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Season 1 of our podcast, Corridor Conversations, is in the books!Corridor Conversations was created to highlight initiatives, promote partnerships, share our story, and have a bit of fun along the way. 7 episodes, 7 stories, 7 meaningful conversations... all on 1 podcast. Watch all seven episodes on YouTube, Spotify, or Facebook. Episode...
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The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has released the 2025 Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Report summarizing findings from 117 business and industry visits within the four-county Corridor region of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet.The Corridor’s BRE program goes by the acronym GROWTH, which stands for Gathering, Relationships,...
Iowa Lakes Corridor Awards First Homegrown Talent Grants to Taylor Krager and Callan Townsend
Mar 10 2026Workforce recruitment in the Corridor typically means attracting new faces to Northwest Iowa, but the Homegrown Talent Initiative focuses on bringing locals back home.Last year, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation launched the Homegrown Talent Initiative to bring graduates and skilled professionals back to Clay, Dickinson, Buena Vista, and Emmet...
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) once again recognized great achievements by local businesses Wednesday at the organization’s 15th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer in front of a record-breaking audience.Winners of this year’s Business Recognition awards are:• Young Professional of the Year...
Each year, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation convenes business leaders, investors, and partners to take stock of the region’s economic progress. The Business Recognition Luncheon does more than mark a date on the calendar. It provides a working forum where relationships form, results get acknowledged, and the year ahead...
Defying Norms: OEI Alum Builds SparkDefy
Nov 18 2025Defying Norms: Iowa State Student Builds SparkDefy from the Welding Floor UpOEI Alum Boluwarin Ojo is creating flame-resistant wleding gear designed by someone who actualy does the workNovember 19, 2025 — Women's Entrepreneurship DayBoluwarin Ojo—"Bolu" to those who know her—didn't set out to become an entrepreneur. She was just trying...
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Professional development in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region extends beyond workplace training. Programs like Lead the Ville in Estherville and the Clay County Leadership Institute offer business professionals opportunities to expand their networks, gain insight into the inner workings of their communities, and participate in projects that create a visible...
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The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, in collaboration with Strategic Marketing Services and the Institute for Decision Making, surveyed 96 organizations across Clay, Buena Vista, Dickinson, and Emmet Counties to gather accurate data on wages and benefits. The survey offers residents, employers, and prospective workers a clear understanding of the...
Manufacturing is a pillar of the Iowa Lakes Corridor economy, employing 11.4 percent of the region’s workforce. It ranks just behind healthcare and retail as the 3rd-largest employer, with more than one in ten working adults building their career in this sector. The industry is a driver of innovation, skills...
Iowa Lakes Corridor's GROWTH Program
Jul 18 2025Iowa Lakes Corridor's GROWTH Program Serves a Core Economic Function for Regional ProgressThe Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation doesn't treat Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) as an afterthought. It is a core function of the region's economic development strategy. Through its GROWTH program, an acronym for Gather, Relationships, Opportunities, Wins,...
