Objective:
Build the organizational and financial capacity to effectively and efficiently implement an aggressive regional growth and development agenda.

Areas of Focus:

Objective:
Proactively assist existing business and industry to maximize growth opportunities in the region.

Objective:
Aggressively promote the region to prospective business and industry through direct contacts and partner organizations.

Areas of Focus:

• Existing industry relationships and assistance
• Conduct a multi-media campaign to promote the area
• Trade shows, direct sell trips, direct-mail, advertising
• Collateral materials, including first-class website for region
• Maintain current demographic and industry data for regional marketing efforts (laborshed, benefit surveys, LOIS)
• Product improvement and development

Objective:
Attract entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to the region.

Objective:
Develop an economic gardening program, providing technical assistance to small growing companies by conducting market research, customized business research, and focus group research; tracking industry trends; and helping identifying new markets through sophisticated database subscriptions.

Objective:
Support existing entrepreneurial resources, such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), that provides business planning assistance and educational/training programs for existing and potential entrepreneurs.

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.

Areas of Focus:

• Develop and promote an annual entrepreneurial institute
• Identify and support growth companies of all sizes and all sectors
• Lead efforts to increase capital available for entrepreneurial endeavors in the region
• Develop alliances with Iowa's business accelerators
• Produce an entrepreneur's guide for the Corridor region, cataloguing resources and tools available
• Provide market research assistance to start-up or existing entrepreneurs
• Promote entrepreneurial success stories and opportunities in the region

Objective:
Develop and broadcast the compelling case for the Iowa Great Lakes region as the place to live, work and play.

Areas of Focus:

• Multi-media campaign to broadcast message in-state and out-of-state
• Target areas of higher unemployment and recent displacements/closures for potential workforce
• Develop relocation assistance program
• Iowa Career Consortium membership and active involvement
• Existing employer recruitment efforts for specific skills and positions
• Internship opportunities posted on Iowa Careers Consortium website
• Regional job postings w/IWD on www.lakescorridor.com
• Participate in career fairs and events in the Midwest
• Involvement of young professionals organizations