• Recipient...City of West Des Moines, Executive Call Program and work with Iowa Network Services
  Representing the City, Clyde Evans, Naomi Hamlett, and Jo Eckert
• Recipient...Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corp, "Existing Industry Report / Economic Analysis
  Maureen Elbert, Executive Director, Kossuth-Palo Alto Counties Economic Development Corp.

ICAD Group receives BRE Award

BRE Award Winner Dan McDonald from Dubuque with Sandy Ehrig

   
    City of WDM Receives BRE Award       Kossuth PaloAlto Receives BRE Award

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

• Policy Perspectives

Read the latest Policy Perspectives at the PDI web site >>

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STATEWIDE PRIDE

• Initial Blue Zones Demonstration Cities Chosen
Business Record Daily PM, May 4, 2012

Cedar Falls, Mason City, Spencer and Waterloo have been selected as the first four Blue Zones demonstration communities. Gov. Terry Branstad joined Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield CEO John Forsyth and other officials in making the announcement this morning. The four cities, chosen from 84 Iowa communities that applied, will receive assistance from national experts to develop and implement changes to help residents lead longer, healthier lives. Six additional cities with populations above 10,000 will be chosen within the next year. The progress of the demonstration communities will be measured using the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, an ongoing survey of U.S. residents' health and well-being. The Blue Zones project is part of the Healthiest State Initiative, a campaign to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation within the next five years.

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MEMBER UPDATES

• PDI 2012 FALL CONFERENCE - Save the Date!

September 26-28, 2012
Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Hilton Garden Inn/County Inn & Suites, Council Bluffs, Iowa

What is the theme of the PDI 2012 Fall Convention?

"Exploring the Silicon Prairie . . . Technology & Economic Development"

Who are some of the Speakers?

TIM CHASE

Tim Chase is the President and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2001 after having served as its Vice President of Economic Development since 1998. The Chamber provides economic development services for the City and region. Mr. Chase relocated to Dixon, IL where he had served as the Executive Director of the Dixon Industrial Development Association (DIDA) for ten years. Prior to his career in economic development Mr. Chase was in the retail industry for twelve years serving eights yeas as manager of three full-line department stores, and also served four years in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Chase has been active on the Boards of Economic Development, Chambers of Commerce and downtown business development organizations in Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois and now Texas. Mr. Chase is currently the immediate past Dean of the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute and has been on staff for 20 years as an instructor. Mr. Chase is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer and facilitator on the topics of economic development, community development, strategic planning, infrastructure, sales and marketing.

LIZ NEAD

Liz Nead is the 2011 LLS Celebrity of the Year, Ms. Nead is an expert in Bringing Life Back to Everyday Life for those seeking beyond daily responsibilities by directly impacting the lives of thousands with inspiration CD's, life coaching, magazine articles, public speaking engagements and life improvement television. She directs and hosts an exciting television show called the Life Dare airing on Fox five days a week, which invites people to learn from experts and then take a "challenge" to bring the lesson to life. Ms. Nead also inspires by speaking and coaching to four key messages which focus on accessing individual "game," creating powerful vision and creating a rock star network. In addition to her life philosophy, Ms. Nead is an open book, inviting you to learn from her life, as she strives to vitalize her marriage to retired military office, connect with her seven children in their blended marriage, decipher friendship challenges, fight for personal balance and create a purpose-filled life. She believes that small and doable changes will lead to mighty, life changing results.

• Did You Know?...

Did you know...During the months of May and June, PDI is working on a membership blitz of sorts. Nearly 30 folks across Iowa will receive a solicitation Email to join PDI. If you know someone who would benefit from membership in PDI, please contact director@pdiowa.com and let us know who we should send information or log onto www.pdiowa.com for join/new member information.

• Job Opportunities:

Economic Development Director, Wright County
Research Assistant, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance
Executive Director, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation
Director of Economic Development, Greater Burlington Partnership
Executive Director, City of Dewitt
Assistant Economic Development Director, City of Dubuque
President, Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

More on Job Opportunities >>

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EDUCATION & UPCOMING EVENTS

• Drawing a Picture of My Region's Workforce Using Available Data

May 17, 2012 - 1:00 PM
Presented by Drew Conrad, CEcD of the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa
Online
[Link no longer available.]

• IEDC Real Estate Development and ReUse Training Course

July 12-13, 2012
Bloomington, Minnesota
[Link no longer available.]

• "Building Community Resilience for the Future" - Safeguard Iowa Partnership Conference

June 14, 2012
Des Moines University
Medical Education Center
3200 Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa

[Link no longer available.]

• PDI Fall Conference
"Exploring the Silicon Prairie….Technology & Economic Development"

Wednesday — Friday, September 26-28, 2012
Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Hilton Garden Inn and Country Inn & Suites
Terry Bailey, Lori Holste & Jason Hutcheson, Conference Co-Chairs

• Regional Energy Codes Conference

October 16-18, 2012
Marriott in Regency Plaza
Omaha, Nebraska

Request for Presentation Proposals:
The deadline to submit proposals is APRIL 27, 2012.
http://www.neo.ne.gov/codesconf/RFPs.htm

SPONSORS

PDI Thanks the 2012 Sponsors

Triple Event Sponsors
ITC Midwest
Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corp.
Iowa Economic Development Authority

Conference Supporting Sponsors
Black Hills Energy
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Iowa Workforce Development

Conference Exhibit Sponsors - Fall & Spring
Ady Voltedge
Convergent Non Profit Fundraising
Iowa Business Growth
Iowa State University CIRAS
JEO Consulting Group Inc.
North Iowa Corridor Development Corp.
Peoples Company
Spring Only
Viebicher Associates Inc.
Fall Only
Iowa City Area Development Group Inc.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Iowa Small Business Development Centers
Iowa Telecommunications Association

BREI Award
Smart Solutions Group
& Blane Canada

Contributing Sponsors - Fall & Spring
Iowa Association of Business & Industry
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative

Contributing Sponsors - Spring Only
Iowa Utility Association

Contributing Sponsors - Fall Only
Access Energy Cooperative
Buchanan County Economic Development
Guthrie County Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Midland Power Cooperative

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