Tama County Economic Development Commission Congratulations to our owners of
New Businesses! Crystal City Events Owner: Wendy Lewis 3445 Highway T47, Montour 641-751-0163 email: wendysk@hotmail.com Glbk Fitness & Wellness Center 509 Washington Street, Gladbrook 641-473-2582 web: www.gladbrookfitness.com Back Door Dinners Owner: Rosemary Brady 401 E. 9th Street, Tama 641-484-5278 web: backdoordinners.tamatoledo.net J. Adams Photography Owner: Mike Adams 1015 South Prospect, #112, Toledo 641-484-0086 web: www.adamsphoto.biz Captain Al’s Supper Club Owners: Al & Claudette Lewless 2603 Hwy 8, Traer 319-478-2191 Dysart Laundry New Owners: Paul & Billie Ramirez 335 Main Street, Dysart Venture Lanes New Owners: Carl & Jenn Stover Formerly Lincoln Highway Lanes 1411 E. 5th Street, Tama 641-484-3258 Sassy’s Boutique New Owner: Wanda Petersen 401 Main Street, Dysart 319-476-7277 email: carepa@fctc.coop Electric Tattoo Owner: Darius Carr 125 W. 3rd Street, Tama 515-720-3419
Summer 2008
HISTORIC LANDMARKS IN TAMA COUNTY: New Commission at work to develop new resources March 18 - Tama County Supervisors approved a resolution to form a County wide historic preservation commission. The purpose of this commission is to promote, protect, stabilize, and strengthen Tama County, and to foster pride in the legacy of beauty and achievements of the past. To date, people as far as New York State has been contributing with stories of interest. Close to home, groups like Waterloo’s Historic Preservation Commission have also extended tactical support to help the group start off. Please contact Economic Development if you are interested. Commission members include: Pat Veit (Chelsea), Gerry Kopriva (Clutier), Deb Ewoldt (Dysart), vacant (Elberon), Merle Parks (Garwin), Mike Wenzien (Gladbrook) vacant (Montour), Annie Stocker (Lincoln), Joyce Wiese (Tama), Chet Tozer (Toledo), Elen Young (Traer), Larry Parizek (Vining). Meskwaki’s office of Historic Preservation has also been invited to be a part of the Tama County Historic Preservation Commission.
Photo by Mike Adams, Toledo
Heartland Experts present:
SKETCHES OF THE FUTURE Thanks to sponsorships from Alliant Energy and Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI), Tama County Economic Development was able to attend an event with other mid-western developers to hear from experts about benchmarking our Economic Development efforts, and learn about the projected trends to be optimally positioned for the future. Real Estate: downtown use is expected to move away from retail and grow increasingly focused on 3 areas: 1) restaurants & other socialization, 2) professional services, 3) personal services Entrepreneurship: 25% of our workforce are expected to be Entrepreneurs by 2020. Workforce: our employment markets are getting saturated with 4-year liberal arts degrees. Need is increasing for workforce with 2-year technical trade degrees or specialized science & technology.
Financing: Milken Institute ranks Iowa 3rd in the nation for favorable business climate. Expansion: the trend of manufacturing plants, once making an international exodus, is expected to turn around. Attraction: bi-lingual calling centers specifically in rural communities are expected to become increasingly sought after. Community: a unique sense of place will grow increasingly important as technology, telecommuting and transportation allows people to have more flexibility in picking the right community to raise their children.
www.tamacountyiowa.org
Tama County Economic Development, Summer 2008
SUNNY DAYS! Highlights of Q1 in 2008 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT: in the last month ground broke to develop three industries in Toledo. 1) the new Iowa Step ‘n Tank Manufacturing Plant, 2) Iowa Juvenile Home School Expansion, and 3) Pioneer Hi-Bred expansion estimated at $400,000. The Highway 30 Bypass in Toledo also started moving dirt this month. COUNTY FOUNDATION: 2008 grant cycle, funds available have increased to $57,041. Tama County Community Foundation received requests to support 37 projects totaling $136,546 in need. Grantees should hear back from the foundation towards the beginning of June. TRAER MANUFACTURING: The last Traer Man employees are expected to conclude their service this summer. Temp employees and management of Magna International are expected to wrap up cleanup of the 155,000 sq. ft. facility before the end of the calendar year. FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION: Starting Jul 1, 2008, three of the six Tama County School Districts will have new Superintendents. Kerri Nazarenus at South Tama, Gary Jansen at North Tama, and Tim Kuehl at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. MESKWAKI: The Bingo Casino Hotel announced intent for two significant operational expansion adjustments. 1) lifting the no-alcohol publicity. This passed in Q1. 2) expanding eligibility in poker to 18- to 21-year-old gamblers. This could take effect in Q2. Reducing Casino dividend payouts for tribal members are currently being discussed.
TAMA CO IN THE PRESS: three local enterprises drew national media attention for their innovation. 1) State Bank of Toledo was highlighted in Wall Street Journal after blogs picked up their new high interest rate special account. 2) Gladbrook’s Matchstick Marvels Museum was featured on AOL’s National Tourism week, 3) Dysart’s The Gathering Place was featured in Our Iowa Magazine for unique home-cooked food and down-home fellowship. GET ON THE BUS: April 24 marked Tama County Tourism’s first official Small Town Mysteries Group Tour. A group traveled off the beaten path to explore a loop of attractions in 5 of the 12 towns celebrating unique award winning ag, one of a kind creativity, great local home made foods, and salt (‘n pepper)-of-the-earth people. NEW LEGISLATIVE ACTION: The continuation of the Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) grant was announced. A new generation, River Community Attraction & Tourism (RiCAT) grants will also soon be available specifically for projects that develop community attraction projects that celebrates or enhances Iowa’s Rivers. Tama County received six CAT grants for special initiatives over the past six years. DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE DINNERS: Public Meeting discussions with experts and community leaders. TUE May 27, 6:30 at Elberon Grill. Topic of the evening will be Meskwaki History. TUE June 17, 6:30 Clutier, TUE Jul 15, 6:30pm Gladbrook. (discussion topics subject to change).
The Economic Development Pie: 2008 — 2009 The Tama County Economic Development Commission depends on a wide array of constituencies for support. Each dollar is invested with care and fiscal responsibility to facilitate growth or coordinate efficiency. If you would like to be a partner on this team of organizations leveraging local assets to maximize Tama County’s growth and development, please visit: www.tamacountyiowa.org/ partners2008
www.tamacountyiowa.org
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SUMMER CALENDAR MAY Fri. 2
Toledo Farmers Market Starts Courthouse Square Fridays 5-7 p.m.
Wed. 7
Traer Farmers Market Starts Farmers Savings Bank parking lot Wednesdays 4-6 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 16-17
Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival Tama Carnival, parade, 5k run/walk, chamber beef BBQ, dance
Mon. 26
Memorial Day Services Vining Ceremony at National Cemetery, dinner & dance at CSA Hall
Tues. 27
Dysart Farmers Market City Park Tuesdays 4-6 p.m.
JUNE Wed. 4
Garwin Farmers Market & Concerts in the Park 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 6-8 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 14-15
Quasquicentennial Celebration Lincoln Family activities, car, motorcycle, & tractor event, live entertainment
Wed. 18
Tama County Community Foundation Grant Awards Ceremony Reinig Toledo Center, 7pm
Sat. 21
Rube’s Fest Rube’s Steakhouse, Montour Live music, food & drink tent
Sat.-Sun. 21-22
Elberon Chautauqua Rounders, scrapbooking, special guests, dinner & breakfast
Thur-Sat. 26-29
Gladbrook Corn Carnival Midway rides, parade, 5k run/walk, cruise, dances, fireworks
JULY 4 3-5 4-5
Independence Day Activities Toledo 5k, Fireworks Dysart 5k, parade, food, fireworks Garwin games food fireworks Sat.
Sun. 6
Cornman Triathlon 9:00 a.m. Union Grove State Park
Wed-Sun. 16-20
Tama County Fair Gladbrook Fairgrounds
Wed-Thu. 23-24
RAGBRAI 2008 Montour, Tama-Toledo, Chelsea
Fri-Sat. 25-26
Dysart Old Iron Days Vintage equipment, cruises Flea market, craft vendors, food
Vining,
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Tama County Economic Development, Summer 2008
Leadership Focus Feature:
2 2
Vision Tama County
How do we play the hand we were dealt in the strongest way? Are there ways to strengthen our hand? Where do our leaders see Tama County a dozen years from today? Meet your Economic Development Commission working to preserve and expand Tama County’s strengths.
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www.tamacountyiowa.org
Tama County Economic Development Commission
Economic Development Partners Platinum
Gold Tama County Abstract Company TIP RURAL ELECTRIC
Tama Paperboard
Silver
Bronze Deimco, Designer Inn & Suites, Eikamp Insurance, Farmers Savings Bank & Trust – Traer, Imagine This, John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Kenkel Law Office, Manatt’s, MICA Tama County Family Development, Rainbow Lake Little Lodge, Jim & Mary Roan, Rowan Equipment & Fabrication, Rube's Steakhouse, S & S Car Wash & Storage, Sand Hill Auto Salvage, Union Grove State Park, Verocity Wireless, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Wrage Realty, L.L.C. Please consider partnering with Tama County Economic Development Partnership form is available at: www.tamacountyiowa.org/partners2008
Tama County Economic Development PO Box 22 Toledo, IA 52342 www.tamacountyiowa.org
The mission of Tama County Economic Development is to coordinate the cultivation and development of Tama County’s business environment by aiding business, agriculture, industry and residents in maximizing their full economic potential within the county and beyond.
* list as of press date 05/01/08
Bohemian Mutual, Consumers Energy, Grundy County REC, Home Federal Savings Bank, Sunshine Laundry-Tama-Toledo Storage, Tama County Mutual Insurance Association, Tama-Toledo Chamber of Commerce, J. Adams Photography
Carl Zoffka, Chair, Garwin Nick Podhajsky, Vice-Chair, Traer Don Lyons, Director, Dysart Roger Ochs, Chelsea Pat Veit, Chelsea Gerry Kopriva, Clutier Arlene Vondracek, Clutier Dwayne Luze, Dysart Mark Fisher, Elberon Scott McMains, Elberon Merle Parks, Garwin Geri Eilers, Gladbrook Mandy Gehring, Gladbrook Roland Fink, Lincoln Jerry Buskohl, Lincoln Susan Holubar, Montour Dale Gericke, Montour Chris Bearden, Tama Josh Youngbear, Tama Pam Wood, Toledo Pete Zmolek, Toledo Ellen Young, Traer Midge Horton, Vining Phyllis Hosek, Vining John Mehlert, Farm Bureau Keith Sash, County Supervisor Larry Vest, County Supervisor Patrick Henry, County Supervisor
Staff Lindi Roelofse, Exec. Director Joanne Husak, Secretary
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Toledo, IA Permit No. 22