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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Jason Hutcheson, PDI President
Jason Hutcheson
PDI President
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The survey results are in! The revamped PDI Spring Event held at the Iowa Farm Bureau offices in early May was a hit. By an overwhelming majority, you indicated that sessions on Wednesday afternoon in conjunction with the SMART Conference was a preferred option over sessions on Friday morning. It is safe to say PDI will look at similar arrangement next year. Major kudos to Sandy Ehrig, Stacie LoVan, and Greg Theis, the education committee
co-chairs for leading a great event.
In addition, the lobbying team at Campbell/Patterson and your legislative co-chairs were hard at work this spring and represented your concerns all the way to Sine Die. You recently received an action alert regarding the Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit. PDI, in association with like-minded organizations, put on the full court press to ensure important components of this important proposed program. Legislators in the House received your strong statements and supported the major elements of the language. Although we were ultimately not successful in the Senate, kudos to you for responding so quickly. Your efforts made a big difference.
Keep doing great work within your organization and community!
2015 PDI Fall Conference
September 23-25, 2015
Historic Park Inn, Mason City, IA
"Bring It Home: Harmonizing Growth & Talent"
Registration will open early July
Some of the Topics/Speakers:
General Sessions:
From Distracted to Productive: Finding Your Productivity and Focus in an Increasingly Interrupted World — Randy Dean, Randall Dean Consulting & Training, LLC, Lansing, MI
Addressing the Talent Shortage Panel — Iowa Employers
BEST Annual Meeting — Deb Calvert, MidAmerican Energy
IEDA Update — Director Debi Durham, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Legislative Update — PDI Legislative Committee Leaders/Lobbyists
Success Strategies for Times of Change — Brenda Clark Hamilton, Fresh Coffee Professional Programs
Breakout Sessions: (Two Tracks &mdashs; Introductory & Advanced)
Finding an Extra Hour Every Day: Time Management Tips & Tricks for Busy Professionals — Randy Dean
Batelle Study...Thinking Differently About the Data — Katheryn Kunert, Mid American Energy
Resources for New & Existing Businesses — Iowa Small Business Development Center; Advance Iowa; IASource Link; CIRAS-ISU
Show Me the Money - Enhancing & Maintaining Your Investor Base — Warren County ED; Kossuth-Palo Alto ED; KJE Solutions; UNI-IDM
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
• Iowa Economic Development Authority Downtown Resource Center to Host Downtown Forums
The Iowa Economic Development Authority's (IEDA) Downtown Resource Center assists communities around the state in revitalizing their downtowns and commercial districts.
This summer, the Iowa Downtown Resource Center will offer several downtown forums to bring together community leaders interested in engaging in a discussion about their downtowns.
Read More >>
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
• Policy Perspectives
Check out the June 11 Edition of Policy Perspectives.
Read Policy Perspectives >>
STATEWIDE PRIDE
• ISU: Des Moines Metro Population Grows;
State short of national average
By Perry Beeman, Senior Staff Writer, The Business Record, June 11, 2015
A new Iowa State University report on Iowa's population growth over the past four years makes several things very clear:
• Des Moines' suburbs are among the fastest growing cities in the state.
Read More >>
• Gordon Ipson Receives Award at MEDC Annual Conference
Gordon Ipson, CEcD, FM, Manager, Economic Development , Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative, Palmyra, MO was named by the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) as the 2015 Affiliate Member of the Year. This prestigious award is presented to an MEDC member who has made significant contributions in the field of community-based economic development but whose primary job duty is not community based economic development and may work in job training, utilities, education or research.
More Information >>
• Ralcorp Plans $10 Million Upgrade
Cereal plant installing new packaging equipment
By George C. Ford, The Gazette, June 8, 2015
Ralcorp Holdings is seeking state financial assistance for a $10 million upgrade at its 111-year-old northeast Cedar Rapids cereal manufacturing plant.
The Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday will consider sponsoring an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for $450,000 in investment tax credits, $30,000 of sales, service and use tax refunds and $50,000 of job training funds.
Read More >>
• PurFoods Plans Expansion in Ankeny
The Business Record, June 11, 2015
The Ankeny City Council will consider a development agreement Monday for PurFoods LLC's planned expansion. The company wants to build a $3.5 million, 30,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse and distribution center at 3210 S.E. Corporate Woods Drive.
Read More >>
• Cedar Rapids-based Involta Nearly Doubling with Acquisition
IT company will add employees, data centers
By George C. Ford, The Gazette, June 4, 2015
A Cedar Rapids-based managed information technology and data center service company is making an acquisition that will nearly double its assets and workforce.
Involta on Thursday said it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase substantially all the assets of Data Recovery Services (DRS) in Youngstown, Ohio. The managed-services and information technology consulting firm operates in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Read More >>
• Why Iowa Needs to Think Like an Oil Company
By Brent Willet, CEcD, Executive Director of the Cultivation Corridor, IowBiz.com, May 27, 2015.
In its first quarter earnings rollout on April 30, oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. revealed that its refining and chemicals units- think lubricants and chemical compounds used to produce things like plastic- together represented 48% of its profits in the first three months of 2015.
Read More >>
• Sukup Sells Implement Line to Ohio Firm
Cedar Valley Business Monthly Online, May 24, 2015
Sukup Manufacturing Co. of Sheffield has sold its implement line to Remlinger Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Kalida, Ohio.
The Sukup Implement Line includes grain drills, row crop cultivators, shredders, rotary cutters, food plot planters, seeders, grain carts and rippers.
Read More >>
• Planners Offer Online Game, Visions of Water Trails
By Perry Beeman, Senior Staff Writer, The Business Record, May 28, 2015
The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is launching a first-of-its-kind effort to plan water trails in the Greater Des Moines area.
The idea: Come up with a master plan for 150 miles of creeks and rivers, including better maps and signs. You can do your part, share an opinion and have some fun by using the MPO's game-like website atwatertrails.designmydsm.com.
Read More >>
• Small Business Survey
Center for Business Growth and Innovation, UNI
We're excited to release the 2015 Iowa Small Business Report! - a comprehensive look at Iowa's small business experience in 2014. The report, based on the annual small business survey, looks at sales trends, job growth or loss, capital acquired, and business use of technology among Iowa business owners with fewer than 50 employees.
Read The "2015 Iowa Small Business Report" >>
• ConAgra to Expand Waterloo Facility
$50 million project to break ground in mid-June
By Chelsea Keenan, The Gazette, May 20, 2015
ConAgra Foods is planning a $50 million, 99,000-square-foot expansion at its Waterloo facility, city officials announced Wednesday.
The plant, located in the Waterloo MidPort Industrial Park, makes snacks marketed under the Snack Pack and Swiss Miss brand names.
Read More >>
• Supervisors Approve Beck's Plans
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News, May 20, 2015
The Jasper County Board of Supervisors granted approval to a corn seed retail and distribution center planned for Colfax at its Tuesday meeting.
The approval is for an application for Beck’s Hybrid to receive benefits from the High Quality Jobs Program, a $20,000 forgivable loan to the company, a second zero percent interest, five-year $20,000 loan to be used for initial development and a five-year property tax abatement in exchange for the $15 million economic investment.
Read More >>
EDUCATION
• CIRAS Manufacturing Leadership Program
August 9-14, 2015, Ames, Iowa
This is a great opportunity for your local manufacturers to develop leadership for continued success.
The weeklong series of sessions will be taught by CIRAS, Iowa State University faculty, and other leading experts, with a balanced focus on business fundamentals and leadership aptitude. The next generation of leaders will define your company’s future. Are they ready? CIRAS has a way to help you take the first step.
More Information >>
• The Partners, The Profession and The Process Workshop
PDI Members: MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
"The Partners, the Profession and the Process" workshop for those new to economic development or new to Iowa is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Farm Bureau Office, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Plan to arrive by 8:45 a.m. Parking is free in the guest lot at Farm Bureau. An interactive day is planned. You will meet with PDI veterans that will lead discussions, make introductions, and answer questions. The session will conclude by 12:00 noon. There is NO COST to attend and you do not need to be a PDI member. So if you know of anyone who would benefit from this workshop, encourage them to attend. Deadline to register is July 15.
Questions can be directed to Lynn Harkin, CAE, Executive Director, Professional Developers of Iowa, (515) 334-1067, director@pdiowa.com or Sandy Ehrig, Economic Development Administrator, Renew Rural Iowa/ Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, (515) 225-5480, sehrig@ifbf.org.
Register Here >>
WHO'S WHO - MEMBER NEWS
• New Members
Tim Bratvold, Point Builders, Urbandale
Ethan Pit, Decatur County Development Corporation, Leon
• Scholarship Recipient
Katie Gieszler, City of Urbandale - Basic ED Course, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN
• Job Postings:
Community Development Project Coordinator, City of Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs
Executive Director, Pottowattamie County Development Corporation, Council Bluffs
Economic Development Director, City of Tipton, Tipton
More Information >>
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Join the IEDA Downtown Resource Center at any of the following sessions:
June 17 - Franklin Street Brewery, 116 South Franklin Street, Manchester, IA 52057
June 18 - Public Library, 300 West State Street, Williamsburg, IA 52361
More Information >>
• Managing Development in Floodplains
June 30, 2015
Manchester Fire Station, 400 East Main Street
Manchester, Iowa
More Information - Download Brochure >>
• The Partners, the Profession and the Process - Workshop
July 21, 2015
Farm Bureau Office, 5400 University Ave.
West Des Moines, Iowa
Register Here >>
• CIRAS Manufacturing Leadership Program
August 9-14, 2015
Ames, IA
More Information - Download Brochure >>
• PDI's Fall Conference
September 23-25, 2015
Historic Park Inn, Holiday Inn Express
Mason City, IA
For more information, contact Lynn Harkin, PDI Headquarters at (515) 243-4585 or Email director@pdiowa.com.
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