In The Corridor: 2nd Quarter

In The
2Q 2014
A quarterly publication of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation
Fiv
eN
ew
he North Iowa
t
Corridor Recenlty
Fa
ces
conducted orientation
procedures with five new members of its
board of directors. The new members joined
the board effective July 2013 and will serve threeyear terms.
Ro
u
nd
Deb Blaser-Gretillat joined the Corridor board
on behalf of Kingland Systems in Clear Lake,
Iowa where she is the Managing Director of
Human Resources. Ms. Blaser-Gretillat has been
with Kingland Systems since 2000 and has held
various key management roles. Prior to joining
Kingland Systems she spent over 15 years in
data center management and internal audit
for a multi-bank operation. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Finance
& Banking from Buena Vista University. Deb and her husband, Lon
Gretillat, reside in
Clear Lake, Iowa and
stay busy keeping
up with their five
daughters and new
grandson.
“
Ou
tC
Each Bring with
them tremendous
persepctive, energy
and leadership to
the Corridor.
Nicole Rognes Olson has been appointed
to finish the term of retired officer, Gary
Lindgren, before beginning her inaugural
term in 2014. Olson is a Partner/Member
of Heiny, McManigal, Duffy, Stambaugh &
North Iowa Corridor EDC
ido
Anderson
Law Firm
in Mason City,
Iowa. She attended
the University of Iowa for
her undergrad studies and the
University Of Iowa College Of Law
for her Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Olson resides is originally from Lake
Mills and currently resides in Clear Lake with
her husband, Jesse, and son, Brody.
“
Artie Jones is the representative for Teamsters
Local 238. Jones has been the Teamster
Business Agent in North Central Iowa since September of 2006. He
represents people in 24 different collective bargaining agreements in
North Iowa. He has been standing up for workers rights since 1995
across the state.
or r
rB
oa
rd
The Corridor welcomes Mercy’s CEO,
Dan Varnum as an addition to its
board. Varnum is an accomplished
healthcare executive with over 25
years of experience in developing,
leading, and improving organization
performance.
He is an enthusiastic problem solver with expertise leading
strategic change efforts. Dan received a Bachelors Degree in Industrial
Engineering from Iowa State University in 1985 and a Masters Degree
in Business Administration from Drake University in 1989.
The Corridor is pleased to welcome North Iowa Area Community
continued on pg 07
Winner chosen for
dream big, grow here
contest see page 3 for details
9 North Federal
Mason City, Iowa 50401
NorthIowaCorridor.com
from the CEO
Larry Elwood, Chairman
Larry Elwood Construction
Mark Hewitt
Clear Lake Bank & Trust
Gary Schmit
Henkel Construction
Jay Urdahl
Cerro Gordo County
Randy Cram, Past Chairman
Bergland + Cram Architects
Directors:
Deb Blaser-Gretillat
Kingland Systems Corporation
Tim Esbeck
Manufacturer’s Bank & Trust
Travis Hickey
City of Mason City
Artie Jones
Teamsters Local 238
Nicole Rognes Olson
Heiny, McManigal, Duffy, Stambaugh &
Anderson, PLC
John Severtson
Opportunity Village
Dan Varnum
Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa
David Vikturek
Mason City Foundation
Ex-Officios:
Mayor Eric Bookmeyer
City of Mason City
Mayor Nelson Crabb
City of Clear Lake
North Iowa Area Community College
Tom Drzycimski
Cerro Gordo County
Scott Flory
City of Clear Lake
Brent Trout
City of Mason City
2
Private sector the cornerstone
T
he Corridor’s Member Investor
Officers:
Dr. Steven Schulz
2014 Campaign to launch
Campaign launches later this quarter
with the securing of 2014’s Flagship
Investor. Our flagship investor in 2014 will
help to lead the way in private-sector support,
which is a large and crucial component of
the Corridor resource stream, accounting
for close to 50% of the organization’s
revenues in recent years. Fortunately,
the Corridor’s unique, multi-jurisdictional
footprint means that $1.00 in private
investment leverages more than $6.00 in
total economic development funding each
year at the Corridor. Our regional, publicprivate structure aggregates multiple public
and private sources of capital, which ensures
that the public and private sector Corridor
contributors see their dollars stretched and
leveraged in a way few other organizations
can offer.
As the 2014 campaign gets off the ground,
we’ve been
doing some
reminiscing about
the journey of
the Corridor since
formal merger
machinations
began between
the Clear Lake
and Mason City
EDCs in 2011. In
those three years,
the Corridor has
executed 28
unique economic
development
projects which
have produced more than $104 million in
new capital investment, 490 new jobs and
223 retained jobs. Too, the Corridor has
dramatically increased its capabilities through
staff reorganization. In 2011, the Corridor
staff collectively had 12 years of economic
development experience. Today, we boast a
staff of the same size but with more than 35
years of collective economic development
experience.
“
In 2013, the
Corridor
delivered
projects which
produced
more than
$65 million
in capital
investment
and more than
200 new jobs.
And the pipeline
Corridor President &
continues to
CEO Brent Willett
strengthen. 2013
saw Corridor lead
generation jump by 46% year-over-year and
when accounting for pre-2011 levels, annual
lead generation has increased by more than
100%. 2014 is off to just as strong a start.
Every private dollar invested in the Corridor
since 2011 has on average led to the creation
or retention
of 1.19 jobs in
the Corridor.
That’s an ROI
of one job for
every 84 cents
in private
contributions.
We know we
are on the
right track
and that the
results have
begun to
emerge, but
we know
that each of
our successes is the product of the strong,
consistent and robust support shown the
Corridor by its private member investors. We
thank those of you who have supported the
Corridor in the past and for those that will
in 2014 and beyond. Through your support,
the Corridor is able to deliver the professional
economic development services that the
residents and businesses of Mason City, Clear
Lake and Cerro Gordo County have come to
expect for many years to come.
Since 2011 the corridor
has executed 28 unique
economic development
projects which have
produced more than $104
million in new capital
investment, 490 new jobs
and 223 retained jobs.
A quarterly publication of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation
“
Board of
Directors
Dream Big, Grow Here Winner Announced
Goal to retain and expand local business and industry
t
he Corridor-sponsored North Iowa Dream Big, Grow Here
contest concluded with a pitch-off for five finalists on December 04. North
Iowa Finalists each had ten minutes to make their elevator pitch and an
additional five minutes for Q&A with the judges.
Judges representing the regional sponsors evaluated each finalist’s current
online presence and social media efforts. They looked at the finalist’s track
record of converting online relationships to interstate sales. The judges also
considered future interstate commerce impact from fully realizing the potential.
Ten regional contests were held in Iowa with entrants submitting their “dreams”
online and encouraging customers, friends, family, and community members to
vote for them. The top five vote getters (“likes” on Facebook) and two wildcards
were chosen to compete in the regional ‘pitch off’. The winner of each regional
contest receives a check for $5,000 and a chance to compete for $10,000 at the
state level.
The top five vote-getters and two wild cards for our region that competed in the pitch-off
were:
Tyler Anderson
Jake Prazak
Liz Neighbors
Stacey Wood
Jennifer Kellogg
Julia Dannen
Tony Halsted
Roller City
North Iowa Fitness
Beyond Baby Inc.
Fashion Gemz
Jadiva by Jenny
D&S Services
Hoover’s Hatchery
Corridor President & CEO Brent Willett along with
Tim Coffey from the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce,
Robin Anderson from the Mason City Chamber of
Commerce and Dan Winegarden of JPEC present
$5,000 prize to Tony Halsted of Hoover’s Hatchery
Mason City
Mason City
Eagle Grove
Mason City
Mason City
Mason City
Rudd
Project Lead Tracking
Project Leads—4th Quarter 2013
Capital
Investment
Represented
Stage I
Initial engagement phase; proposal has
been issued and is under review by client
Stage II
Secondary engagement phase; Corridor
region is semi-/finalist; site/building visit[s]
scheduled
Stage III
Final engagement phase; Corridor
region is finalist; incentives negotiations
underway
$69,700,000
Potential
Jobs Retained
or Created
247
$3,400,000
37
$75,900,000
197
North Iowa Corridor EDC
9 North Federal
Mason City, Iowa 50401
Tourism/Leisure Activity
Tourism/Leisure Activity
Health Services
Clothing/Retail
Craft/Retail
Accounting/Payroll Services
Agriculture Wholesale Supplier
The winner was Tony Halsted of Hoover’s
Hatchery. Hoover’s Hatchery plans to use the
funding from Dream Big to fund its developing
technology base to bring eCommerce dollars
from other states into Iowa. Hoover’s moves
on to the statewide contest in May for a shot
at $10,000 more.
The Dream Big Grow Here grant contest is an
opportunity for Iowans to fulfill their dreams
of self-employment or expansion of their
current firm.
The Corridor continues to support efforts
such as Dream Big, Grow Here to encourage
entreupreneruialism and business growth
throughout the region. For more information
on retention, expansion and startup prorgams
in the region please visit our website at
NorthIowaCorridor.com.
NorthIowaCorridor.com
3
Closing Iowa’s Skills Gap
Credible testing delivers results
A
Iowa employers are facing is the
skilled-labor shortage in the region as
it pertains to job availability. The mismatch
between skills
required for available
jobs and the skills of
the workforce has the
potential to impair the
productivity of local
industries.
mathematics, locating information, and
reading for information skills using everyday
work situations to asses an individual’s skill
level. The Skilled Iowa program also offers
tests, certifications,
and internships in an
effort to bridge the gap
between businesses
seeking a ‘middle-skill’
workforce and the skill
set currently available.
The Skilled Iowa
initiative is addressing
this skills gap by recognizing threat the
middle-skill jobs- those requiring more than a
high school diploma-- account for more than
50% of jobs available in the state. In doing
so, they have launched a state-wide initiative
to offer a ‘real world’ skills assessment based
on ACT’s WorkKeys assessment which applies
The impact of
becoming a Skilled
Iowa designated county means having the
data to back up the community’s skilled
workforce. Currently there are five counties
throughout the state with the Skilled Iowa
designation: Adams, Des Moines, Jones,
Ringgold and Union. Learn more by visiting
SkilledIowa.org.
growing Challenge north
Lake Listening Post Well Attended
t
he room was full for
the Corridor’s Second
Lake Post December 06 in the
Lakeview Room in City Park. The
event included a brief presentation
from Corridor President & CEO
Brent Willett on Corridor activities
throughout the region.
Businesspeople, elected officials
and citizens were on hand for the
Corridor President & CEO , Brent Willet speaks
question-and-answer
session that
to a full house at the Lakeview Room in Clear Lake on
lasted 60 minutes and covered
December 06
multiple economic development
topics including workforce
recruitment, digital marketing, deal closing, taxes and more.
“Thank you again to everyone who attended for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit
down and talk Clear Lake economic development with us. We got a lot out of it and hope you
did too. Our intention is to conduct these meetings twice a year and we hope to continue
engaging the community in an open dialouge about economic development,” said Willett of
the most recent listening post.
Marketing
Update
Corridor launches redesigned
website
C
omplete with fresh
community profiles, drop down
menus, customized regional maps,
a news room and featured properties,
NorthIowaCorridor.com is officially
launched. A first for everyone on staff,
redesigning a website proved to be an
exhausting, at times a little frustrating,
but ultimately gratifying experience. A
redesigned website has also proved to
be an ideal opportunity to rebrand the
Corridor image. A modern, professional,
opulent look adorns the website and that
begins to carry over as updates begin on
Corridor marketing material.
Identified as primary audiences, site
selectors, business owners, and industry
officials will now be offered a handout
highlighting they key selling points
of the Corridor region. This handout
consists of five tabs featuring information
about industry clusters, leading
employers, transportation network,
demographics, location and contact
information. The messaging of this piece
emphasizes the Corridor’s competitve
economy, workforce advantages, and
proximity to major transportation
infrastructure. The professionalism of
the design, assembly and packaging
compliment the representation of the
region through imaging and content.
The Corridor encourages everyone to
visit NorthIowaCorridor.com and provide
input as they are always looking for ways
to improve.
Follow us on Twitter!
@NIC_EDC
Like us on Facebook!
North Iowa Corridor
Economic Develpment
Corp.
The next Lake Listening Post is set for June 06, 7.30a at the Lakeview Room.
4
A quarterly publication of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation
North Iowa Corridor EDC launches BRE Program
Goal to retain and expand local business and industry
t
he North Iowa Corridor Economic Development
Corporation has launched its
annual Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. The
North Iowa Corridor is committed to assisting and supporting existing
business with the region and continues to be a leading objective in
the organization’s overall strategic plan.
The BRE program is used to identify opportunities for growth and any
impediments that discourage local expansion. Shaun Arneson, Vice
President, Existing Business and Project Management of the North
Iowa Corridor EDC, said “Based on research, existing business and
industry account for 70% or more of new jobs and capital investment.
It is important that we show our appreciation for their investment and
contribution to our regional economy and be a resource for them to
remain competitive in our global economy.”
North Iowa Corridor staff will be conducting in-depth interviews with
major employers in manufacturing, ag-related and service-related
business in the region to gather information. The same questionnaire
will be used for each company visit
to help identify individual business
needs, concerns and suggestions
about the local business climate. The
North Iowa Corridor has done similar
interviews in past years.
By utilizing the Synchronist Business
Information System, a software tool to
organize, analyze and report company
information, the Corridor will gain
invaluable insight into the dynamics of
the local economy.
Corridor Vice Presicent,
Existing Business & Project
Management
Shaun Arenson
Any and all company information
gathered will be kept strictly
confidential and results will be in an
aggregate form. An annual report
will be compiled and distributed to the companies which will track
trends over time.
24 Residents Receive Achievement Award
The North Iowa Corridor honored recipients of the Corridor Achievement award on Monday,
February 03 at their office in Mason City. In partnership with ITC and IowaWORKS, the Corridor
developed a reward for any Cerro Gordo County resident who achieved platinum or gold
certifications upon the completion of the National Career Readiness Certicate (NCRC) assessment
available throughout the region.
NCRC is a credential recognized across the country that demonstrates achievement and workplace
employability skills in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. The
initiative is being put to use by workforce and economic development groups throughout the region
with an eye toward North Iowa in becoming one of the first certified work-ready regions in the state.
The Corridor Achievement Award offered $100 to any Cerro Gordo County resident who achieves a
top score of platinum and $25 to any county resident who achieved a gold score between October
01 and December 31. A total of 24 residents tested at gold level.
Corridor Marketing & Administrative
Specialist Rachel Bailey recognizes five
recipients of the Corridor Achievemnt
Award
“We want to congratulate all residents who took advantage of this program,” said Rachel Bailey,
Marketing and Administrative Specialist for the North Iowa Corridor. “The Skilled Iowa Initiative
works to increase skill levels of Iowa’s workforce. As more and more of the Corridor workforce pool
receive NCRC certification, we are increasingly able to market our region as a work-ready community
to firms considering investing here.”
Encouraging Iowans to earn the National Career Readiness Certificate is a goal of Iowa Workforce
Development’s Skilled Iowa Initiative. The credential is recommended by over 7,000 businesses statewide. The program uses a standardized
testing system that rates the skills and abilities of Iowa’s workforce, assisting businesses in evaluation of an individual worker’s skills, and allowing
for a more accurate matching of skill sets with those required by the job. There is no cost to Iowa businesses to use NCRC assessments as part of
their hiring process, nor is there a cost to Iowa residents who elect to take the exam. Residents interested in taking the NCRC assessments can
learn more by visiting www.skillediowa.org and can preregister by calling Iowa Workforce Development at (641) 422-1521.
North Iowa Corridor EDC
9 North Federal
Mason City, Iowa 50401
NorthIowaCorridor.com
5
Resource Corner
IEDA
Intern
Program
outside of the state.
If your business hires interns, you may
be interested in the Iowa Economic
Development Authority’s internship
program.
The Iowa Student Internship Program
provides grants to small and medium sized
companies in the advanced manufacturing,
biosciences, and information technology
industries to help support their internship
programs with a goal of transitioning the
interns to full-time employment in the state
upon graduation.
Deadline for FY 14 applications is April
30, 2014 (or when funds are depleted),
and internships must be completed by
September 2014.
The program is available to Iowa companies
who:
• Are engaged in one of the targeted
industries of biosciences, advanced
manufacturing or information
technology.
• Employ 500 or fewer, with a significant
portion employed within the state of
Iowa.
• Pay the intern at least twice the minimum
wage.
• Offer the internship to students of Iowa
community colleges, private colleges,
regent universities or to students who
graduated from an Iowa high school
and attend a college or university
An eligible student must be within two years
of graduation and enrolled at one of Iowa’s
community colleges, private colleges, or
regent institutions.
For more information, please contact the
North Iowa Corridor.
Properties Available in the Corridor
Accessible on the North Iowa Corridor’s
redesigned website is an up-to-date catalog
of available commercial buildings and sites
in the region.
The Corridor utilizes
Location One
Information System
[LOIS]. The Corridor LOIS
database is a real-time, on-line economic
development site selection tool. It will
provide you with a GIS-enhanced site
database system with detailed information
on buildings, sites, and locations for
businesses looking to relocate or expand.
If you or someone you know is interested
in listing their property on the Corridor’s
LOIS database, please contact the Corridor
at 641-423-0315 or email Rachel Bailey at
[email protected] for more
information.
Please visit NorthIowaCorridor.com to view
featured properties within the region as well
as a comprehensive listing of properties
available.
Employers Save the Date!
North Iowa Regional Career Fair
Wednesday, April 02
10:00a-12:30p
North Iowa Area Community College
Looking for skilled workers? Don’t miss this
opportunity to meet a diverse populate of
job seekers:
-Veterans
-NIACC Students & Alum
-High School Seniors
-North Iowa Residents
Connect with potential employees and
share information about your company and
career opportunities at the annual North
Iowa Regional Career Fair, sponsored by
North Iowa Area Community College and
IowaWORKS North Iowa.
New this year employers can highlight their
organization and career opportunities with
individuals that have earned the National
Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
Businesses that have joined the statewide
Skilled Iowa initiative will be recognized
in marketing materials and event signage
and be eligible for exclusive advertising
packages from the even’t media sponsors.
For more information, contact Jennifer
Andrade at (641) 422-1529 or jennifer.
[email protected].
continued on page 7
online resources
Cerro Gordo County .....................................................................Co.Cerro-Gordo.ia.us
Iowa Works .......................................................................................... IowaWorkforce.org
City of Clear Lake .......................................................................... CityOfClearLake.com
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center ........................ NIACC.edu/Pappajohn
City of Mason City ..................................................................................... MasonCity.net
Mason City Chamber of Commerce ............................................MasonCityIA.com
Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce .......................................... ClearLakeIowa.com
Mason City Municipal Airport ................................................................. FlyMCW.com
Greater Mason City Board of Realtors ....................................MasonCityMLS.com
North Iowa Area Community College ......................................................NIACC.edu
Iowa Economic Development Authority.... IowaEconomicDevelopment.com
Visit Mason City .....................................................................VisitMasonCityIowa.com
6
A quarterly publication of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation
Development provides this inclusive poster as a convenience for Iowa
employers. A printable PDF version is availble by going to iowaworks.
org/news.htm#Iowa
RESOURCES - continued from page 6
2014 Laborshed Available this Spring
The Corridor invests in exclusive labor-specific data provided by Iowa
Workforce Development and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A new
report is being generated and will be available in early Spring.
Laborshed studies provide community economic developers and
existing or prospective employers a flexible tool to understand the
local labor market and make informed expansion and site selection
decisions.
A Laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an
employment center draws its commuting workers. Laborshed
studies show the distribution of the workers irrespective of natural
or political boundaries. Laborsheds also address underemployment,
the availability and willingness of current and prospective employees
to change employment within the workforce, current and desired
occupations, wages, hours worked and distance willing to commute
to work.
Employment Law Posters Available Online
North Iowa TechBrew Every Third Tuesday of the Month
NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and
the North Iowa Corridor are excited to partner with
Technology Association of Iowa to bring TechBrew
to North Iowa. TechBrew is an informal gathering
that brings entrepreneurs, technologists, business
people and funders together to talk over a beer (aka
“Lubricated Serendipity”).
Whether rain or shine, ice or snow, you can count on these
entrepreneurial mixers to be held like clockwork in Mason City or Clear
Lake every third Tuesday of the month. Networking begins at 5pm,
and as always, your first brew is on TAI.
The next two TechBrew’s will be held on February 18, and March 18 at
Mason City Brewing.
For more information or to RSVP go to TechnologyIowa.org.
The new 2014 “9-in-1” poster, which includes all state and federal
required labor and employment law notices, is now online for
employers to download at print to display.
The poster includes all current language, including the recently
revised federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Iowa Workforce
College’s new President, Dr. Steven Schulz to
the school’s board appointed seat. Steve had
been serving as Provost at the Des Moines
Area Community College Carroll campus since
2006. He was the 2+2 Coordinator at the
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls from
2004-2006 and the Superintendent of Carroll
Community Schools from 2000-2004. Schulz
received his Bachelors from Wartburg College, his Masters from the
University of Northern Iowa, and his Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
Steve is originally from Geneva, Iowa. Steve and his wife, Cathie,
have two daughters, Lindsey and Caitlyn.
“The Corridor is fortunate to gain such a multiplicity of talent,
experience and service in these new board members,” said Larry
Elwood, Corridor Chairman. “Deb, Artie, Nicole, Dan and Steve each
bring with them tremendous perspective, energy and leadership
to the Corridor. Those qualities will be challenged each day in their
new role at the Corridor as we seek to improve the business climate
and economy in North Iowa.”
North Iowa Corridor EDC
9 North Federal
“
The Corridor is
fortunate to gain such
a multiplicity o f talent,
experience and service in
these new board
members.
“
Five new faces- continued from page 01
-Larry Elwood Board Chairman
Mason City, Iowa 50401
NorthIowaCorridor.com
7
Business Leaders luncheon
Want the scoop on the this legislative session?
Get the insight from the guys in the trenches March 07:
Craig Patterson, Lobbyist for Professional
Developers of Iowa (PDI), is in his eleventh
legislative session and his eighth as
PDI’s Lobbyist. As a partner at Campbell/
Patterson Consulting, he lobbies for ten
clients representing a variety of professions,
from volunteer firefighters to community health centers to
economic developers. Patterson spent more
than four years on the Washington, DC staff of Iowa
Congressman Jim Nussle, handling all of the Congressman’s
tax, trade, transportation, energy and agriculture policy work,
before serving as Legislative Director. He also served as Policy
Director for Nussle’s re-election campaign in the
fall of 2000.
John Stineman, Executive Director of the Iowa
Chamber Alliance, has been a public affairs and
marketing consultant
for the last twelve years and worked in the
public affairs/political sector for seventeen.
John specializes in strategy and strategic
planning, market segmentation and business development
initiatives as well as public affairs/issue management. He
works across a variety of subject matter areas, including
general business, health care, telecommunications,
agriculture/agribusiness, energy and technology among
others. Prior to his consulting career, John
managed the Iowa Caucus campaign for Steve Forbes in 2000
and has been involved in several other political campaigns.
This Business Leaders Luncheon is open to employees of Mason City Chamber of
Commerce members & North Iowa Corridor EDC member investor businesses
Presented by:
Friday, March 07, 11:30a - 1p
North Iowa Regional Commerce Center
9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City
Cost: $10 (lunch is provided)
Register in advance at 641-423-5724 or by emailing [email protected]
641-423-0315
Brent Willett
ken bales
President & CEO
development specialist
[email protected]
[email protected]
Shaun arneson
vice President, Existing Business
& Project Management
[email protected]
A quarterly publication of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation
p
NorthIowaCorridor.com
Rachel Bailey
Marketing & Administrative
Specialist
[email protected]