Professional Developers of Iowa a strong partner at the Statehouse and at home

Professional associations are only as good as the people who make them up, but that’s hardly a limitation for the Professional Developers of Iowa.

More than 300 leaders across the state are members of PDI. They range from local economic developers to city administrators, workforce pros and engineers. There are even a couple of mayors thrown in.

That breadth of expertise makes PDI, like the Iowa Area Development Group that we wrote about in last week’s newsletter, a valued partner of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. When our team is looking for creative ideas to benefit our communities and businesses, help is as near as an email to PDI.

A wide geographic distribution among its members also gives PDI strong influence at the Statehouse. The organization’s 2020 state legislative priorities are below. It’s a powerful, prog-growth agenda. To learn more, visit www.pdiowa.org or contact Kiley Miller, kmiller@lakescorridor.com or 712.264.3474.

Professional Developers of Iowa 2020 Legislative Priorities

Growing Iowa and Creating Economic Opportunity

PDI members passionately support continuation of business tax credits including the Research Activities Credit, Angel Investor Tax Credit, Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit, Redevelopment Tax Credits, Workforce Housing Tax Credits, and the High- Quality Jobs Program.

PDI supports additional income tax reform that continues to improve Iowa’s competitive position, is growth oriented, is simple and understandable, provides predictability, certainty, and permanence, is fair and responsible, and has a clear transition path to implementation, all while protecting and maintaining local control of city, school, and county government.

Workforce Recruitment and Retention

While sustaining support for career technical education programs, business and community tax credit programs, Empower Rural Iowa, and Future Ready Iowa, the Governor and Legislature should explore other means of recruiting and retaining workers. These may include programs targeting specific professions, student loan forgiveness, childcare assistance programs, placemaking initiatives, income tax rebates, student loan debt, and other incentives to keep people in Iowa and drive population growth. 

Water Quality

Water quality and quality of place initiatives in Iowa must be improved for both the health and enjoyment of future generations. Any water quality solution must enhance quality of life and become a direct solution for addressing Iowa’s critical workforce challenge. Within the water quality discussion, the Governor and Legislature should also address the critical need for funding for local infrastructure.

PDI also supports further action to drive job creation and growth around programs that support the following areas:

• Economic Development Tools
• Small Business Resources
• Tax Increment Financing Protection
• Workforce Housing
• Workforce Training
• Brownfield & Grayfield Expansion
• Immigration Reform
• Enhance Iowa & Placemaking Initiatives
• School Funding
• Alternate Project Delivery
• Broadband Expansion