Iowa Lakes Corridor News & Events

News & Events

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...

Happy New Year!

Friday, December 28, 2018

A new year means a fresh start and an opportunity to look forward to your goals and make resolutions for the coming year. Maybe you're looking to lose some of that weight, especially after the recent holiday season and all of the goodies that comes with it. You could be making a resolution to find a local organization to volunteer for. Or you want to make more time for your family or a hobby you love. Here at the Corridor, a New Year's resolution we have is to recruit more people into the lakes region of Northwest Iowa, but that ca...

2018 Business Recognition Award Winners

Thursday, November 15, 2018

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation once again recognized great achievement by local businesses Wednesday at the organization’s annual 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 – Brandon Rohrig, Lakes Regional Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year – Jill Harms, Blink Marketing Small Business Excellence – Steffes Companies Large Business Excellence – Rembrandt Foods Chairman’s Award (for outstanding support of economic development) – Lyle Hevern, Estherville Area Partnership for Growth Valerie Newhouse, President of Iowa Lakes Community College, and Dr. Carl Turner, retired Superintendent of Storm Lake School District, wer...

Intern Spotlight: Blake Carlson

Friday, August 24, 2018

Blake Carlson, a 2016 Spencer High School Graduate, is a marketing and operations intern for Community Insurance this summer. A junior at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, Carlson studies public relations with a double minor in theatre and entrepreneurship. “I became interested in this position after an opportunity fell in my lap,” Carlson explained. “I was interested in learning more about business, and it also gave me an opportunity to return to the area and enjoy everything that Northwest Iowa has to offer.” He hopes to gain a deeper understanding of professional development, noting, “If nothing else, it is more about developin...

Intern Spotlight: Shannon Clark

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Shannon Clark of Spencer is one of the Marketing and Operations interns for Community Insurance this summer. A senior at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, Clark is majoring in communications with an emphasis in graphic design and journalism and a minor in humanities. Clark wanted an internship in the area where she could hone her graphic design skills. “My main goal was to get a job in Spencer where I could also do graphic design,” Clark explained. “Liz Kluver, an instructor in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business at BVU, told me that Scott [Simpson] was looking for someon...

Fast Facts About Iowa Lakes

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

Employment Opportunity

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

Employment-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

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

News & Events

News & Events

Fast Facts About Iowa Lakes

Trails, trails and trails. . .

Employment Opportunity

Highway improvements...

After 5 p.m. you are on vacation!

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

Healthy Income

Sign Up for the Newsletter