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PRESIDENTIAL POST
By Sandy Ehrig, PDI President
Sandy Ehrig
PDI President
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Mark Your Calendar for June 21st at 1:30 ....Don't Miss This Webinar!
PDI Education Committee is pleased to present a webinar delivering useable info to assist and coach innovators in your area. Iowa Innovation Corporation (IICORP) is a very capable and willing partner in our efforts to build technology and innovation based regional economies. An intro to IICORP can be found at http://iowainnovationcorporation.com/videos.cfm.
Register today. Once the host approves your request, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.
Register Here >>
Sandy Ehrig,
President, Professional Developers of Iowa
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
• IDEA Update
The Iowa Economic Development Authority will disburse grant funds via the following programs to help eligible Iowa companies develop or expand their export markets:
More Information >>
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
• Primary Elections Results
Our last PDI Post included a brief article about the primary elections and redistricting. If you would like to see results from the June 5 primary election, the are now posted.
View Election Results >>
STATEWIDE PRIDE
• MarketPlace Speakers
We're looking for speakers for the second annual South Dakota MarketPlace business conference coming this October 9-10, 2012, at the Crossroads Hotel & Huron Event Center in Huron. It's a dynamic, two-day conference for current business owners, entrepreneurs, community development leaders, nonprofit agencies, teachers, agricultural producers, aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in growing businesses in South Dakota.
More Information >>
• Vilsack: Fears of Another Farm Crisis Are Unfounded
By Mike Wiser, Mason City Globe Gazette, June 12, 2012
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said demand for U.S. agricultural goods continues to grow, and fears about another farm crisis are unfounded despite record high prices for agricultural land.
"The difference is the level of debt," said Vilsack, who served as Iowa's governor from 1999 to 2007. "About 70 percent of the (agricultural) land sales are not debt-financed."
Read More >>
• Branstad Announces Program to Teach Job Skills to Unemployed
By MIKE WISER, Cedar Valley Business Monthly Online, Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A new public-private partnership aimed at getting unemployed Iowans internships where they learn a marketable skill while they still collect benefits was announced Monday by Gov. Terry Branstad.
The program is aimed at closing the skill gap that challenges many job seekers.
Middle-skill occupations — jobs such as pharmacy tech, legal secretary, computer support specialist, and welder — make up about 50 percent of the state's occupations, but middle-skill workers make up only about 33 percent of the state's work force, according figures from the Iowa Workforce Development's Bureau of Labor and Occupational Analysis.
Read More >>
MEMBER UPDATES
Tim Chase
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• Spotlight on PDI Fall Conference - Tim Chase, Speaker
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.
More Information >>
• PDI Call For Leadership
Want to be a leader, have some fun and become more involved in the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) organization? The PDI Board of Directors has several slots open for upcoming three year terms - beginning November 2012. The board is responsible for the supervision, direction and guidance of the affairs of PDI. Elections will be held at this year's annual meeting on Thursday, September 27, 2012 during the PDI Fall Conference at the MidAmerica Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa. A nomination committee is being appointed, with current Vice President Brent Willett chairing the group. The committee will be accepting nominations through July 5, 2012. PDI is a member-driven organization with a great tradition of an active board. If you would like to nominate yourself or a fellow PDI member, please send your nominations to Brent M. Willett, 641-423-0315 or Email bwillett@northiowacorridor.com. Thanks for supporting YOUR professional association!
• 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 [Link no longer available.] for join/new member information.l
• Job Opportunities:
Executive Director, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation
Economic Development Director, Wright County
Research Assistant, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber
Executive Director - Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
More on Job Opportunities >>
UPCOMING EVENTS
• PDI Webinar
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Online at 1:30 PM
In Partnership with the Iowa Innovation Corporation
Register Here >>
• PDI Webinar
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Online at 1:00 PM
Why the BR&E Brand is Ineffective & What to do About It
[Link no longer available.]
• Economic Development Strategic Planning Training Course
July 26-27, 2012
IEDC - Chicago, IL
More Information & Registration >>
• Iowa Downtown Summit
Tuesday-Wednesday, August 21-22, 2012
Presented by the IEDA and the Federal Home Loan Bank (Des Moines)
Keokuk, IA
[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
• Great Plains Energy Codes Conference
October 16-18, 2012
Marriott in Regency Plaza
Omaha, Nebraska
More Information & Registration >>
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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