Iowa Lakes Corridor News & Events

News & Events

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...

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...

Lighthouse Summer Concert Series

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Contact: Lee Dutfield Phone: 712.732.3780 Email: lee@stormlakeunited.com LIGHTHOUSE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Storm Lake United is pleased to present the Lighthouse Summer Concert Series: a total of four unique and diverse concerts that are free to attend and a great reason to stay in town and enjoy some family-friendly fun. Bring your blankets and chairs and fin...

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...

Laborshed Employment Study

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Laborshed employment study to be conducted in the Iowa Lakes Corridor Region The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Corridor region. The study gathers information for the major employment center in each county across the state. This study will geographically define which communities contribute to the workforce in Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Storm Lake, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns. The purpose of this Laborshed study is t...

PDU Cables™ Announces production expansion to Estherville

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Contact: Troy Peterson, President, PDU Cables (612) 819-1927, tpeterson@pducables.com PDU Cables™ Announces production expansion to Estherville, Iowa. MINNETONKA – December 27, 2018 - Recent growth in PDU Cables business has led EPCO to seek manufacturing capacity beyond its current facility in Minnetonka. PDU Cables President, Troy Peterson’s familiarity with Estherville, has resulted in EPCO’s acquiring and plan to outfit the building at 108 S 18th Street to accommodate the assembly of select PDU Cables and EPCO products. Overseeing the buildout, staffing and management of the new facility for EPCO and PDU Cables will be Josh Howard. Josh grew up on his family’s far...

Northern Iowa & Southern Minnesota Wine Trail

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact Brianna Werner, MBA (507)-514-6177 | brianna.werner@keyc.com Southern Minnesota Northern Iowa Wine Trail Adventure Begins At The End Of The Roads You Know Mankato, MN – Calling all wine adventurers and enthusiasts! Travel and experience the most captivating local wineries in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa with the Southern Minnesota Northern Iowa Wine Trail passport! New to 2019! The adventure begins by purchasing a $10 passport at any participating winery, including ten (10) in southern Minnesota (Aspelund Winery, Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery, The Cheese Cave, Crow River Winery, Indian Island Winery, Javens Family Vineyard and Winery...

Corridor Announces Hiring of Alyssa Kragelund

Thursday, June 14, 2018

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is pleased to welcome Alyssa Kragelund to their team. Originally from Anita, Iowa and a 2018 graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Kragelund will be the new Coordinator of Administration and Communication for the Corridor. Throughout her time at Buena Vista, Alyssa was able to study marketing and accounting, as well as obtain a minor in vocal music performance. She first began to learn about the Corridor last summer. “I was a part of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute in 2017, so I got to know the Corridor through that, and then Kiley Mille...

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”? ...

New homes valued up to $250,000 now eligible for Spencer Quality Housing Initiative grants

Thursday, April 26, 2018

On behalf of Spencer Area Jobs Trust, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is excited to announce that new homes with total land and dwelling values up to $250,000 are now eligible for Spencer Quality Housing Initiative grants. The Spencer Quality Housing Initiative (QHI) makes grants of up to $15,000 available to buyers of newly constructed, never-occupied homes in Spencer. Since 2012, QHI has disbursed more than $1.1 million in grants to 80 homebuyers. Previously, the total appraised land and dwelling value could not exceed $199,500 for the home to qualify for QHI grant funds. The minimum total value remains $110,000. QHI i...

LDI CEO: "Glad to make Dickinson County our newest location"

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Liberty Diversified International CEO announces 100 jobs in former Polaris plant MINNEAPOLIS -- Mike Fiterman, Chairman and CEO of family-owned Liberty Diversified International (LDI), announced today that the company plans to purchase the former Polaris Industries manufacturing plant in Milford and will employ more than 100 people for furniture manufacturing operations. “We have been searching throughout the Midwest for high-tech manufacturing space for our Safco Products Co. operations,” Fiterman said. “Moving into the Milford facility became an excellent option for us because of the educated workforce, a plant with advanced technology capabilities, and the combined support of the Milford City Council and the Iow...

Iowa Lakes Corridor hires Carlson as summer office assistant

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is pleased to welcome Blake Carlson to its team this summer as office and events assistant. While with the Iowa Lakes Corridor, Carlson will assist staff with planning and managing events, including the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute in August and the organization’s presence at the Clay County Fair. “I am thrilled to join the team at the Corridor this summer and am looking forward to collaborating on all of the exciting projects happening here in the Iowa Great Lakes region.” Carlson said. “Growing up in the area, I have a passion for seeing local industry thrive an...

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

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

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

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. . .

After 5 p.m. you are on vacation!

Employment Opportunity

Highway improvements...

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

Healthy Income

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