January - June 2016 - Kossuth County Economic Development

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Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation
106 S. Dodge
Suite 210
Algona, IA 50511
VOLUME 19
Phone 515.295.7979
NUMBER 1
Fax 515.295.8873
[email protected]
JANUARY-JUNE 2015
K/PACEDC Announces
Completion of Economic Development Marketing Videos
Thatʼs a wrap! The Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development office
is proud to announce the completion of three economic development videos, that
are available on websites and social media. Produced by Amperage Marketing,
these videos highlight the positive aspects of living and working in Kossuth and
Palo Alto counties, featuring several business owners and administrators, as well
as showcasing places of special interest.
The goal of the videos is to encourage visitors, businesses and potential
employees outside of the area to consider the benefits of living and working in the
Kossuth/Palo Alto region. By putting a spotlight on certain activities, the quality
of life, the wonderful entrepreneurship possibilities and career opportunities,
these videos will inspire people to learn more about this area of north Iowa, and
gain an insight into the advantages it has to offer.
Jim Hartman is the video producer at Amperage Marketing responsible for
the videos, and he himself learned quite a bit about this part of the state.
“I really liked what I saw,” Jim said. “The rural charm of small-town Iowa
was perfectly placed among the advanced industry and technology companies
spread throughout the area. Itʼs impressive how the success of the businesses does
not take away from the values of family life and simple living.”
Jimʼs experience was especially noteworthy because he transplanted to
Iowa from Phoenix, Arizona, less than a year before.
“Moving to Iowa was a complete shock to the system, especially when
winter hit,” he said. “I hadnʼt experienced a winter in 25 years.”
When given the assignment, Jim looked forward to experiencing a part of
Iowa he never knew about before.
“One of the nice things about producing videos is that I get to meet people
www.kossuth-edc.com
and go to places that I never knew existed. Kossuth and Palo Alto counties were
definitely unknown to me, so I was excited to get up there.”
During the course of the three-day video production, the Amperage team
met many individuals throughout the area, interviewing them on camera and
shooting video in their respective businesses. During the interviews, people spoke
about how much they enjoy living in Kossuth and Palo Alto counties, with all the
activities that are available to families, and the great places to visit. The crew
then went to various locations and filmed unique shops and organizations such as
The Perky Parrot, The Chocolate Season, Ellieʼs on Main, Bloom Floral & Design,
The Grotto at West Bend, Algona YMCA, Ambrose A. Call State Park and Five
Island Lake and Golf Course. All are featured in the videos. Downtown Algona,
Emmetsburg and West Bend were also featured.
The highlight of the shooting experience for Jim was enjoying a Country
Maid cheese pastry, right after a tour of the factory.
“The level of quality at Country Maid was very impressive,” Jim said. “Their
business and factory is run as well as any youʼll see in the country, and the pastry
was fantastic.”
Amperage is a full-service advertising, marketing, public relations and
fundraising consulting company offering comprehensive services to clients across
the U.S. It has offices in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque and the
Quad Cities. The team was delighted to be a part of the Economic Development
Officeʼs effort to promote the area for future growth.
The Kossuth and Palo Alto County Economic Development videos will go a
long way in helping people learn more about this wonderful area of Iowa.
Kossuth/Palo Alto County
Economic Development
Corporation
www.paloaltoiowa.com
“When I think back to when we started
the Emmetsburg plant, we were just in
the very initial stages of the cellulosic
research,” Jeff Broin said in
reflection Wednesday afternoon
as he watched hundreds of
people stroll around the
facilities of POET/DSMʼs
Project Liberty. “I donʼt think
I quite had the idea that this
would be here, but I had the
idea that it could have been at
any of our locations. But, when
we started researching this, it
was a long shot. It was expensive,
but I really had a strong feeling that
we needed to do this, and after a bunch
of research and deciding it was time to build
the plant, Emmetsburg became the prime location
after we did a bunch of looking at all the sites we had.”
Broin looked around for a moment, smiling. “It could have gone anywhere,
right? But when we looked at Emmetsburg, there were a lot of different reasons,
from financial reasons to location reasons to production reasons and a lot of
reasons that it came here first. So, weʼre thrilled to be in Iowa – you could not
have better support than the Governor of Iowa, from the state of Iowa. Theyʼve
been phenomenal. Theyʼve financially supported us, theyʼve politically supported
us, theyʼve supported us in Washington and we are just really happy to be here
in Iowa with the first plant.”
With Emmetsburg taking center stage in the world of renewable fuels on
Wednesday with the opening of POET/DSMʼs Project Liberty cellulosic ethanol
plant, the long, long road to fruition of Jeff Broinʼs dream of energy independence
came that much closer to complete reality.
The actual groundbreaking for Project Liberty took place on March 13,
2012, with Wednesdayʼs Grand Opening marking the start of operations of the
nationʼs first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility.
The idea of making ethanol from alternative feed stocks is not new, but the
choice of feedstocks selected by Broin and POET when they first announced the
idea of Project Liberty also grew and adapted. In January of 2012, after several
years of research using corncobs as the sole feed stock, POET announced a joint
venture with Royal DSM of the Netherlands that would give Project Liberty the
jump-start after years of research and planning. With Royal DSM joining the
venture, the cellulosic process was expanded to utilize not only the corncob, but
also parts of the corn stalk, including the leaves and husks, or corn stover, to
produce the cellulosic product.
When the joint venture was announced, Royal DSM Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board Feike Sijbesma visited Emmetsburg in June of 2012,
to see firsthand the beginnings of what he praised during the Grand Opening.
“This is a historical day in the development of plant-residue-based cellulosic
ethanol as a viable, commercially attractive alternative to gasoline as we are
moving from the fossil-age to the (bio-)renewable-age. For DSM this is a strategic
2 January-June 2015
investment, applying our proprietary technology to convert agricultural residue
on a commercial scale, allowing it to be replicated at other facilities globally as
we are ramping up our cellulosic ethanol licensing business.”
That licensing opportunity will be expanded, not only for POETʼs other
biorefining facilities in the United States, but also globally, it is that prospect
of demonstrating the cellulosic ethanol operation of Project Liberty to potential
producers around the world that has also been a part of Broinʼs dream.
To make that part of the dream come true, Broin envisioned the Emmetsburg
facility becoming a showplace – a place where the world would come to see the
technology in action. On Wednesday, that part of Broinʼs dream also came true as
guests from all over the world attended the Grand Opening.
“I think we saw it today,” Broin said with a wide smile. “We had people
from numerous countries here today- all over the world, actually. I just talked to
someone who drove here from Phoenix just because of this project – no tie to
ethanol, no tie to agriculture, they came here just for this project.”
Broin continued, “People are here from Brazil, people are here from
Europe, people are here from China, so the world has come to Emmetsburg – I
think they came today, and I think there will be more coming in the near future.”
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, a joint venture of Royal DSM and POET,
LLC, proved its revolutionary technology that converts agricultural residue into
renewable fuel at the Grand Opening of its first commercial cellulosic ethanol
plant in Emmetsburg last Wednesday.
The plant, named “Project LIBERTY,” was formally opened in the presence
of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Deputy Under Secretary Michael Knotek of the
Department of Energy, Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim
Reynolds of Iowa, other dignitaries and thousands of guests.
“Some have called cellulosic ethanol a ʻfantasy fuel,ʼ but today it becomes a
reality,” said Jeff Broin, POET Founder and Executive Chairman. “With access now
to new sources for energy, Project LIBERTY can be the first step in transforming
our economy, our environment and our national
security.”
Project LIBERTY converts baled
corn cobs, leaves, husks and stalks
into renewable fuel. The plant
has now officially started up,
processing its first batch of
biomass into cellulosic ethanol
and is moving forward toward
continuous operation.
At full capacity, it will
convert 770 tons of biomass
per day to produce ethanol
at a rate of 20 million gallons
per year, later ramping up to 25
million gallons per year.
Feike Sijbesma, Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Managing
Board of Royal DSM noted, “Project Liberty – the
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
word ʻlibertyʼ for this project was not coincidence. Liberty means freedom and
in this historical moment we are introducing an opportunity for freedom of our
dependence, our addiction, to fossil fuels; freedom from the cycle of pollution,
and its impact on the environment; and freedom to continue to grow jobs here
in the heartland and around the world and the economic prosperity that brings.
“The pioneers who first tended this land sought freedom as well. They
would be proud of the work you have done, and will do, as we move together in
this new age… We are continuing the tradition of your pioneering forefathers as
we break new ground and a new future in a new age.”
This first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facility marks a huge step
forward in the wider adoption of biofuels, both in North America and elsewhere.
It is also a victory for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which prompted
increased investment into advanced biofuels that accelerated development of this
new technology. The RFS is a critical tool in moving the U.S. beyond 10 percent
ethanol use to allow this new technology to expand to other parts of the country,”
Jeff Broin stated, “After a decade of planning, research, millions of hours of hard
work and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, we are here today to
Governor Branstad Visits
Country Maid and Tries Hand
at Braiding Pastry Dough
West Bend, IA (Aug. 21, 2014) - Country Maid, Inc., makers of the famous
Butter Braid® pastries hosted Governor Branstad at their state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility in West Bend on Wednesday afternoon. This visit was
made possible with help from the Kossuth/Palo Alto Economic Development
Corporation.
The Governor spent the afternoon meeting employees and learning more
about the company and the products made. During the plant tour, the Governor
even tried his hand at braiding pastry dough on the production line, which he
says is harder than it looks. Following the tour, Branstad spoke with employees
about programs and incentives his office has developed to attract sustainable
businesses to Iowa and also help small businesses such as Country Maid grow.
Every year the Governor and Lieutenant Governor visit all 99 Iowa counties
and are always impressed with the passion of employees and management.
“Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I look forward to visiting every county, every
year and learning more about the businesses that make rural Iowa vibrant,”
said Branstad, “Country Maid, with their commitment to community, helping
those less fortunate and military appreciate efforts, is a business Iowans can
be proud of.”
For more information, visit www.countrymaid.net or www.butterbraid.com.
Country Maid, Inc., a 100% employee-owned company, manufactures the
famous Butter Braid® brand pastry available only through fundraisers for the
purpose of helping non-profit groups raise funds for various causes. Country
Maid, together with its national network of dealerships has helped thousands
of fundraising groups across the nation raise over $150 million dollars for
hundreds of thousands of worthy
causes. Employing approximately
60 workers from 20 Northwest
Iowa communities, Country Maid
continues to grow and live out the
mission of “Helping Others Help
Themselves.”
celebrate this momentous occasion.”
“Today marks the beginning. Today we celebrate and enjoy what has been
accomplished. “This is just the tip of the iceberg”, Broin continued. “This is only
the start. Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing what I believe is the foundation
of what will be a complete transformation of our energy supply and our economy.
What we see around us is simple -- what can be accomplished with the miracle of
nature, the work of the farmer and the power of human ingenuity. This complete
transformation from a fossil based economy to a renewable economy may not be
completed during your lifetime, but it will happen.”
Broin concluded, “This, my friends, is just the beginning. All this started
with a fantasy – a dream to turn waste materials into fuel... We have been given
a wonderful opportunity to change the course of history...It is my hope, and my
belief, that hundreds of years from now people will remember how some “crazy”
people in a small town in Iowa changed the world in 2014.”
Prior to the ribbon cutting, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander congratulated
Emmetsburg, Iowa and the United States for having this premiere on their soil.
Branstad Visits EPS
by Dan Voigt
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad got a first-hand look at one of the success
stories in Palo Alto County business last Wednesday when he visited Energy
Panel Structures in Graettinger.
The Governor stopped at the facility for a tour as part of a trip to northwest
Iowa that included stops in Pocahontas, West Bend and the Iowa Great Lakes.
In welcoming Branstad to the EPS complex, President Bill Brown briefed
the stateʼs chief executive on the history of the company, noting Energy Panel
Structures was established in 1981 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the MacArthur
Company of St. Paul, MN. Energy Panel Structures was started in Albert Lea, MN,
originally manufacturing insulated wall panels for the agricultural market. Since
that time, EPS has diversified into the commercial/industrial markets as well as
consumer homes.
In 1988 EPS moved to Graettinger to a new 40,000 square foot plant
designed specifically for the manufacture of insulated panels. Since the move
to Graettinger, EPS has expanded three times, adding 3,000 square feet for
a door manufacturing facility and another 7,000 square feet to increase the
finished goods storage capacity. Adding in a 30,000 square foot addition to the
main manufacturing space, EPS now occupies some 110,000 square feet on an
eight-acre tract and employs around 150 individuals in Graettinger. EPS also has
subsidiaries in Perryville, Missouri and in Clyde, New York.
“We are very proud of the fact that EPS is a 100 percent employee owned
company that is 100 percent committed to quality,” Brown told the governor.
“On behalf of the people of Iowa, we are very glad EPS is here in Graettinger,”
Governor Branstad said in brief remarks. “To see a company such as EPS being
successful as a totally employee-owned company is a testament to the hard work
and desire to succeed of Iowans.”
The governor was escorted on a tour of the EPS facilities, observing how the
companyʼs signature laminated wall
panels were constructed, as well as
other aspects of the companyʼs
operation.
Pictured left to right: Maureen Elbert,
K/PACEDC Executive Director, Governor Terry
Branstad, Bill Brown, EPS President, and
Chad Clark, Plant Operations Manager.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
January-June 2015 3
Totally Nuts at Hazel Acres
Hazel Acres hosts field days and private tours for
people interested in growing hazelnuts.
“By far, the single greatest question asked by folks
when I tell them I grow hazelnuts is: I didnʼt know we
could grow them in Iowa,” explains Jeff Jensen of
Hazel Acres. The first seedlings were established in
2005 on the acreage where Jeff grew up on a piece
of ground that was a lot for sows for much of the
80ʼs & 90ʼs. Today Jeff has more than 1,000 bushes
growing on several acreages around the Fenton
area.
Jeff got interested in hazelnuts after starting
work with a non-profit that was promoting
perennial crops as a solution to water quality
degradation and lack of diversity. “I can
remember approaching some landowners trying
to convince them to try out hazelnuts and getting
laughed at,” Jeff says. However, he knew there
was tremendous opportunity with hazelnuts if
they could be developed into a viable third crop.
Hazelnuts are most accurately described as an oilseed crop because the kernel is roughly 50% oil by weight. The oil is almost identical to olive oil,
high in monounsaturated fat (healthiest oil to consume), with a great nutty taste. Of course when most people think of hazelnuts the first thing that comes to mind is
Nutella® the chocolate hazelnut spread that is gaining popularity throughout North America. “Nutella® is great and all, but itʼs basically sugar, palm oil, and a little
bit of hazelnuts; I always joke that itʼs like eating cake frosting. Most people donʼt know that you can make your own homemade chocolate hazelnut spread that is
healthier and actually tastes better,” says Jeff.
The hybrid hazelnuts at Hazel Acres grow as bushes and take 3-5 years before they start producing any nuts. Because no named varieties or cultivars are available
to growers in the Midwest, just about all bushes are picked by hand, starting around Labor Day. Until 2 years ago, Jeff picked everything by hand himself. “Today, I
hire a picking crew to come in for several days and pick as much as is ripe,” he explains.
Once the nut clusters are picked into onion bags, they are laid out in the sun to dry for a week to ten days so that the husk dries and is easier to remove. Husks
are removed by using a custom built machine called the Super Squirrel Husker that Jeff owns jointly with another hazelnut grower in Minnesota. After husking, the
chaff is sucked off, leaving round in-shell nuts that are sometimes confused for acorns. The in-shell nuts are stored in a cool dry place and allowed to “cure” until about
Christmas when they are finally ready to be sized, cracked, and processed.
In addition to selling in-shell nuts, Hazel Acres offers raw, roasted, roasted/salted, and spiced kernels. Value-added products include hazelnut oil for food and
cosmetic uses and hazelnut meal that is a fantastic addition to pancakes and other baked goods.
Hazel Acres can be reached at 515-925-3659 or by googling Hazel Acres. Jeff can be reached at 515-320-6756.
4 January-June 2015
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
Iowa Top
State for
Business
Debi Durham, Director of the
Iowa Economic Development Authority
FISCAL STABILITY, LOW COST OF DOING BUSINESS
AND NOTABLE EXPANSIONS
Expanding businesses are continually examining where the best places
might be to locate new facilities, serve new markets and find the right talent to
serve their customers. Increasingly, businesses are turning to Iowa.
The Hawkeye State ranks among the national leaders as one of “Americaʼs
Top States for Business,” – a reflection of the stateʼs long history of collaboration
with business and industry, fiscal stability, a productive workforce and a high
quality of life.
Recent rankings from both Forbes and CNBC rated Iowa as offering some
of the lowest costs of doing business in the nation, thereby creating greater
opportunities for businesses to operate profitably. Favorable real estate costs,
utility rates and low workers compensation insurance costs are among factors
that contribute to the low cost of doing business in Iowa. The state also has one of
the healthiest budgets among the 50 states and a near-perfect credit rating that,
in turn, allows Iowa to maintain a stable tax structure for businesses.
These attributes have led to recent, significant corporate expansions in Iowa.
Tech giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft have found Iowaʼs secure
and reliable, low-cost utilities continue to be the right business solution for
cutting-edge data centers. Facebook chose to build its first-ever 100 percent windpowered center in Altoona. The first phase of the $1 billion project is nearly
completed and the company is now building the second phase of its data center.
Additionally, Microsoft recently announced an expansion in West Des Moines,
elevating its investments in Iowa to nearly $2 billion.
Iowa has a long track record as a center for financial services firms with
Fortune 500 companies such as Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, The Principal
Financial Group, AEGON USA and many others headquartered in the state. This
cluster, coupled with the high-skilled, efficient talent recently led Fidelity &
Guaranty Life Holdings, Inc. and Athene USA to central Iowa. Fidelity has moved
its corporate headquarters from Baltimore, Maryland, while Athene has moved
more than 200 positions from Topeka, Kansas, to West Des Moines.
Noted as the number two “Deal of the Year” by the Foreign Direct Investment
Association, Egypt-based Orascom Construction Industries is constructing a $1.4
billion fertilizer plant in Wever, located in southeast Iowa. With construction costs
18 percent lower than the national average and no sales or use tax on the purchase
of machinery, equipment or computers — international investors are finding success
in Iowa.
Importing and exporting cargo from Iowa to other U.S. locations or to countless
worldwide destinations is conducted efficiently. The state has a reliable rail system,
several regional airports and three major U.S. Interstate systems (I-29 / I-80
/ I-35). Plus, the Mississippi River forms Iowaʼs eastern border, providing Iowa
companies the ability to transport goods by barge to and from the Port of New
Orleans.
Financial industry software developer, Workiva (formerly known as WebFilings),
moved from California to Ames, Iowa, as a startup. Today, Workiva employs more
than 400 highly-skilled employees and plans to increase its workforce to 700 once
a 60,000 sq. ft. expansion is complete.
Leveraging Iowaʼs 6.5 percent refundable tax credit on R&D activities, several
manufacturers and biosciences companies like Emerson Process Management in
Marshalltown and Kemin Industries in Des Moines have invested millions building
new research and innovation centers in Iowa that have enabled the companies to
expand their workforces.
Iowa employees bring talent and commitment to the job, and they also benefit
from an affordable quality of life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowaʼs
cost of living is approximately 9 percent less than the national average, allowing
Iowans to stretch their take-home pay and live the lifestyle they want. Plus, the
average commute time of 19 minutes gives something money canʼt buy — time;
time to coach Little League, volunteer or squeeze in a bike ride along the river.
Iowa offers a strong, diverse economy, an educated and efficient workforce and
investment opportunities in a variety of industry segments. So, if youʼre looking for
a premium business environment to collaborate and move your business forward –
take a closer look at Iowa. Visit www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com to learn more.
Wartick Named Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer
Jason Wartick, Sr. VP &
Chief Credit Officer
The board of directors of Iowa State Bank has named Jason Wartick as Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer for Iowa State Bank.
With twenty years of lending experience, Wartick has served customers of Iowa State Bank as a commercial and agricultural lender
since 2002. Wartick has a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance with a minor in economics from the University of Northern Iowa. He is a
graduate of the Iowa School of Banking and was selected as a scholarship recipient for the Graduate School of Banking at the University of
Colorado. In 2014 he was selected to attend the American Bankers Association Government Relations Summit and Emerging Leaders Forum
in Washington, D.C.
In addition, Wartick serves on the board of directors of Kossuth/Palo Alto Economic Development Corporation and the Kossuth County
Revolving Loan Fund. He and his wife, Tricia, and their three children make their home in Algona.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
January-June 2015 5
TOPIC: MEGA TRENDS IN AGRICULTURE
& GLOBAL ECONOMICS
Brenda Clark Hamilton
MA, Ed.
Fresh Coffee: Professional
Growth Programs
TOPIC: AG OUTLOOK 2015:
WHERE TO FROM HERE
Dr. John D. Lawrence
Associate Dean and Director,
Agriculture & Natural
Resources Extension
Iowa State University
Dr. Sidney Goss
Professor Emeritus
South Dakota School of
Mines & Technology
TOPIC: WEATHER OUTLOOK & PROJECTIONS
ECO
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TOPIC: MOTIVATIONAL LUNCH SPEAKER
Dr. David Kohl
Execuve Director of
Logiscs & Development
Agrivisions, LLC
TOPIC: GENERATIONS WORKING TOGETHER
•MPALO
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ALRATION
Thursday, March 12, 2015
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg
Registration begins at 7:30 am
KOS
AG EDUCATION
DAY 2015
TOPIC: FOOD AND FUEL PRODUCTION
& RESEARCH
Dr. Elwynn Taylor
Professor of Agronomy &
Meteorology
Iowa State University
Dr. Emily Heaton
Professor of Agronomy
Iowa State University
TOPIC: PROJECT LIBERTY
EARLY BIRD
SPECIAL:
Daron Wilson
General Manager
POET Biorefining
Registration fee is $25 per person until Feb. 28th. No Refunds Available for Pre-Paid Registrations.
After March 1st, the registration fee is $30 per person. Student Registration is $15 per student. Meal included. All registrations must include payment.
Please send your registration along with your check made payable to: Kossuth/Palo Alto Co. Economic Dev. Corp. • Maureen Elbert, Executive Director
106 South Dodge Street, Suite 210 • Algona, IA 50511 • Email: [email protected] / Ph 515-295-7979 • www.kossuth-edc.com and www.paloaltoiowa.com
6 January-June 2015
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
1. Evidence of Community Pride: Successful communities are often
showplaces of care, attention, history and heritage.
2. Emphasis on Quality in Business and Community Life:
People believe that something worth doing is worth doing right.
3. Willingness to Invest in the Future: In addition to the brick-andmortar investments, all decisions are made with an outlook on the future.
4. Participatory Approach to Community Decision Making:
Even the most powerful of opinion leaders seem to work toward building
consensus.
5. Cooperative Community Spirit: The stress is on working
together toward a common goal and the focus is on positive results.
6. Realistic Appraisal of Future Opportunities: Successful
communities have learned how to build on strengths and minimize weaknesses.
7. Awareness of Competitive Positioning: Local loyalty is
emphasized, but thriving communities know who their competitors are and
position themselves accordingly.
8. Knowledge of the Physical Environment: Relative location and
available natural resources underscore decision-making.
9. Active Economic Development Program: There is an organized,
public/private approach to economic development.
10. Deliberate Transition of Power to a Younger Generation
of Leaders: People under 40 regularly hold key positions in civic and
business affairs.
11. Celebration of Diversity in Leadership: Women, young people
and newcomers are elected officials, plant managers, and entrepreneurial
developers.
12. Strong Belief in and Support for Education: Good schools
are the norm and centers of community activity.
13. Problem-Solving Approach to Providing Health Care:
Health care is considered essential, and smart strategies are in place for
diverse methods of delivery.
14. Strong Multi-Generational Family Orientation: The definition
of family is broad, and activities include younger as well as older generations.
15. Strong Presence of Traditional Institutions that are
Integral to Community Life: Churches, schools and service clubs are
strong influences on community development and social activities.
16. Sound and Well-Maintained Infrastructure: Leaders work
hard to maintain and improve streets, sidewalks, water systems and sewage
facilities.
17. Careful Use of Fiscal Resources: Frugality is a way of life and
expenditures are considered investments in the future.
18. Sophisticated Use of Technology Resources: Leaders access
information that is beyond the knowledge base available in the community.
19. Willingness to Seek Help from the Outside: People seek
outside help for community needs, and many compete for government grants
and contracts for economic and social programs.
20. Conviction that, in the Long Run, You Have to Do It
Yourself: Thriving rural communities believe their destiny is in their own
hands. Making their communities good places is a pro-active assignment, and
they willingly accept it.
Expanded Emmetsburg Office Reflects
FCSAmerica’s Commitment to
Customers and Community
The renovation under way at the Emmetsburg office of Farm Credit Services of
America (FCSAmerica) was guided by two overarching questions: Does it enhance
the customer experience and does it help employees do their jobs better, more
efficiently?
Farmers and livestock producers already are benefiting from improvements
made last year to the parking lot outside the building. The placement of a second
entrance off busy Highway 18 and new parking spaces has made it easier for
producers to pull in with their full-size trucks and trailers.
Customers will have to wait a while longer to see improvements inside the
office. Construction on an addition began in the spring of 2014 and will run through
early next summer. But FCSAmerica already knows the design works. FCSAmerica
has tested the improvements in some of its other 41 retail offices, ensuring the
Emmetsburg office will meet customer and employee needs for years to come. Work
on the local building is being done almost entirely by Iowa-based contractors and
subcontractors, including Rick Elbert Construction of Emmetsburg.
As an agriculture cooperative, FCSAmerica is owned by farmers and ranchers.
The Emmetsburg office provides credit and crop insurance services to producers
in Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties. Last
year, eligible customer-owners served by the Emmetsburg office received nearly
$4 million in cash-back dividends to spend on their operations and in their
communities. FCSAmerica has returned more than $20.5 million in cash-back
dividends to area customer-owners since 2004.
FCSAmerica has a decades-long history in Emmetsburg, and in 2001, built its
existing office on the western edge of town. Much has changed since then, including
staff size. Emmetsburg has added three crop insurance positions and one country
home loan specialist in the past five years, bringing the staff to 20. Employees
are proud to be part of a company recently named Iowaʼs Top Work Place in the
mid-size category.
With additional space, employees will be able to better tailor services to
customer needs. Smaller rooms will allow for greater privacy when a producer
meets with a financial officer, for example. Conference rooms will be ideal for
larger informational programs and educational events. And throughout the office,
state-of-the-art technology will exist alongside old-fashioned hospitality, the kind
that comes with a fresh, hot cup of coffee served in a redesigned lobby.
“FCSAmerica takes pride in investing in its customer-owners and the rural
communities in which they live and work,” said Larry Person, a financial officer
with FCSAmericaʼs Emmetsburg office.
“The renovation at our Emmetsburg office demonstrates our commitment to
building on FCSAmericaʼs past to ensure a strong future for rural America,” said
Valerie Weis, who also works as a FCSAmerica financial officer in Emmetsburg.
About Farm Credit Services of America:
Farm Credit Services of America is proud to finance the growth of rural America,
including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With assets of more
than $21 billion, FCSAmerica is one of the regionʼs leading providers of credit and
insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa,
Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at fcsamerica.com.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
January-June 2015 7
Montag products in South Africa
JWL Agricultural Suppliers from Ermelo in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa has been appointed
as the importer and distributor of Montag Products in South Africa.
Over the last few years labor problems are forcing commercial farmers to mechanise and bigger
equipment is bought to do work more effectively and with less labor. Although locally manufactured products
for distributing bulk fertilizer are available in the market, JWL recognized the uniqueness of the Montag
system in its metering system providing very accurate inter-row placement of fertilizer, a problem experienced
with local equipment. Then there is the build quality of Montag – being far superior than the competition.
Three 6 ton bins mounted on Montagʼs steerable carts were put to the test during the 2013 planting
season, which was October to November. Two machines were running behind 12 row 36 inch stack fold
planters and one was attached to a 12 row 30 inch strip-till rig.
The results were very satisfactory. Some of the growers indicated that this was the best piece of equipment
they bought in a very long time. The accuracy and build quality impressed growers. With a very short planting
window in some parts of the country, one cannot afford to have equipment not being able to deliver results
and causing the planting process to be slowed down or even coming to a stop. Montag proved to be just that!
MidAmerican Energy Plans to Invest
Additional $280 Million in Wind Generation
Investment comes after $1.9 billion project announced in 2013; blades to be
manufactured at Siemens facility in Fort Madison, Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa – Oct. 10, 2014 – MidAmerican Energy Company today
announced plans to develop one new wind farm site in Adams County and expand
a second site in OʼBrien County in 2015 – an additional investment of up to $280
million for the nationʼs leader in ownership of wind-powered generation among
rate-regulated utilities.
If approved, the companyʼs proposed wind project would result in installation
of up to 67 wind turbines. The project, scheduled for completion by the end of
2015, would add up to 162 megawatts of new wind generation capacity in Iowa.
Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy, said the new
project reflects the companyʼs commitment to the development of renewable
energy. Using wind as the fuel source to generate energy for this project helps
the company reduce its fuel costs, which in turn helps stabilize electric rates for
customers. Energy costs passed through to customers are projected to be reduced
by approximately $93 million over 10 years.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Fehrman
at a news conference to announce the latest wind expansion project. “MidAmerican
Energyʼs commitment to wind generation garners long-lasting benefits and makes
Iowa a competitive economic force not only in the United States but also in the
world,” Branstad said. “Iowa has attracted major tech companies, such as Google,
Microsoft and Facebook, because of our low energy prices and commitment to
renewable energy. MidAmerican Energyʼs newest wind project will help the state
meet the demand for renewable energy that is attracting major companies and
high-quality jobs to Iowa.”
“MidAmerican Energyʼs investment in additional wind generation provides
significant benefits to all citizens of Iowa,” Lieutenant Gov. Reynolds said. “Wind
8 January-June 2015
is now the No. 1 source of new electric generating capacity in the country, and
Iowa derives a greater percentage of its electricity from wind than any other state.
By taking advantage of the abundant wind resources we have here in the state,
MidAmerican Energy is delivering a sustainable energy solution that will play an
increasingly important role in powering Iowaʼs future.”
“With this proposed expansion, beginning in 2016, MidAmerican Energyʼs
wind resources are expected to produce an amount of energy equivalent to
approximately 50 percent of the retail energy customers are expected to need,”
Fehrman said. “Weʼre extremely proud of how far weʼve come as a state, and as a
company, since the installation of our first wind turbines a decade ago. These wind
projects help stabilize rates in the long term for our customers, foster economic
development in Iowa communities, and demonstrate MidAmerican Energyʼs
commitment to the environment.”
MidAmerican Energy is working with county officials and landowners to
secure development and interconnection rights for the project sites. These sites are
expected to provide more than $40 million in additional property tax revenues
over the next 30 years, along with annual landowner payments. Blades for the
new turbines will be manufactured at the Siemens facility in Fort Madison. The
next step in the development process is for MidAmerican Energy to file for approval
of its wind expansion project with the Iowa Utilities Board. If the IUB approves the
project, construction could start in the summer of 2015, with completion by the
end of that year.
Coupled with projects currently underway in Grundy, Madison, OʼBrien and
Webster counties, MidAmerican Energy will have approximately 3,500 megawatts
of wind generation capability in Iowa by year-end 2015 – enough capability to
provide energy for the equivalent of approximately 1.05 million average Iowa
households. With the completion of this newest project, MidAmerican Energy will
have invested more than $6 billion for wind generation development in Iowa,
making wind approximately 40 percent of its electric generator nameplate
capacity.
About MidAmerican Energy Company:
MidAmerican Energy Company provides electric service to 739,000 customers
and natural gas service to 719,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South
Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican
Energy is available on the companyʼs website and its Twitter, Facebook and
YouTube pages, which can be accessed via www.midamericanenergy.com.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
Shimkat to Continue Growing Economic Opportunities for Iowa Businesses in New Role
AMES, Iowa – Lisa Shimkat, a regional director for the Iowa Small Business Development Center, started her new role as statewide
director of the organization on August 18. She succeeds Jim Heckmann, who retired in February.
For nearly 10 years, Shimkat has worked in the SBDCʼs North Central Iowa region based in Fort Dodge, counseling clients
looking to start or expand an existing business. Her efforts helped her center earn the 2014 Small Business Development Center
Excellence and Innovation Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Shimkat was also recognized in 2010 by the SBDCʼs national organization as Iowaʼs “State Star” for her contributions to the
SBDCʼs economic development efforts and commitment to small businesses. She completed both her undergraduate and MBA
degrees at Iowa State University.
In January, President Steven Leath announced the creation of the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations, to
make it easier for the universityʼs external partners to access Iowa Stateʼs economic development resources. As SBDC statewide director,
Shimkat will work closely with Michael Crum, senior policy adviser and head of the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations, as well as David Spalding,
Raisbeck Endowed Dean in the College of business.
“As we work to reorganize and centralize the universityʼs economic development enterprise, the Iowa Small Business Development Center continues to be a critical
component of our economic development efforts,” said President Leath. “Iʼm very pleased to have Lisa on board to not only lead the SBDC network and ensure weʼre
providing excellent service to our clients, but also build strong relationships with our partners.”
Shimkat wants to make Iowa a model for small business success. She says the SBDCʼs outreach efforts reflect Iowa Stateʼs commitment as a land-grant university.
“Iʼm excited to continue the mission of the Iowa Small Business Development Center at the state level,” Shimkat said. “The SBDCʼs are a great example of carrying
Iowa Stateʼs land-grant mission of research, education, and service throughout the state of Iowa. Iʼve seen firsthand the impact our centers have, and Iʼm eager to help
build on our successes.”
Spalding says Shimkat understands the SBDCʼs mission. “Lisa is an outstanding choice as the next statewide director for Iowaʼs Small Business Development Center,”
he said. “Her years of experience as an award-winning regional director make her well-equipped to move the SBDC forward and strengthen its position as a valuable
economic development resource for Iowa.”
SBDC’s impact on Iowa:
The Iowa Small Business Development Center is part of the Iowa State University College of Business. SBDC offers free, confidential business advice to entrepreneurs
and existing businesses with 500 employees or less. In 2013, SBDC worked with more than 2,500 clients, held 140 training workshops and helped start more than 200
new businesses. Those clients added or retained 1,547 jobs and raised nearly $49 million in capital for their Iowa businesses. SBDC has 16 regional offices across the
state.
Expand Your Business Carefully
Businesses grow in stages, and often that growth is linear. Year-to-year profits
expand incrementally as new products are developed and new services offered.
Sometimes, however, a company will want to seize new opportunities and expand
rapidly. Perhaps a competitor drops from the market and your firm is suddenly
faced with a new client base. Perhaps an improving economy makes opening new
stores in another region a viable option. Perhaps a vendor that supplies one of
your companyʼs key components has started searching for a buyer.
Proceed with caution! Although rapid expansion may provide opportunities
for increased profitability, growth is also fraught with hazards. Not a few
companies have crashed and burned because they plunged into new markets or
acquired existing businesses without adequate forethought. If your company is
mulling over expansion, consider the following:
Know your priorities. A firm should never lose sight of its core mission.
Be slow to expand into products that, on the surface, seem similar but may
actually take your firm in a different direction. If your company manufactures
furniture, should you really buy a firm that produces airplane parts?
Know your investors. Some companies have established hand-shake
agreements with investors, and then spent thousands of dollars only to learn that
financing was not forthcoming. Make sure you have adequate recourse should
Contributed by the
staff of
Erpelding, Voigt & Co., LLP.
needed funds fail to materialize.
Partner wisely. For example, seek other firms that can assist with largerthan-expected orders. To prevent backlogs and problems with quality, scrutinize
the capacity of your suppliers.
Acquire carefully. If in doubt about any aspect of the business youʼre
considering for acquisition, seek expert advice. “Winging it” is a sure recipe for
disaster.
Plan for growth. Many aspects of your business may be affected by
expansion, including accounting systems, organizational structure, inventory
management, and sales. Be sure to examine every major system and function to
determine how they can be integrated into a larger entity.
Monitor growth. As your business expands, always keep a watchful
eye on your firmʼs financial status and progress. Donʼt wait until the end of the
quarter to discover that cash flow has dried up.
Keep existing customers happy. A popular restaurant, for
example, that expands too rapidly and fails to maintain quality may find itself
losing customers to the eatery across the street. Remember, itʼs generally harder
to attract customers than to keep them.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
January-June 2015 9
Mallard Grain Upgrades Take Shape
MaxYield is enhancing its grain handling systems and storage capacity at Mallard.
This location is one of MaxYieldʼs three largest grain receiving facilities and has the
capacity to load 110-car shuttles on the Union Pacific Railroad.
Crews have made good progress this spring, summer and into fall on the addition
of a separate grain receiving area with a pit, a 20,000-bushel-per-hour receiving leg
and conveyance system, one 725,000-bushel bin, and a centralized, computerized
monitoring system to protect grain quality. “When youʼre harvesting, you donʼt want
to be stuck in line at the elevator, waiting to unload your grain,” MaxYield grain team
leader Harry Bormann said. “Mallard has always had a fast and easy grain system for
our clients, and this upgrade will make it even better with an additional high-speed
dump.”
The project is on track to be completed in time for harvest this fall, added Bormann,
who noted that Mallard is being set up as a four-bin site that will eventually offer an
additional 2.9 million bushels of storage. This is important, because MaxYield used to
have 1.25 million bushels of uncovered grain at Mallard each fall. “We must pick up this
grain by Christmas, which can force us to make some unfavorable marketing decisions,”
Bormann said. “The new bin site will help us manage this risk more effectively.”
Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development
Corporation would like to congratulate our area
businesses awarded for “Top Workplaces in Iowa”
by the Des Moines Register - 2014
CENTRAL FINANCIAL
GROUP
These companies are committed to their employees by providing opportunities for training
and progression, positive work environment, and belief in communications and working
together to achieve a common goal.
10 January-June 2015
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
Expanding the Vision at Bishop Garrigan Schools
Deacon Bill Black and Bishop Walker Nickless
bless the ground during the groundbreaking ceremony
Construction has started on the new addition at Bishop
Garrigan. Drive by to see the progress!
The Continuing the Tradition, Expanding the Vision capital campaign at Bishop Garrigan Schools held a
groundbreaking ceremony on August 18th. A large crowd of supporters joined President Lynn Miller and Bishop
Walker Nickless in celebrating and blessing this important phase of the building project. On August 29th, building
crews from Dean Synder Construction of Clear Lake began preparing the ground and renovating the current gym
lobby.
The projected completion date is August 1, 2015. The start of the 2015-2016 school year will see a lot of changes due
to the addition. Grades 4-6 will be moved to the Bishop Garrigan Campus, many teachers will be moving classrooms,
and the new facilities will be in use. In preparation for the move, the current classrooms have been renovated and
wireless technology upgraded.
The total cost for the new addition is $2.85 million. Due to the generous support of our donors, we are at $3.3
million pledged with $2 million of those funds have been received.
The new addition includes:
New main gymnasium, locker rooms, classrooms, boardroom, SCRIP office, Development Office and bathrooms.
This is an exciting new chapter in the history of Bishop Garrigan Schools. Thank you for the continued support!
Opening Spring 2015!!!
in Emmetsburg, IA
Construction is well on its way for completion in May 2015 for The Shores at
Five Island Iowa Trust & Savings Bank Community Center. Emmetsburgʼs new
community center is located on the west shore of beautiful Five Island Lake and is
adjacent to Five Island Golf Course.
Plans for a new community center began back in 2009. The old clubhouse
on Five Island Golf Course was evaluated by several contractors who said it
was impractical to bring the building up to Building Code or to substantially
renovate it at an equivalent price to that of new construction. The Emmetsburg
Community Development Corporation (ECDC) did thorough research and came to
the conclusion that a community center, a public facility open to everyone, would
be the right direction to go.
There are other privately owned facilities in Emmetsburg that serve similar
purposes. The community center fills a mid-range need with a 325-person banquet
seating capacity. Not having a mid-range facility limits the ability to find space
to accommodate several events on the same day such as weddings, graduation
parties, holiday parties, and corporate retreats. It was decided that the proposed
size of the community center would fill a gap within the existing market without
detracting from the two other venues in the community. The new facility will
“showcase” Emmetsburg and the surrounding area and fit the forward vision of
our region.
The Community Center has received financial commitments from public,
grants (local, state and federal), benefactors and community-wide gifts.
Contributions are tax deductible. Several large donors received naming rights to
rooms and areas within the center. Iowa Trust & Savings Bankʼs donation of ½
million gave them the naming rights of the center itself. See the following for a
brief list of donation amounts and donors :
$500,000 City of Emmetsburg
$350,000 Community Action Tourism Grant
$250,000 Emmetsburg Municipal Utilities
$150,000 Gary Kirke/Dr. Michael Richards
$150,000 Arthur & Audrey Smith Foundation
$100,000 POET Biorefining
The Shores at Five Island is the Perfect Destination for Your Next Event!
From 10 – 400, the 10,800 square foot community center, with state of the
art A/V equipment, is able to accommodate small intimate meetings to large
celebrations. The Shores is a perfect setting for meetings, parties, and receptions
with a view. The Shores will offer a picturesque backdrop for every event.
The Shores offers a range of space options to groups planning meetings,
conferences, wedding receptions, reunions and other events. Its meeting and
banquet facilities include 4,750 square feet of function space comprised of 4
rooms, 3 of which may be opened into one (4,330 sq. ft.) grand ballroom or 2
large rooms. In addition the board room caters to groups of 5-32 for smaller
meetings. The outdoor lakeside veranda is accessible from 3 of the meeting
rooms for attendees to enjoy fresh air with a view during a break or serves great
as a reception area.
Food options are endless as guests are able to bring their own food into
the meeting/banquet space. The facility will have a full service catering kitchen
available for the renterʼs caterer of choice. Bar and drink stations will be available
for all of the meeting rooms operated by The Shores staff.
The Dockside at The Shores will be open to the public year round. It will host
a full size bar and offer appetizers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. The
Dockside will also house a Pro Shop and area for golfers to sign in and pay green
fees during golf season.
Both the Dockside and the meeting/banquet space will be a draw to everyone
in the community of Emmetsburg and surrounding area. This new facility will be
owned and operated by the city of Emmetsburg. Therefore management will do
itʼs best to bring business not only to the center itself but attract people to use
local businesses and boost the economy of Emmetsburg.
For more information you can visit www.theshoresat5island.com. The website
features a monthly newsletter “The Splash Report” with updates on happenings
at the center. To reserve space call (712)852-2262.
FIVE ISLAND TRAIL UPDATE:
Five Island Trail (FIT) has completed Phase 3 this year. The trail is now close
to 1.5 miles in length. The FIT Committee is preparing for Phase 4. They have
acquired easements and are now working on funding for Phase 4. Next spring,
paving will resume where it left off this summer at the end of Rock Port. The
trail will cross Weiland Drive, head north along the Weiland farmland, cross the
gravel road (350th Street) and turn east heading toward McEvoy Point. We will
pave as far as funding allows. We have had great public support and would like
to thank all of those individuals and businesses which have contributed to our
project so far.
www.kossuth-edc.com • www.paloaltoiowa.com
January-June 2015 11
KOSSUTH COUNTY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
106 S. DODGE ST
Congratulations to the
following businesses Celebrating
Milestone Anniversaries in 2015
KOSSUTH COUNTY
75 YEARS & OVER:
ALGONA PUBLISHING ................................................................ 150 YEARS
ARNOLD MOTOR SUPPLY ............................................................. 80 YEARS
BOYKEN INSURANCE AGENCY ...................................................... 95 YEARS
BUCHANAN, BIBLER, GABOR & MEIS ...........................................135 YEARS
CASSEL, MCMAHON, STOWATER ................................................... 75 YEARS
CITIZENS COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION .......................................... 75 YEARS
DUMP IT ..................................................................................... 85 YEARS
FARMERS COOPERATIVE ELEVATOR – OTTOSEN ............................. 95 YEARS
FARMERS STATE BANK ................................................................150 YEARS
GOLD EAGLE COOPERATIVE.........................................................115 YEARS
KOSSUTH ABSTRACT & TITLE COMPANY .......................................155 YEARS
MAXYIELD COOPERATIVE ............................................................100 YEARS
TITONKA-BURT COMMUNICATIONS ............................................... 95 YEARS
TITONKA SAVINGS BANK.............................................................100 YEARS
WINKEL & HOLMES, PLC .............................................................. 90 YEARS
50 – 70 YEARS:
BUSCHER BROS IMPLEMENT & RV ................................................ 60 YEARS
ERNIE WILLIAMS, LTD.................................................................. 65 YEARS
EUGENE ELSBECKER CONSTRUCTION ............................................ 55 YEARS
KLEIN INSURANCE....................................................................... 55 YEARS
SECURITY INSURANCE (WEST BEND) ............................................ 65 YEARS
25 – 45 YEARS:
ALGONA FRAME & AUTO BODY .................................................... 40 YEARS
COUNSEL OFFICE & DOCUMENT ................................................... 25 YEARS
EDWARD JONES & CO. / JAY GEVING ........................................... 35 YEARS
ELSBECKER BUILDERS (GREGG ELSBECKER) ................................. 30 YEARS
EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................... 45 YEARS
FAMILY PRACTICE CLINIC – WEST BEND ........................................ 35 YEARS
FARM & HOME SERVICES ............................................................. 40 YEARS
HEYER FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC...................................................... 25 YEARS
HORMEL FOODS ......................................................................... 45 YEARS
IOWA AREA DEVELOPMENT GROUP .............................................. 30 YEARS
LANDMARK REALTY (ISB REAL ESTATE INC.) ................................. 25 YEARS
MCDONALDʼS OF ALGONA ........................................................... 35 YEARS
NORTHWEST BANK ...................................................................... 35 YEARS
OAKCREST FUNERAL SERVICES ..................................................... 30 YEARS
REUTZEL EXCAVATING.................................................................. 40 YEARS
ROETHLER ELECTRIC .................................................................... 30 YEARS
SCHMITT HARDWARE................................................................... 30 YEARS
STUEVE CONSTRUCTION CO ......................................................... 40 YEARS
5 – 20 YEARS:
BOMGAARS..................................................................................10 YEARS
CASEYʼS GENERAL STORE .............................................................15 YEARS
THE CHOCOLATE SEASON.............................................................. 5 YEARS
EGGERS ELECTRIC (WEST BEND) .................................................. 15 YEARS
MARY SCHAAF DESIGN ................................................................ 15 YEARS
OSWEILERʼS .............................................................................. 20 YEARS
PALO ALTO COUNTY
75 YEARS & OVER:
EMMETSBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOLS .........................................135 YEARS
LAURENS STATE BANK – LAURENS ............................................... 80 YEARS
LAURENS STATE BANK – MALLARD ............................................. 80 YEARS
MARTIN-MATTICE FUNERAL HOME ...............................................110 YEARS
MAXYIELD COOPERATIVE ............................................................100 YEARS
RUTHVEN-AYRSHIRE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ..................................115 YEARS
50 – 70 YEARS:
EMMETSBURG CARE CENTER........................................................ 55 YEARS
HALLETT MATERIALS, SAND & GRAVEL.......................................... 50 YEARS
MANSMITH PHARMACY................................................................ 50 YEARS
PALO ALTO COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD ................................. 55 YEARS
RUTHVEN COOP OIL CO. .............................................................. 50 YEARS
UPPER DES MOINES OPPORTUNITY.............................................. 50 YEARS
WENTZELʼS TRUE VALUE .............................................................. 50 YEARS
25 – 45 YEARS:
BERKLAND & BROWN LAW OFFICE............................................... 45 YEARS
DAN COOPER BUILDERS .............................................................. 40 YEARS
EMMETSBURG VETERINARY CLINIC ............................................... 40 YEARS
JOHNSON REALTY ....................................................................... 35 YEARS
JT BODY SHOP ............................................................................ 45 YEARS
KEN KRAUSE MOTORS ................................................................. 45 YEARS
5 – 20 YEARS:
A HEAVENLY CELEBRATION............................................................15 YEARS
AGRI SERVICES OF NORTHERN IOWA (ASI) ................................... 20 YEARS
BESCH REALTY .............................................................................15 YEARS
DOLLAR GENERAL ........................................................................15 YEARS
E-PRIDE OFFICE PRODUCTS...........................................................15 YEARS
HYDRUS DETERGENTS ..................................................................10 YEARS
LAKELAND REALTY OF IOWA........................................................ 20 YEARS
LUKE AKRIDGE BODY SHOP ..........................................................10 YEARS
MONTAG MANUFACTURING ..........................................................10 YEARS
QUEEN MARIE VICTORIAN BED & BREAKFAST ............................... 20 YEARS
SCHWARTZ CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE .................................15 YEARS
THE PRINT SHOP AND PALO ALTO PROMOTIONS ............................10 YEARS
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE CLINIC.....................................................10 YEARS
WILLOW RIDGE INDEPENDENT LIVING .......................................... 20 YEARS
12 January-June 2015
BUSINESS INVESTORS
1000+
Algona Area Economic Development Corp.
Algona Medical Clinic II
Algona Municipal Utilities
Bancroft Implement
Bank Plus
Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor & Meis
Central Financial Group
Corn Belt Power Cooperative
Country Maid, Inc.
Cozzini, LLC
DuPont Pioneer
Elbert Chevrolet
Erpelding, Voigt & Company
Farmers & Traders Savings Bank
Farmers State Bank
Green Plains Renewable Energy
ITC Midwest, LLC
Iowa Area Development Group
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative
Iowa State Bank
Klein Insurance Agency
KOFAB
Kossuth County Community Foundation
Kossuth Regional Health Center
MaxYield Cooperative
MidAmerican Energy
Midland Power Cooperative
Murphy-Brown, LLC
Northwest Bank
Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
Protein Resources
SBEMCO International “Matting by Design”
Snap-on
Security State Bank
StateLine Cooperative
Titonka Savings Bank
White Transfer & Storage
BUSINESS INVESTORS
$500 - $999
Alliant Energy
Algona Publishing Company
Aluma
Buscher Bros. RV Center
Clean Line Energy Partners
Counsel Office & Document
Drs. Klepper & Trainer, ODS
SUITE 210
ALGONA, IA 50511
Erpelding Excavating Enterprise
Farm & Home Services
Good Samaritan Society of Algona
Heartland Mutual Insurance Association
Hy-Vee
I&S Group
Kemna Auto Center
Kossuth Abstract & Title Company
McMahon, Stowater, Lynch & Laddusaw
North Iowa Lumber & Design
Northwest Communications
Redingʼs Gravel & Excavating
Sande Construction & Supply
West Iowa Bank
Whittemore Municipal Utilities
Woodruff Construction
BUSINESS INVESTORS
$250 - $499
Albion Advanced Nutrition
Algona Floor Design
Algona Frame & Auto Body
AmericInn of Algona
ATC Cablevision
Bloom Floral Design Boutique
Bob Becker Construction
Cookʼs Scrap Iron & Metal
Deitering Bros., Inc.
Diamondʼs of Algona
Dump It Sanitation & Recycling
Electronic Specialties, Inc.
Ernie Williams, Ltd.
Farmers Cooperative Elevator
Farmers Trust & Savings Bank
Fenchel, Doster & Buck, P.L.C.
Five Star Cooperative
Floors “N” More
Foertsch Plumbing & Heating
Henry-Olson Funeral Homes
Innovations Salon & Spa
Jerome Menke Construction
Kemco Tires
North Iowa Appliance Center
Oakcrest Funeral Services
Premier Pizza
Roethler Electric
Ruhnke Bros. Full Service Gas & Auto Sales
Schmitt Hardware
PHONE: 515.295.7979
Standard Nutrition Services
State Farm Insurance
Stuart Simonson, CPA
Titonka-Burt Communications
Windsor Manor of Algona
BUSINESS INVESTORS
$50 - $249
Algona Dairy Queen
Algona Family YMCA
Algona Hearing Center
Algona Machine & Supply
Algona Manor Care Center
Animal Medical Center
Blair & Amanda Redenius
Brenda Clark-Hamilton
“Professional Growth Programs”
Columbia Hall Association
Crossroads of Algona
D. J. & Jean Shey
East Fork Swine Vet Services
Jackʼs O.K. Tire Service
Kiwanis Club of Algona
Kiwanis Club of Algona Morwens
Kossuth County Farm Bureau
Lake Mills Motor Sports II
Lone Rock Cooperative Telephone Company
Motor Inn of Algona
Reutzel Excavating
Spa Dee Dah, Too!
The Chocolate Season/
Bradley Jensen Photography
The Quilted Steeple
Thul Law Firm
Tom Eischen Sales
Whittemore Frozen Food Center
Wine & Spirits Shoppe
2014
BUSINESS INVESTORS
Kossuth/Palo Alto County Board of Supervisors and communities also contribute funding dollars to assist with our programs
PALO ALTO COUNTY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
2014
BUSINESS INVESTORS : 1000+
BUSINESS
INVESTORS
BUSINESS INVESTORS : $500- $999
Ag Processing (AGP)
Alliant Energy
Community Lumber Supply
Bank Plus
Iowa Area Development Group
Berkland & Brown Law Office
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative
Emmetsburg Publishing Company
Iowa State Bank
Horizons Unlimited
Iowa Trust & Savings Bank
Joyce Funeral Home
MaxYield Cooperative
Mansmith Pharmacy
MidAmerican Energy
Nauss Oil Company
Montag Manufacturing
Northwest Telephone Cooperative
Northwest Communications
Palo Alto County Health System
Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corp.
Pro Cooperative
POET Biorefining
West Bend International
Protein Resources
Zimmerman Family Dental
West Iowa Bank
BUSINESS INVESTORS : $250- $499
Wild Rose Casino & Resort
Ayrshire Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
www.kossuth-edc.com
Kossuth/Palo Alto County
Economic Development
Corporation
www.paloaltoiowa.com
Brownlee Management, Inc.
Burdorf, Parrott & Associates
Family Vision Care – Dr. Dean Ver Mulm
Farm Credit Services of America
Farmers State Bank
Farmers Mutual Insurance Assn.
Farmers National Company
Hofstad Insurance
Jamison Equipment, Inc.
John & Jan Schad
Kiesling Associates, LLP
Laurens State Bank
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Medium Lake Development Corp.
Palo Alto County Abstract Company
Picrayʼs Welding & Fabricating
State Farm Insurance – David Olson
The Financial Center
Wallace Water Conditioning