetups, offsite retreats, and events that promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Amenities in these spaces include desks and chairs...

Corridor announces hiring of new President & CEO, Shannon Landauer

Friday, June 04, 2021

SPENCER – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced the hiring of Shannon Landauer, CEcD, as its new President and CEO for the regional economic development organization serving Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. She will be replacing the Corridor’s former President and CEO Kiley Miller who resigned earlier this year after six years of service for the Corridor. Landauer is currently the Executive Director of the Carroll Area Development Corporation and Carroll Chamber of Commerce in Carroll, Iowa. She earned an Associates Degree from Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska. Her professional training includes the Heartland Basi...

Exploring & adoring our region

Friday, May 28, 2021

Summer is almost here! School is wrapping up for the year, the weather has been warming up and boats are getting out on the water. The Lakes Region of Northwest Iowa boasts many recreational opportunities throughout the year, but summer is really when our region shines. From the rivers perfect for fishing and kayaking to the lake for boats and jet skis; from the trails to walk and bike to the parks for picnics and playing. Indoor activities abound, too: the Okoboji Classic Car Museum, community theatre shows, small businesses to shop. And don’t even get me started on the restaurant...

Annual Meeting Wrapup

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Capital Campaign Update: Partnership, Progress, Prosperity The Corridor’s goal for the current FY2021-FY2025 capital campaign was $3.5 million over five years, giving the organization an operating budget of $700,000 per year. Dalziel announced that the Corridor exceeded the goal: 88 investors for a five-year total of $3,583,013 46 Five-Year Pledges for $1,770,500 31 Economic Support investors at $355,930 per year 8 In-Kind Pledges Corridor Progress Dalziel updated investors on progress made on the four goals in the Corridor’s Case for Investment. Goal 1: Business Retention, Expansion & Attraction 1 active Business Expansion project 5 active Business Attraction projects 76 small businesses assisted with federal, state and local COVID relief programs Goal 2...

Brownmed: Improving Life is our Passion

Monday, May 10, 2021

The world seemed to come to a screeching halt mid-March of 2020. Store shelves were emptied, people were asked to stay home if they could and wear masks if they couldn’t. Yet amidst the uncertainty and confusion, many individuals, companies and communities stepped up. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Brownmed saw their sales drop drastically. At the same time, they were hearing about a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical professionals across the country reusing their PPE. With a company motto of “Improving Life is Our Passion,” the Brownmed team set to work to improve the lives of thes...

Krafty's Meat Market

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Greatness starts and ends with something simple. Successful entrepreneurs understand and embrace this. For Nate Kraft, founder of Krafty’s Meat Market, it is all about making food taste good. This is simple to understand and important – we all love good tasting food. Since the April 17, 2021 soft opening of Krafty’s Meat Market, Northwest Iowa is enjoying a taste of something new. We are now being treated to some unique flavors that we did not enjoy a mere two weeks ago. My family visited Nate’s family business and reviewed the selection of locally sourced fresh meats, cheeses, breads and ic...

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Friday, April 23, 2021

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Iowa District Office will hold two information sessions for a basic overview of the new Restaurant Revitalization Fund. One on Thursday, April 22nd at 3:00 p.m. and one on Friday, April 23rd at 1:00 p.m. The program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used fo...

Why Hire a Summer Intern?

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Have you ever thought about the idea of hiring a summer intern? Whether a recent high school graduate or college student returning home for the summer, there are many talented young adults in the region who are looking for employment. The perfect candidate for a future with your organization might live next door, around the corner, or just down the road in one of the four counties that make up the Corridor. There are so many great reasons when considering whether to hire an intern and here are the top 5: Hiring summer interns is essentially a three-month job interview. Interns allow employer...

Angel Investing is a Team Sport

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Angel investors can and do earn returns that exceed those enjoyed by investors in public securities. That said, Angel investors can also lose most or all of the money they invest in a particular company (scary, right?). Angel investors that share information with each other and learn from each other tend to do better than those that go it alone. Angel Investment Networks Angel investment networks exist to improve the performance of investments made by Angel investors. Iowa Lakes Corridor Angels is a group of Angel investors established in 2015 by Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation with the purpose of facilitating investing i...

Raising Startup Funding: Shattering Myths

Thursday, April 01, 2021

When it comes to startup funding, many folks are either intimidated by the process or are captivated by the pitches they watch on Shark Tank. Don’t get me wrong, Shark Tank is good TV – it is fun to watch. And yes, there are indeed many pitch contests entrepreneurs can participate in. That said, most funding secured by entrepreneurs is not won by pitching. Most funding secured by entrepreneurs is earned through detailed preparation and thoughtful conversations. Successful detailed preparation is accomplished by working the processes entrepreneurs learn in our Prepare to Launch workshop series and will be learned in ou...

Next Steps: Worker Recruitment

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Three weeks ago in this column, we shared that we are listening to you and that we are preparing to extend our www.GetALakesLife.com program to address your growing worker recruitment needs. Many of you reached out to us, and many others were receptive when we contacted and visited with you about what could be done. Thank you!! As readers of this column know, we are preparing to capture additional videos that share the stories of area employers. We will invest in getting these videos into the hands of prospective employees. But before we do, we need to capture many of these videos. W...

Nesting

Thursday, March 11, 2021

These last few months as I’ve been preparing to bring a new life into the world and take on all of the responsibilities of becoming a mother, I hit a stage commonly known as “nesting.” Many parents probably recognize this term, but for those of you who may not, nesting is the urge an expecting mother often gets in the third trimester to clean and prepare the living spaces around her to prepare for a new baby. And I have definitely experienced this nesting instinct these last couple of months. Whether at the office or at home, I’ve been working to ge...

We're Listening: Ag Tech Supply Chain Cluster

Thursday, February 25, 2021

One of the most important activities our team here at Iowa Lakes Corridor Development executes each month is listening to you, our Corridor investors. I have personally met with over a dozen of our investors over the past several weeks regarding your continuing interest in supporting this organization; thank you to those of you who pledged! Separate from our fundraising efforts, Joanne Follon and I will be meeting with 30 to 50 Corridor business leaders over the next several months executing our Best of Iowa interviews – an important tool to measure the health of our economy and to identif...

We're Listening: Worker Recruitment

Thursday, February 25, 2021

The workforce shortage is an issue that is constraining the ability of employers in the Corridor region to grow. This issue impacts virtually every business, from our largest and most established firms to our recent startups. This issue crosses all business categories, impacting manufacturers, professional service providers, health care providers, retailers and tech firms as well as businesses in tourism and hospitality. In response we have invested in our www.GetALakesLife.com tool where Community Champions nominate Movers – individuals who live far, far away that the Champion wishes were living here in northwest Iowa. Once or twice per week Champions forward DigiBits – digital videos...

"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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

2020 Census Data Released

Friday, August 20, 2021

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

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

Employment Opportunity

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

Employment-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

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

News & Events

News & Events

Fast Facts About Iowa Lakes

Healthy Income

Highway improvements...

Employment Opportunity

After 5 p.m. you are on vacation!

Trails, trails and trails. . .

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

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