Partner with Us | Goals & Objectives
Goal: Become recognized as the most attractive region in Iowa for new ventures and entrepreneurs
Objective: Develop an economic gardening program, providing technical assistance to small growing companies by conducting market research, tracking industry trends, and helping identify new markets through database subscriptions.
Objective: Develop additional opportunities for entrepreneurs to network with other entrepreneurs, successful entrepreneurs in the region, trade associations, major employers, elected officials and colleges and universities.
Objective: Develop the next generation of successful entrepreneurs and leaders by encouraging youth to pursue the creation of new ventures and apply entrepreneurship concepts in their career endeavors.
Key Initiatives and Areas of Focus:
- Promote and implement the annual Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute
- Develop and promote K-12 entrepreneurial programming throughout the region
- Provide market research assistance to start-up or existing entrepreneurs
- Develop and conduct an existing business call program of entrepreneurs
- Provide educational and training programs for entrepreneurs
- Provide contract consulting services for start-up companies
- Facilitate a mentoring program and networking events for existing entrepreneurs
- Administer the Iowa Lakes Capital Fund
- Promote entrepreneurial success stories and opportunities in the region
- Explore feasibility of establishing a regional business development and career center
Goal: Add 600 new primary, higher-wage jobs to the region through existing business and industry expansion, new business and industry locations, and new business starts-ups.
Objective: Proactively assist existing business and industries to maximize growth opportunities in the region.
Objective: Aggressively promote the region to prospective business and industries through direct contacts and partner organizations.
Key Initiatives and Areas of Focus:
Existing industry call program, retention and expansion
- Visit out-of-state company headquarters
- Collaborate with area hospitals to retain and recruit health care services and professionals
- Trade shows, direct sell trips, direct-mail, advertising
- Collateral materials, including expansion of website
- Case studies of company success stories developed, published and distributed regionally and to prospects and consultants
- Hosting site location consultants and design-build firms
- Maintain current demographic and industry data for regional marketing efforts (laborshed, benefit surveys, LOIS)
- Product improvement and development
- Document and promote existing infrastructure, available buildings and shovel-ready sites; assist in development of needed infrastructure, sites and buildings
- Meet and secure support from local, state and federal elected officials and their staff, and appointed officials, as appropriate
Goal: Attract more people and workers to the region
Objective: Develop and broadcast the compelling case for the Iowa Lakes Corridor region as the place to live, work and play.
Key Initiatives and Areas of Focus:
- Continue and expand Why Go Back? Campaign
- Target areas of higher unemployment and recent displacements/closures for potential workforce
- Develop relocation assistance program and fund
- Seek alumni lists of local high schools and colleges and develop database for direct marketing
- Iowa Career Consortium membership and active involvement
- Existing employer recruitment efforts for specific skills and positions
- Internship opportunities posted on Iowa Careers Consortium and Corridor websites
- Regional job postings w/IWD on http://www.lakescorridor.com/
- Participate in career fairs and events in the Midwest; host a regional job fair annually
Goal: Build and maintain partnerships and relationships to ensure the success and completion of this business plan
Areas of Focus:
- Establish an investor relations program
- Meet regularly with all investors – public and private
- Meet annually with Iowa Department of Economic Development and other state agencies (Dept. of Transportation, Iowa Workforce Development, Dept. of Natural Resources) and other key statewide agencies
- Conduct an annual Washington, DC summit and advocate for key priority projects
- Promote regional success stories, examples and their importance through newsletter and special forums
- Build additional partnerships with adjacent counties and organizations
