Iowa Lakes Corridor News & Events

News & Events

Find Out About the 2022 Laborshed Analysis Conducted in the Iowa Lakes Corridor

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

Iowa Workforce Development facilitated a laborshed analysis in the spring of 2022 for the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation region using zip code information from area employers, which was entered into a geographical information system mapping program to generate the concentration levels and commuting patterns of employees in the region, and was followed-up by phone call interviews to learn more. Results of the 2022 Laborshed Analysis You can find all the information from the laborshed analysis in the resource library here, including summaries of Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake, and Storm Lake and a regional analysis. You can also contact the Iowa Lakes Corrido...

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Staff Here to Help with Personalized Service and Support!

Tuesday, August 02, 2022

The friendly staff at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation are here to help your business at every stage and to partner with you to provide the resources you need to grow and succeed. Personalized service and support from our staff is part of everything we do from providing workforce training and retention to site selection assistance and much more. Iowa Lakes Corridor Staff Here to Provide Personalized Service and Support Our four-person staff is here to help provide personalized service and support every step of the way as your business locates, re-locates, starts, or continues to grow in the Iowa Lake...

In Focus: “Golden Age” of Spec Development

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

From coast to coast, demand for new warehouse and distribution space is hitting record-breaking levels. According to a recent report from Cushman & Wakefield,1 the U.S. industrial construction pipeline topped 600 million square feet for the first time ever in Q1 2022, with nearly 95 percent of that tally classified as warehouse/distribution product. Net absorption hit a staggering 108 million square feet in Q1, with 10 different markets posting more than five million square feet of new leasing activity from January to March. Read full article.

Use Our Interactive Map to Find Available Sites and Buildings in the Iowa Lakes Corridor

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

The interactive map on the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation website makes it possible to view available sites and buildings and to search based on a variety of factors from specialty features like cold storage to proximity to the closest airport. Our Interactive Map of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Identifies Available Sites and Buildings Using the interactive map, you can find all of the available sites and buildings in the Iowa Lakes Corridor area. Each building has a helpful property profile and detailed facility features. Available sites have extensive information including transportation logistics, electric service provided, and zoning information. Click here to revie...

How to Gain an Edge in the Race for Talent

Monday, July 25, 2022

If you are not spending as much time developing your future workforce as you are engaging your current one, then you are falling behind your competition. That was just one of the key takeaways from the World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment held in early May in Edinburgh, Scotland. Read full article.

Top 4 Mindset Milestones Entrepreneurs Need to Reach for Success

Monday, July 25, 2022

Having a proper business mindset is a recommendation we've all heard upon starting a new exciting business endeavor. But what exactly stays behind the words "proper business mindset?" In a nutshell, it represents a certain way of thinking that implements various growth strategies, people skills and approaches to situations and issues that together help you move forward with your initial plan. Read full article.

Submit Your Job Openings! The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Can Help with Your Workforce Needs!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Does your company have vacant positions you are having difficulty filling? The helpful and knowledgeable staff at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation can help you find talented, trained workers to fill your job openings. Submit Your Job Opening on the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Website We can share your job openings here. You can submit a job online here, and we will post it to the Find A Job page on the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation website. Are you looking for a job, or do you know someone who is? Search our job openings here!

Start with SizeUp and Take Your Iowa Lakes Corridor Business to the Next Level

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Have you heard of SizeUp Iowa Lakes? It’s an interactive tool that helps small businesses harness current, industry-specific, and localized data. You can learn more by listening to this training seminar or give SizeUp a try here – just enter your industry and location to start an analysis of your business competitors. How Can SizeUp Iowa Lakes Help My Business? SizeUp Iowa Lakes can help you find potential customers and suppliers, improve your marketing, learn more about local consumers, and so much more. Click here to learn more and to start using SizeUp Iowa Lakes today!

Attracting and Retaining Workers in Today's Challenging Market

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment has fallen to pre-pandemic levels, but that doesn’t mean the workforce is simply returning to normal. In March of 2022, a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs, leaving 1.9 job openings for every unemployed worker. According to the Institute of Supply Management, filling positions in the manufacturing industry is particularly challenging. According to a recent survey by CNBC, fifty-two percent of all small business owners report trouble finding workers. It’s safe to say that for every employee who resigns, others are contemplating quitting. Read full article.

How to Effectively Hire During the New Normal

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

The way businesses in the industrial sector approach hiring new employees has changed. Companies can no longer rely on posting a job ad and sitting back to wait for resumes to flood in. With unemployment rates at an all-time low after the advent of the Great Resignation, the best candidates are already employed. So how do you locate the best talent, and what are the best-recruiting tools? Internal recruitment, agency software, HR recruitment software, and recruitment service providers are just a few of the options available to you. Read full article.

Read Testimonials About Why the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is a Major Community Resource

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

Learn more about the many contributions from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation to the community and how we’re making a difference with the services we provide! These testimonials show just how important this organization is to the Iowa Lakes Corridor area. Testimonial from Mary Ramussen, Ringsted Mary Ramussen of Ringsted, Iowa, shared her appreciation for the efforts of everyone at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. Mary wrote in her testimonial, “Their response time and attention to detail is phenomenal! Most importantly, they offer encouragement and hope, important elements for Iowa’s small towns. The Iowa Lakes Corridor is truly a cornerston...

Taking Action Now for An Increasingly Automated Future

Monday, July 04, 2022

Recently, Elon Musk announced plans for the Tesla Bot, a humanoid robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall. Musk said the robot “probably won’t work.” I hope he is wrong. Many people have an adverse reaction to discussions of automation and artificial intelligence. While I understand those fears, I believe we need to embrace automation. In fact, let’s put our foot on the gas — or set the autonomous electric vehicle at max speed. But as we accelerate toward automation, we must reposition our workforce for a successful journey. Read full article.

Front Line: Performing Physical Tasks Remotely

Friday, July 01, 2022

One of the major societal effects of the Covid-19 pandemic — aka The Big Reset — has been rapid and widespread growth of remote work, as companies allow more employees to perform tasks from their homes…or elsewhere. The biggest shift has been among office-based businesses, which require fewer on-site workers doing physical tasks than manufacturing or supply chain operations require. But even in the latter categories, rapid advances in automation are enabling more workers to “go digital,” experts say. Read full article.

Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute 2022

Thursday, June 30, 2022

June 23-26 marked the 16th year of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute. 25 college students from Buena Vista University, Iowa Lakes Community College, Iowa State University, University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa joined us in the lakes region to learn about entrepreneurship, get mentorship and coaching on their business ventures and pitches, and see what life is like in the Lakes Region of Northwest Iowa. Of these 25 students, 24 competed in a Business Pitch Competition. They gave their five-minute pitches in front of community members that coached them on their ideas and presentations, and then competed for monetary awards. Student...

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Presentation of Incentives Information to the Media

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Companies receiving economic development incentives often have a great story to tell. The projects championed by those companies bring much needed jobs and investment to a local community. In exchange, the companies may receive various forms of economic development incentives, such as grants, tax credits, or loans. However, these incentives are not giveaways. Instead, the incentives are typically awarded on the condition that companies receiving them achieve certain metric commitments (i.e., jobs, payroll, and investment) to benefit the local community. Read full article.

Five Ways for Manufacturers to Manage Global Market Volatility

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Supply chain struggles…labor shortages…rising costs…crises — These are just a few of the massive challenges today’s manufacturers face, paired with some of the greatest demand ever seen. Determining the best path forward for success now and in the future can be confusing and daunting. While there’s no perfect one-size-fits-all solution, by asking the right questions, anticipating how challenges will impact business, and taking a comprehensive approach to updating and building facilities, manufacturers can future-proof operations and better manage global market volatility. Read full article.

Subscribe to the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Newsletter

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Stay up to date with the latest news from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation by signing-up for our newsletter. Click here to browse past newsletters and find out the latest news, events in the Iowa Lakes community, and jobs that are available. Register here to join the mailing list and have the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s newsletter delivered directly to your inbox. What You’ll Find in the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Newsletter The newsletter is a one-stop place to find out about the Iowa Lakes Corridor community and the projects, programs, and events facilitated by the Iowa Lakes Corridor Developmen...

The Evolution of the Megasite

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Competing on a national and global scale for large economic development projects — and winning — is a sure sign of a community’s vitality. A community’s ability to position large-scale, shovel-ready land tracts for investment consideration exponentially increases its ability to secure desired jobs and capital investment at the local level. For years, there has been a traditional understanding of megasite requirements. Originally created to meet the demands of the automotive OEM and allied industries, these sites were assumed to have consistent demands. Important factors have included fully contiguous land space; multimodal transportation, including access to rail; large-scale and redundant utilit...

Station to Station

Monday, June 27, 2022

Remember as a child trying to learn the difference between “electric” and “electronic,” two words separated only by that “ON” switch in the middle? Today — with a surge in EV demand and a shortage of semiconductors — they are the two most operative words in the automotive industry. How they twist together to alter the DNA of mobility is a story best told by an array of projects now flipping the “ON” switch. The billions of dollars in investment are coming in big chunks: Rivian’s $5 billion in Georgia; Mercedes’ 6 million sq. ft. in Alabama, Ford’s planned BlueOval meg...

Jensen wants the Cobblestone to open this year

Friday, June 24, 2022

The Cobblestone Inn & Ballroom could open as early as late 2022 as a bar and pizza parlor, and in subsequent years a wedding venue, lakeside concert venue and dance hall. Nate Jensen, the owner of the historic venue, told the Lakeside City Council he intends to open the venue’s former south bar and its restaurant booths later this year. Jensen hopes to open the entirety of the 22,000 square-foot facility by 2026. Read full article.

New consignment boutique opens in Storm Lake

Friday, June 24, 2022

Small Town Consignment & Boutique opened this week at the former Sears store, 701 Seneca St. Owner Destiney Lansink of Odebolt has collected consignments from 142 individuals so far, and has 41 more sellers waiting, which indicates the level of interest for this type of business. “Almost every person I talked to said, ‘Storm Lake needs this so bad,’” she said. “Some people are struggling and it’s hard to just give away their stuff,” referring to Goodwill and SOS Thrift Store, which accept only donations. Read full article.

Meet Alyssa Petersen, Coordinator of Administration and Communication

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Alyssa Petersen, Coordinator of Administration and Communication for Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is an excellent resource for our community. As our Coordinator she keeps the community, and our investors, informed on what’s happening, how to get involved and how to benefit from the programs being run by the Corridor. About Alyssa Petersen Alyssa Petersen is the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation's Coordinator of Administration and Communication. She is responsible for the management of the Iowa Lakes Corridor’s website, social media and other communications, bookkeeping, planning events, and handling administrative tasks in the Corridor office. Petersen graduated from Buena Vista University in 201...

Beyond Ethanol: How Three International Companies Are Finding Success In Iowa

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Iowa has a well-documented history in the ethanol business. We’re the United States’ leader in renewable fuel production with 41 ethanol refineries (capable of producing more than 4.5 billion gallons per year) and 11 biodiesel facilities (with annual production capacities of 410 million gallons). You’ve likely seen ethanol recently claim national headlines as higher oil prices have driven up demand for ethanol to ease fossil-based energy costs – an increase in demand that undoubtedly will be a boon for our farmers and our bioeconomy. Read full article.

IEDA, Iowa Women’s Foundation Hire New Employer Engagement Director to Address Child Care Needs in Iowa

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) announced a new full-time position dedicated to helping Iowa businesses develop family-friendly child care policies for their employees. Sheri Penney, the former economic development director in Mitchell County, has accepted the new role of IWF’s Employer Engagement Director as part of a pilot project created through a partnership between IWF and IEDA. The partnership and new position deliver on a key recommendation of the Governor’s Child Care Task Force, which convened last year to address the child care shortage in Iowa. Read full article.

What the Iowa Lakes Development Corporation Has Accomplished

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Do you want to learn more about the Iowa Lakes Development Corporation and what we have accomplished for our communities? Our organization prides itself on transparency and we are always open to having a conversation and answering your questions. We also hold quarterly investor meetings where all of our local investors are invited to attend, learn more and ask questions. Quarterly Partner Meetings If you can’t attend a quarterly partner meeting you can watch a video recording or read the report after the fact. We publish an Annual Report that highlights our activities and major accomplishments for the region. You can download th...

3 Ways to Empower Everyone to Lead (and How to Do It)

Monday, June 13, 2022

If you ask managers, directors and executives to name the leaders of their company, most would be expected to point to themselves. They are the group who carry the formal, assigned responsibilities of leadership. However, if you ask those same leaders to name people in the organization with the biggest influence over culture, the most institutional knowledge or the greatest level of trust from fellow employees — qualities associated with leadership — the answers will often not be the same. Read full article.

5 Tips for Creatively Going Green With Your Business

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Going green is no longer just a niche catchphrase. It has become an increasingly mainstream part of doing business. In fact, in one recent study, 78 percent of Americans said they would be more likely to purchase environmentally friendly products, with 64 percent also willing to pay more for these products. Clearly, an environmental focus in business doesn't just help the environment — it can also have a direct impact on your bottom line. When you make sustainability a key focus of your business ventures, you will become much more appealing to customers who share similar values. Read full article.

Evolving a Legacy Industry: Iowa’s Approach to Manufacturing 4.0

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Iowa’s history of supplying global markets with an array of goods – from food products to aerospace electronics – has positioned the state as a national leader in advanced manufacturing, generating more than $16 billion worth of exported goods and accounting for 17 percent of the state’s GDP. Research led by Iowa’s public and private sector leaders revealed the need for a shift to continue the industry’s momentum. Findings concluded that Iowa’s advanced manufacturing businesses must continue adapting to the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) and its emphasis on smart technology, data-driven operations and process automation. Read full article.

Meet Joanne Follon, Business Retention & Workforce Partnership Coordinator

Tuesday, June 07, 2022

Have you met Joanne Follon, Business Retention & Workforce Partnership Coordinator for the Iowa Lakes Development Corporation? Joanne is an incredible resource for our local business community. Her entire focus is on helping Iowa Lakes businesses to sustain and grow. That means that if your business has a challenge of any kind - Joanne should be your first call. She can assist by helping you to find funding, workforce, sites and opportunities. She can also help to solve any issues that your business is having - either directly or by introducing you to one of our strategic partners. To fin...

Community Support is Essential for Creating Housing Opportunities

Monday, June 06, 2022

Communities throughout the country are facing a housing crisis either due to a lack of housing units, as the result of prices skyrocketing past the level of affordability, or both. Solving this crisis requires creativity and the support of the entire community. As such, leaders who put forth policies without stakeholder support will find their proposals stalled while leaders who engage stakeholders from the very beginning will have partners willing to help bring about the necessary changes. Read full article.

How Companies Are Bridging The Gap Between Profitability & Purpose

Thursday, June 02, 2022

Today, consumers, investors, and even employees are expecting more out of the companies they support. It doesn’t take much browsing on social media to read about brands that have earned widespread ire for falling short. About half of all consumers admit to publicly skewering businesses. Even if those brands are profitable, they face a potentially devastating loss of reputation that could affect their bottom lines. In other words, it’s a very new type of environment. A full 62% of chief experience officers told Deloitte they were just as focused on positively giving back as on increasing profits. Accordingly, some business leader...

Refreshed Iowa Farm & Fun Passport offers deals, discounts and prizes for Iowa travelers

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

Travelers can discover farm experiences and family fun across the state while earning the chance to win prizes with the refreshed Iowa Farm & Fun Passport from the Iowa Tourism Office. The passport features trail options for u-pick flower farms and dairies. "Iowa has so much to offer, not just to our visitors, but also to our residents who have lived here for decades, too,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. "Through a unique and innovative approach, these popular passports are inspiring Iowans both young and old to dig deeper and discover Iowa’s beauty and rich history that exists in all four corner...

Follow the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation on Social Media!

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

For local news and updates, follow the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation on social media. Our organization provides free support for local businesses. Following us means that you’ll be the first to know about new programs like the marketing grant being offered to small businesses right now! We also share business success stories so you can learn about the companies who are growing in our region. Another great way to stay updated on Corridor news is by subscribing to our newsletter. This weekly publication keeps subscribers up-to-date on current news, events and updates from the Iowa Lakes Corridor. Our social media accounts ar...

Tom Nelson is Bringing New Business to the Iowa Lakes Corridor

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

As the Vice President of Business Development for the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, Tom Nelson is tasked with bringing new business and investment to the region. He is also the go-to person for entrepreneurs and small businesses. “I actively recruit new business to our region, demonstrating the benefits of locating in the Corridor and how we can support their business once here,” said Nelson. “In essence, you could say that my job involves telling our story. And our story’s a good one - we have a lot to offer businesses and their employees.” About Tom Nelson Before joining the Corridor, Nelso...

Meet Shannon Landauer, CEcD, President & CEO of Iowa Lakes Corridor Dev. Co.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Shannon Landauer, CEcD, is the President & CEO of Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. She is leading the organization forward by focussing on key initiatives that will make the greatest impact on the region. “It is important to operate strategically. As an organization, we will have the greatest impact by listening to the needs of our community members and working diligently to solve challenges, while improving the quality of life for everyone. We do so by growing our economy - something our organization is actively working to do,” said Landauer. “I invite business owners, leaders and community members to engag...

Meet the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is dedicated to growing our region’s economy. Our mission is “To foster, encourage, promote, aid or otherwise assist in the economic growth and development of the four-county region.” But, what does that mean? We help to grow our region’s economy by: #1 Supporting our local businesses The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation speaks with local business owners and managers, helping them to solve challenges and capitalize on opportunities. #2 Developing our workforce We work with local partners to upskill our workforce and secure the funding for local businesses to train their employees. Working as a team we are making sur...

Economic Development Week 2022

Monday, May 09, 2022

For more information, contact: Alyssa Petersen Coordinator of Administration & Communication 712-264-3474; apetersen@lakescorridor.com Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation Announces Recognition of 2022 Economic Development Week The international event will highlight local efforts to increase the quality of life in every community over the course of May 9 to May 13, 2022 The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) marks the week of May 9 to May 13, 2022, as Economic Development Week. During this week, communities across North America will celebrate and recognize the contributions made by professional economic developers to create more economically vibrant and livable communities. Created in 2016 by the International Economic Development Counci...

Additive MFG & 3D Printing With Protostudios, University Of Iowa

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

Explore additive manufacturing and 3D printing with Spencer Kuhl, Director of Operations, Protostudios, University of Iowa. Listen to the podcast here.

Robotics & Automation With Agri-Industrial Plastics Company

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

Find out more regarding robotics & automation as it relates to the Manufacturing 4.0 revolution with Lori Schaefer-Weaton, President at Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, and Josh White, Automation Supervisor at Agri-Industrial Plastics Company. Listen to the podcast.

Where to Find Free Support for Your Business in the Iowa Lakes Corridor

Tuesday, May 03, 2022

You can find free support for your business in the Iowa Lakes Corridor through the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. We actively support our business community and can customize solutions to meet your needs. For example, if you have an expansion opportunity but need capital - we can help. If you are having challenges with your workforce, we can help with that too. In short, we should be the first stop any time your business needs help. If we don’t offer the solution directly, we probably have a partner who does and can help you to connect the dots. Free Suppor...

Evolving A Legacy Industry: Iowa's Approach To Manufacturing 4.0

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Iowa's history of supplying global markets with an array of goods – from food products to aerospace electronics – has positioned the state as a national leader in advanced manufacturing, generating more than $16 billion worth of exported goods and accounting for 17 percent of the state's GDP. Research led by Iowa's public and private sector leaders revealed the need for a shift to continue the industry's momentum. Findings concluded that Iowa's advanced manufacturing businesses must continue adapting to the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) and its emphasis on smart technology, data-driven operations and process automation. Read full article.

Iowa: A Smart Investment In America's Midwest

Monday, April 25, 2022

Though some may know Iowa for abundant cornfields, strong Midwestern work ethic and the spirited role it plays in presidential politics each quadrennium, there's much more to the state. With a pro-business regulatory environment, affordable operational costs and one of the lowest state insurance premium taxes in the nation, Iowa provides an ideal environment to expand, relocate or launch a business. As companies continue navigating uncertain waters, the state has implemented grant programs, tax deferrals, workforce development initiatives and other targeted programs to foster an environment where businesses can achieve sustained growth. Read full article.

Corridor announces Small Business Marketing Assistance Program

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT Alyssa Petersen Coordinator of Administration & Communication, Iowa Lakes Corridor Phone: 712-264-3474 Email: apetersen@lakescorridor.com Marketing assistance available for small businesses in the Iowa Lakes Corridor The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) and Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission announce a small business marketing assistance program available to businesses in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The Corridor COVID-19 Small Business Marketing Assistance program is a competitive funding program that assists regional businesses with recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The program is funded through a grant from the US Department o...

Skip to content 5 Steps to Creatively Solving Business Problems

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Being creative in a business environment comes easy for some, but for most of us, it is challenging to come up with innovative and unique solutions to our most pressing problems. It's typically easy to see why a problem occurred or even suggest what everyone else should do to solve the problem. But when it's our responsibility to address the issue, that's when things get complicated. We often see unlimited options and analyze the consequences of each choice. We see an uphill battle with uncertain outcomes. Howver, we can overcome the fear of the unknown and hone in on the bes...

4 Common Beliefs Every Entrepreneur Should Question

Monday, April 11, 2022

Entrepreneurship is a tough road that can travel through some dark places. After some initial success, many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck and confused, in a place where they question who they are, where their business is going or when they’ll get there. Some are surrounded by self-imposed walls they’ve built to help deal with the grind of building a business. The walls are too high to climb over and too deep to burrow under. The only option is to knock them down. Mike Malatesta is an entrepreneur who found himself in what he calls the “valley of uncertainty” while running hi...

Know Your Audience: Our Future Workforce

Friday, April 08, 2022

Evolving workforce needs seem to be a “chicken or the egg” scenario. Which came first? For example, was it the creation of new technology that reshaped our business models and needs for workforce? Or did each generation’s increased desire for instant connectivity and gratification cause us to innovate as these same individuals became both team members and customers? If the one constant is change – what’s next? Read full article.

Solutions for Iowa's Evolving Workforce

Friday, April 08, 2022

Their diligence, strong work ethic and smart problem-solving skills. They are the backbone of the state’s many businesses and have a sense of pride in their work. Many of the state’s workers have long tenures at their employers, which helps improve business performance. When it comes to creating a stronger business future for Iowa, three components go together: growing the workforce, creating a plan for improved child care and expanding the manufacturing sector. Iowa government and business leaders are taking these challenges on through a variety of incentives, policies and programs. Public and private sectors are overcoming these challenges through severa...

Workforce Solution: Make Workers a Better Offer

Friday, April 08, 2022

The workforce shortage isn’t a recent phenomenon. It’s 20 to 30 years in the making and may worsen in the coming years. For employers experiencing a “labor shortage,” there is a simple solution: make workers a better offer. Watch our recent Workforce Skirmishes webinar to find out more information and where to find potential employees: https://bit.ly/3I08S1H Read full article.

New Laborshed reports released

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

New report details regional labor pool, wages The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) and Iowa Workforce Development announced the updated “Laborshed” reports for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties for 2022. Conducted every three years, the “Laborshed” study provides detailed information about workforce availability, occupations, wages, benefits and commuting patterns. Iowa Workforce Development estimates that there are 116,046 workers in the Corridor “Laborshed,” defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. The data is based on mail surveys of businesses in the region and phone call surveys of residents. “Having current and accurate workforce dat...

Corridor launches innovate new website service designed to support local business

Friday, March 11, 2022

IOWA LAKES CORRIDOR LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE NEW WEBSITE SERVICE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS SizeUpIowaLakes provides free market research and business intelligence to help small businesses The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is launching SizeUpIowaLakes on its website, making powerful market research and business intelligence available to local businesses to help them succeed. The public rollout will kick off March 21st at 2 p.m. with a public webinar to showcase the tool and answer questions from the public. Local businesses can now access industry-specific and hyperlocal information to help them grow and make smarter decisions using Big Data analysis. The research is individually customize...

Corridor to begin weekly entrepreneurial networking events

Thursday, March 10, 2022

IOWA LAKES CORRIDOR TO BEGIN WEEKLY ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORKING EVENTS The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced the start of Corridor Connect, a free networking and educational event that will occur weekly throughout the four-county Corridor region. Corridor Connect is a free, open-to-the-public event to give entrepreneurs and small business owners the opportunity to learn, grow and create valuable connections with others in the entrepreneurial network within the Corridor region. These events will happen weekly from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at various venues in the Corridor. At each meeting, two local companies will share what they do and both challenges and successes they ar...

Corridor to host Quarterly Investor Meeting

Monday, March 07, 2022

Iowa Lakes Corridor to host Quarterly Investor Meeting The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) will host its first 2022 Quarterly Investor Meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Spencer Golf & Country Club. The event will feature speaker Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency. Brossoit is a founding member of Golden Shovel Agency (GSA). He began as the Vice President of Business Development and filled the COO position prior to becoming the CEO. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University, Brossoit co-founded a digital marketing agency in central Minnesota – a company h...

Understanding Current Workforce Shortages

Monday, February 21, 2022

Workforce shortages are a primary concern for businesses and economic developers throughout the country. For economic developers, this creates a clear and urgent challenge - find workers to support existing businesses or risk them going elsewhere. The same is true for business attraction. Economic developers seeking new investment must have a workforce attraction strategy that supports that growth. Read full article.

Supply Chain Event speakers announced

Friday, February 18, 2022

Supply Chain Event speakers announced The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) and Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) have announced the speakers for the March 22nd event, “Managing Your Supply Chain During Time of Chaos.” Speakers will include Melissa Burant, Scott Grawe and Marc Schneider. Melissa Burant is a Supply Chain Project Manager and leads Supplier Scouting for CIRAS. In this role, she helps companies develop and expand their supplier networks and identify new opportunities. Burant joined the CIRAS team in 2014, transitioning from her previous role as an Army civilian. In her time at CIRAS, sh...

Corridor supports aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative website service to plan small business openings

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

IOWA LAKES CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SUPPORTS ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS WITH INNOVATIVE WEBSITE SERVICE TO PLAN SMALL BUSINESS OPENINGS SizeUpIowaLakes provides free market research to foster local entrepreneurship Tuesday, February 15, 2022 – Just in time for National Entrepreneurship Week, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced a new tool to empower local aspiring entrepreneurs through an innovative online service called SizeUpIowaLakes. The service will be available for free to all local entrepreneurs on the Corridor website beginning in early March. A national entrepreneurship boom is now occurring as entrepreneurs starting new businesses has reached historic highs. This is a positive sign fo...

Five Ways Automation Will Strengthen Your Labor Force

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Automation has been painted as a threat to employees, and the idea that robots will replace workers and lead to unemployment continues to circulate in some circles. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. According to McKinsey & Company, automation and AI technologies will boost business productivity and GDP growth and drive new levels of prosperity. There are also many benefits for the workforce. Automation across multiple industries has already benefited the labor force in many ways. This includes increasing employment rates and improving workplace safety. Read full article.

The 2022 Regional Workforce Development Rankings

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Students on the brink of graduating from their community college, university or vocational technology school don’t necessarily know whether their state ranks well in workforce development relative to other states. Military personnel ending a tour of duty at a base and transitioning to the private sector are likely in the same situation. Students usually pick the best higher education situation for the degree or certificate program they’re after. Soldiers, sailors and other servicemembers were stationed where they were stationed. On graduation or exit from service, they then can evaluate locations where their career aspirations will best be met. Read full article.

Best Practices For Growing Your Workforce

Monday, February 14, 2022

As businesses throughout the country struggle to fill job vacancies, EDCs are stepping up to the plate. EDCs are working with community partners to develop innovative programs, connect talent with employers who are hiring, upskill the local workforce, and grow a pipeline of next-generation workers. Here are some of the best practices Golden Shovel is seeing throughout the country. Bonus Content: DOWNLOAD THE UNDERSTANDING CURRENT WORKFORCE SHORTAGES WHITEPAPER HERE. BEST PRACTICES FOR INCREASING WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION ATTRACT WORKERS WHO ARE COMMUTING OUT An initiative developed by the GREATER SPRINGFIELD PARTNERSHIP (GSP), CLARK COUNTY JOBS is inviting residents to reconsider Clark County as a destinatio...

Locations That Promote Employee Health and Well-Being Coming to the Forefront

Monday, February 14, 2022

The pandemic has been a game-changer for employee and employer attitudes concerning wellness, well-being, safety, health, and hygiene. Many — if not most — organizations are doubling down on wellness in the workplace. Some are going so far as to incorporate health and well-being into their corporate site selection and location criteria. A focus on wellness in the workplace has become not just a “nice to have,” but a necessity to keep employees safe and healthy, and to enhance human performance. Health and well-being are among the new employee priorities that are now equal to — if not more important tha...

State of the States

Monday, February 14, 2022

There were a few common threads to all state legislative sessions in 2021: The seated legislators all had to wrangle, wheedle, cajole or otherwise out-maneuver one another as they redrew legislative and congressional districts in accordance with new U.S. Census numbers. Throughout the year, state leaders also had to figure out how best to distribute monies from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress. And when the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act finally achieved passage in the nation’s capital, those same state legislators knew more money was coming for vital projects from highways to rail t...

Talent-Based Location Strategies

Friday, February 11, 2022

As the U.S. economy continues its recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are encountering an increasingly difficult talent landscape fraught with challenges related to the attraction and retention of the talent upon which their business relies. This is particularly true for the most advanced technical job roles. Amid this environment, companies are relying on their site selection consultants to develop talent-based location strategies that help ameliorate these challenges. Utilizing market data in more creative ways can help companies gain competitive advantage by identifying new pools of accessible technical talent. Read full article.

No Easy Fix for Supply Chain Struggles

Thursday, February 10, 2022

The growing number of ships queuing outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are responsible for approximately 40 percent of the nation’s imports, stems from a surge in cargo that was anticipated over a year ago.\ In March 2020, just one month into the pandemic, terminal operators implemented container storage programs, anticipating a short but intense spike in May 2020, when the pandemic was originally expected to end. At the height of the global health crisis, nonessential merchandise was put into storage to make way for critical cargo such as personal protective equipment, medical supplies, ventilators, and othe...

The Labor Challenges of Site Selection

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

You’re evaluating a new site. It checks all the boxes when it comes to the property, local infrastructure, and business climate. You have one more box to check — labor supply. You’re presented with a hodge-podge of numbers. How can you make sense of it all? And what’s the bottom line? Understanding Labor Data, Availability Before considering the outside numbers, you first need to understand your own data. You should know how many workers you’ll need by job title as well as the estimated wages you can budget for each. Labor data are typically available by occupation, so you’ll want to translat...

A ‘Sansdemic’ Is On the Horizon

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

A prerequisite for a high-quality workforce is people. To upskill employees, attract remote workers, or fill a skill gap through a community college program, you first need people. That may be rather obvious, but talent attraction and retention efforts have been built on the assumption that when it comes to people, the harvest will always be plentiful. But what happens if the supply of people to attract to, or retain in, a community isn’t increasing? Or what if it’s decreasing? In The Demographic Drought, Emsi Burning Glass raised the alarm bells about the pending sansdemic (sans-without, demic-people). Due to an increas...

Iowa Lakes Corridor Region featured in Fresh Pickings Magazine

Monday, February 07, 2022

Read the Article The Iowa Lakes Corridor Region was recently featured in the Winter 2022 edition of Fresh Pickings Magazine. The article highlights area businesses including Cherry Lane Farm and Ruthven Meat Processing, as well as activities, museums, and restaurants in the region for readers to explore. The article describes the Corridor region as “…a quintessential reflection of the masterful way Iowans balance ingenuity and quality of life with rural roots and big-city amenities.” It also shares the stories of Calvin and Krissy Thiessen who began Cherry Lane Farm in 2016 and Chris and Suzie Kraft of Ruthven Meat Processing. “It’s wonderful t...

Room to Move

Monday, February 07, 2022

The superlatives are accumulating as fast as the shipping containers: Industrial real estate, largely focused on logistics, keeps setting new records, to the point where the pop-up distribution center might soon be as common as the pop-up retail spot once was. It’s gotten to the point where even a defunct driving range has potential to trade in the Big Bertha for an entirely different kind of driver. Read full article.

Corridor welcomes new board members

Tuesday, February 01, 2022

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT Alyssa Petersen Coordinator of Administration & Communication Iowa Lakes Corridor Phone: 712-264-3474 Email: apetersen@lakescorridor.com Corridor Welcomes New Board Members The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) recently welcomed three new board members for 2022: Scott Berglund, Plant Manager at Safco Products; Walter DeBock, Plant Manager at Tyson Turkey; and Nathan Wittmaack, President & COO at Ranco Fertiservice, Inc. These board members were appointed to fulfill the terms of previous board members Michael McKim, Jared Brashears and Jeaneth Ibarra. They will add their leadership experience and guidance to the Board of Directors as the Corridor continues to help the region’s businesses thrive and t...

Understanding Labor Force Participation Rates & Why People Drop Out Of The Workforce

Monday, January 31, 2022

Labor force participation rates drop when fewer people of working age are either employed or actively looking for work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of working-age people between 25 and 54 years old peaked in 1995 at 72 percent, and it has been on a steady decline since. The St. Louis Federal Reserve, in a 2016 report, stated, “Simultaneously, nationwide the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds not working is at 13 percent, the highest since WWII and the percentage of those 55 plus not working is at 23 percent, the highest since WWII (Restrepo-Echavarria, 2016)...

3 Keys to Leading a Business Through a Crisis

Saturday, January 29, 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic happened to be the kind of crisis that can shake up the entire world economy. The kind that forces business leaders to rethink and reevaluate our overall approach to facing a crisis. Sadly, for many, this exercise was more of an autopsy — looking back in regret at what you wished you would have done differently. Others were luckier — able to scrape by but now well aware that deep changes are needed. As a business leader, the past two years weren't without their uncertainties, but I found that these three things made all the difference. Read full article.

Iowa Lakes Corridor to host Supply Chain Event

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Iowa Lakes Corridor to host Supply Chain Event The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has teamed up with the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University (ISU) to provide a free NW Iowa Supply Chain event at the Clay County Regional Events Center on March 22nd, 2022. “Managing your Supply Chain during the time of Chaos” will feature speakers from CIRAS and the ISU Ivy College of Business Department of Supply Chain Management. Topics will include managing your supply chain during disruptions, building a resilient supply chain, utilizing Total Cost of Ownership in decision making, finding ne...

Iowa launches first statewide program recognizing family-friendly employers

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Iowa is the first state to recognize employers with family-friendly policies, such as workplace flexibility and child care assistance, with a "Best Place for Working Parents" designation, the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced today. The designation is now available to employers of all sizes in Iowa who qualify through an online assessment. "Iowa faces an ongoing workforce shortage like most states, and we are committed to providing the necessary support our families, businesses and economy need to prosper," Governor Kim Reynolds said. "This new program recognizes employers for their investments in child care, helps them attract and retain working parents, an...

Love Where You Live This Holiday Season

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

Visit Santa’s Castle in Storm Lake to see elves at work and visit Santa. This year, they also are challenging you to find the “Fa la la la llamas…” all 20 of them! Visit Santa’s House in Estherville. He’s open to visitors on Thursday evenings from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Stroll the streets of historic Spirit Lake for the annual Santa’s Village. Pick out a live Christmas tree at Tannenbaum Christmas Trees. in Milford. But each season you need to hurry, as there’s only a limited supply of trees! Catch a show, whether it’s a local concert a...

Iowa Lakes Corridor to host presentation on workforce

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Iowa Lakes Corridor to host presentation on workforce The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is hosting Dr. Ronald A. Cox to present The Iowa Workforce Skirmishes at the Clay County Regional Events Center at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 16th. The Iowa Workforce Skirmishes touches on the workforce issues in Iowa based on research conducted over the past few years by the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University (ISU). The presentation discusses workforce from 1950 until today to explain the various causes of the current workforce shortages. It will also highlight a new approach to lookin...

Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) announces 2022 Board of Directors

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) Announces 2022 Board of Directors Des Moines, IA — At the Annual Business Meeting of the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI), the membership elected the following individuals to serve as the 2022 board officers: Shannon Landauer, CEcD (President & CEO, Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation) — President Drew Kamp (President & CEO, Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce) — Vice President Kay Snyder (Communications Director, Iowa Area Development Group) — Treasurer James Hoelscher, CEcD (Senior Program Manager, UNI Institute for Decision Making) — Past President The following were newly elected to join the board of directors: James K Bowman (Senior Business Attractio...

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces Business Recognition Luncheon winners

Friday, November 05, 2021

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces 2021 Business Recognition Award winners The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) once again recognized great achievements by local businesses Friday at the organization’s 11th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon at The Waterfront in Arnolds Park. Winners of this year’s Business Recognition awards are: •Young Professional of the Year – Dr. Megan Sullivan, Vision Care Associates, Storm Lake •Entrepreneur of the Year – Andrew Spurgin, Estherville Pharmacy, Estherville •Small Business Excellence – Delicias Super Market, Storm Lake •Large Business Excellence – Northwest Bank, Spencer Kent Stensland of Bank Midwest, John Tatman of DEMCO Products and Mike Wodtke of moveero, Inc. were honore...

Corridor announces hire of Vice President of Business Development

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Corridor Announces Hiring of New Vice President of Business Development, Tom Nelson SPENCER – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced the hiring of Tom Nelson as its new Vice President of Business Development for the regional economic development organization serving Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. He will be replacing the Corridor’s former Vice President and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Brian Dalziel who resigned earlier this year after eleven years of service for the Corridor. Nelson currently works for Minnesota-based Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). He served CEDA’s contact with the Jackson Economic Development Office by acting as the Economi...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Additional Laborshed data available for Corridor Region

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

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

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

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

Highway improvements...

Employment Opportunity

Low cost of living and affordable housing...

Sign Up for the Newsletter