News & Events

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is excited to announce the nomination period for the 15th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon to be held in January, 2026. This ceremony thanks the businesses and individuals in our region for stimulating the region through job creation, investment and fostering quality of life...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

Iowa Lakes Corridor communities proclaim October as Manufacturing MonthThe Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) was joined by County Supervisors and City Officials on October 2 to proclaim October 2025 as Manufacturing Month in their respective communities.Last Thursday the Corridor hosted a proclamation signing to kick off Manufacturing Month in...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

NEW LABORSHED DETAILS REGIONAL LABOR POOLThe Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) and Iowa Workforce Development announced the updated “Laborshed” reports for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet Counties for 2025.Conducted every three years, the “Laborshed” study provides detailed information about workforce availability, occupations, wages, benefits and commuting patterns. Iowa...Continue Reading

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) welcomes two new board members in 2025: Thomas Nelson, Commercial Lender at Bank Midwest in Spirit Lake; and Doug Vlasman, Manager of Business & Community Development at Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in Estherville. Nelson and Vlasman were appointed to the Corridor’s Board of...Continue Reading

Iowa 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,...Continue Reading

When historic flooding swept through Spencer, IA, in 2024, the community lost much more than homes and roads. It also lost a critical source of healthcare. Crown Clinics, a longtime provider, was forced to close its doors, leaving hundreds of residents without a primary care provider. But where others saw...Continue Reading

It started with a simple idea: What if Iowa's soybean strength could stay here at home? What followed was a vision so bold it would reshape the economic landscape of Northwest Iowa.Platinum Crush LLC, a $375 million soybean crushing facility now operating in Alta, is one of the largest value-added...Continue Reading

When people hear "economic development," they often picture corporate recruitment, massive construction projects, or big-dollar headlines. While that is a portion of what economic development is, the real work happens behind the scenes every day: one business plan, one job opening, one expansion at a time. And that work is...Continue Reading

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced two grant award winners for the Homegrown Talent Initiative recruiting young minds back to the Corridor’s four-county region: Callan Hinn and Taylor Krager.The Homegrown Talent Initiative is a new program by the Corridor to encourage former students of the region’s schools...Continue Reading

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) once again recognized great achievements by local businesses Wednesday at the organization’s 14th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. Winners of this year’s Business Recognition awards are:Young Professional of the Year – Ashley Jones, Spencer Hospital, SpencerEntrepreneur...Continue Reading

Dakota BUSINESS Finance awarded Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation a $10,000 grant for placing 1st in the number of SBA 504 loans approved in Iowa in 2024 through Dakota BUSINESS Finance by local lenders. Dakota BUSINESS Finance works with local lenders to provide loans to small businesses to construct, purchase, or...Continue Reading