Tama County Economic Development Commission www.TamaCountyIowa.org
IN THIS ISSUE: Ethanol’s Progress Pioneer Expands Highlights Calendar Industry Focus
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Congratulations to our
New Ventures who recently opened their doors: Blue Grass Café, Tama 200 W. 3rd Street (former Ben Franklin Building)
Good meals & live music Caring Cans Redemption Ctr. 511 McClellan, Tama
M 4-6pm, W 2-6pm, F 9-2pm 2nd & 4th Sat 9-2pm Gathering Place, Dysart 302 Main Street (formerly Coffee Bean)
Hot Coffee & Homemade Food M-F 6am-2pm Sat. 6am-11am Jim Edwards 1040 Co, Traer 556 2nd Street (formerly PaPa’s Lighter Side Café)
Personal & Small-Biz Tax Prep, QuickBooks Advising & Training Two Grandma’s Kitchen, Garwin 226 Main Street (formerly Jason’s)
Home Cooked meals
Spring 2007
TAMA ETHANOL BREAKS GROUND ON $160 MILLION PLANT December 14, 2006 Tama Ethanol held a ceremonial ground breaking in the Tama Industrial Park East of the City. The event was well attended by key members of local government, surrounding communities and project participants. Additionally State leaders Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Leonard Boswell made an appearance. In a January 19, 2007 Newsletter Tama Ethanol’s parent company Alpha Holdings, LLC reported progress to date: The NPDES/Construction Stormwater permit has been issued. AIR Permit application from the Dept. of Natural Resources is anticipated to be issued by the end of January. Jurisdictional Determination on the property’s wetlands and Natural Resource issues from the Dept. of Army Corp of Engineers is still under review. Allender Butzke completed the on site soil borings and are in the process of completing the geotechnical designs and soil profile reports. The seed capital drives have been deemed a success, and Alpha Holdings is now entering Phase II of asset accumulation.
PIONEER PLANS FOR EXPANSION IN DYSART January 18 Pioneer Hi-Bred International made public plans for a multi-million dollar expansion of the Dysart Plant. The move is brought about on account of closing Pioneer’s aging 68-year-old plant in Marengo in order to remain cost effective. Workers from the Marengo plant will relocate to Tama County’s Dysart and Toledo plants, as well as to Reinbeck. Quick Facts about Pioneer: Pioneer’s Industry Focus: A Subsidiary of DuPont, Pioneer is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics to farmers worldwide. Tama County Focus: A top employer in Tama County. Awards: in 2005 growers planting Pioneer brand corn hybrids won 23 of 27 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) titles.
Tama County Economic Development, Spring 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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CALENDAR ‘07
Highlights as we plan for development in 2007 LOOKING BACK Annual Report: Please stay tuned for the publication of TCEDC’s Annual Report offering insight on the past year’s achievements, and vision of the road ahead. New Director: Jan. 2, 2007, Tama County Economic Development Commission hired Lindi Roelofse to serve as its new Executive Director. Hailed from the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas, Lindi returns to Iowa where she received her MBA from Tippie School of Management, University of Iowa. Lindi is replacing Deb Calderwood who is now working for Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo. Housing: In June 2006 TCEDC announced that $412,490 of grant money was available for home purchasing and rehabilitation. Since then numerous grant applicants have applied for and received assistance. In February/March 2007 Region 6 will announce whether additional partial funding may be made available. Tama County will be eligible to apply for this specific Iowa Economic Development grant again in April 2008.
February Fri. 2nd
Annual CSA Stag at the CSA Hall in Vining from 6-9 p.m.; Rocky mountain oyster & fish dinner, baked beans, potato salad, games, raffles 641-489-2674.
Sat. 3rd
Tama-Toledo Business, Farm & Home Show at Southard Implement, Highway 30 East, Tama from 10-7; Over 30 exhibitors, food vendors, entertainment, kids’ activity booth, door prizes, drawings 641-484-6661.
Sun 4th
Old Time Dance at the Dysart Community Center from 1-5 p.m.; Jim Busta Band will be playing polkas, waltzes, schotishes & fox trots.
Mon 5th
Women, Land & Legacy event at the N. Tama Activity Center in Traer at 6:30pm. Please RSVP at 641-484-2702. FREE
Wed 7th
Tax Prep Services from 2-8 p.m. at the Reinig Center in Toledo; For individuals and families with lower and moderate incomes 641-484-2703. FREE
Sat 10th
Valentine Dinner & Dance beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Gladbrook Memorial Building; silent auction, hosted by Crayon Corner Preschool 641-473-2875
Sat 17th
Love Your Library Valentine Fundraiser social hour at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 7:00, dance at 8:00 at the Reinig Center in Toledo; Entertainment by Mila Bearden, Dolores Harris, Cat Trax; limited seating 641-484-3362.
LOOKING FORWARD Tama County Community Foundation: Grant Applications are now available for almost $50,000 for programs/projects that would serve nonprofit and public service community development efforts in Tama County. Deadline is March 15. You can pick up the application at your City Clerk’s office, banks or contact TCEDC. Workforce Development: Jan 19, 2007 Alliant Energy announced a $1 Billion plant expansion in the Marshalltown area west of Tama County. At the peak of construction an anticipated 1,000 workers would be employed. A significant increase in demand for workforce skilled in welding is anticipated over the next few years. Housing Development: Mon. Feb. 26, Dirks Real Estate & TCEDC are presenting a free bi-lingual informational session on USDA-RD Housing Programs at the Reinig Center in Toledo at 6:30pm. Membership Drive: Please consider making your company/ business a leader in Tama County’s growth potential. Info to follow. Our new FY08 development concept will be unveiled before the next newsletter.
March Fri-Sat, 16-17th
MEMBERS ARE OUR BEST REFERRALS Spread the word about the TCEDC FREE Business Assistance services for business owners, decision makers and consultants. Let your clients know that TCEDC can help them with site selection, cost containment, economic research, financing, human resources, and technology assistance. More info about these services is available at www.tamacountyiowa.org, contact our office directly at (641) 484-3108, or e-mail us at tcedc@iowatelecom.net.
Traer Home Show at the Traer Memorial Building from 4-8 p.m.; over 20 exhibitors, drawings, door prizes, food 319-478-2346. FREE
April Sun 1st
Vining Flea Market at the CSA Hall in Vining from 8-4; Vendors indoors & outdoors, lunch, bake sale, consignment auction at 10:00 a.m. 319-479-2202.
Sat 7th
Easter Egg Hunt at the Dysart city park 319-476-3418. FREE
www.TamaCountyIowa.org
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Tama County Economic Development, Spring 2007
Industry Focus Feature:
GREAT TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN TAMA COUNTY
Matchstick Marvels 319 2nd Street Gladbrook, IA 50635 641-473-2410 or 888-473-3456 Currently on display are Matchstick Marvels built by Pat Acton, Gladbrook. For 25 years, Acton has built large-scale intricate models made entirely of wooden matchsticks. His creations have been featured in numerous magazines and are displayed in Ripley's Believe It or Not museums around the world. One recent creation now on display in the new tourist center is a 1/65 scale model of the U.S. Capitol, measuring 12 feet in length and 6.5 feet in height. Other models in the tourist center include the battleship USS Iowa, the space shuttle Challenger, Terrace Hill mansion, a P-51 Mustang, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, and his newest creation, the French cathedral Notre Dame of Chartres. There are approximately 15 large models on display. www.matchstickmarvels.com
Union Grove State Park North of Garwin 641-473-2556 Swimming beach and large picnic area. Camping and fishing. Open to any size motor but must use ‘no wake’ speed. www.state.ia.us/ dnr/organiza/ ppd/union.htm
Traer Historical Museum 514 2nd Street, Traer 319-478-2346 email: traerchamber@hotmail.com The museum features a display on Traer's most famous son, Tama Jim Wilson, who was a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for 16 years under 3 presidents. School exhibits from Geneseo, Dinsdale, and Buckingham are also displayed along with settings of an old time kitchen and living room. www.traer.com
Rubes Steakhouse 118 Elm St., Montour 641-492-6222 Since Rube’s first opened it was obvious that the one feature that could not be compromised was the quality of the steak, not only the quality of the meat but the quality of the c ut as wel l . www.rubesmeat.com
302 Main Street, Dysart Blacksmith Boutique & Garden Studio, The Gathering Place, MeMa’s Attic & Cooper Photography, Thyme Together. Discover the treasures of small town Iowa via hearty home-cooked meals, blacksmith services, custom made jewelry, gifts and seasonal garden shops. www.dysartiowa.com
WFLA-ZCBJ Czech Museum 501 Main Street Clutier, IA 52217 319-479-2929, 319-4395432 The museum is located on the second floor of the meeting hall. Exhibits feature an old cookstove and dishes that were formerly in the meeting hall, old pictures, and books (many of which are in Czech).
Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Hwy 30, Tama 1-800-728-GAME From slots, table games, craps, roulette, bingo, to top performers and plenty of room for seating, Meskwaki offers a plethora of entertainment at Iowa’s only full service casino. Designer www.meskwaki.com
Brick-A-Brack Shops
Inn
& Suites
403 Highway 30, Toledo 641-484-5678 Treat yourself to a night of romance in one of Designer Inn’s themed Fantasy Suites. Award winning designer, Gary Strobusch, handcrafted wall murals, molded walls, hand formed sinks, counters, mirrors and his signature starlight valances. Pick amongst suite themes like: Crystal Cave, Heart’s Delight, Rainforest, Roman Retreat, The Gambler, and Penguin’s Place. www.designerinnandsuites.com
Lincoln Highway Bridge East 5th Street off Highway 30 Tama Roadside park is nearby. On the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1915 as part of the first U.S. transcontinental highway, this is the only Lincoln Highway bridge still in existence. www.tamatoledo.com/ attractions
John Ernest Vineyard & Winery 3291 N Avenue, Tama 641-484-8048 641-484-4797 fax email: jamiebusch@yahoo.com Open April 1 - October 31 Hours: Tuesday -Thursday 2-6; Friday-Sunday 11-6:00; Taste wine while overlooking the beautiful Iowa River Valley. Located two miles east of Tama just off Highway 30. Experience Chardonnay to Merlots and Iowa wines in the spacious tasting room and gift shop. www.johnernestvineyard.com
Tourism Raffle Drawing Feb 12: Three baskets chock-a-block with tourism related goodies valued at around $300 are being raffled. Funds will be used to market Tama County as a destination attraction in an effort to increase dollars spent inside the county, as well as increase awareness of Tama County’s quality of life strengths for prospective business expansion efforts. Raffle tickets are $5 and can be purchased at Tama County Banks, and many of the Tama County Tourism attractions. For more info or to make a donation, please contact TCEDC (Tama County Tourism is a department of Tama County Economic Development Commission).
www.TamaCountyIowa.org
Tama County
1007 Prospect Drive PO Box 22 Toledo, IA 52342 641-484-3108 641-484-5127 fax tcedc@iowatelecom.net www.tamacountyiowa.org
Economic Development
The mission of Tama County Economic Development Commission (TCEDC) 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.
TCEDC Members
Thank you to TCEDC for their leadership:
Platinum Farmers Cooperative Telephone Co. Gold Grundy County
Tama County Abstract Company REC
Silver Tama County Farm Bureau, Consumers Energy, Home Federal Savings Bank, Gethmann Construction Company, Inc., Sunshine Laundry, Inc., Lincoln Savings Bank, Farmers Savings Bank & Trust – Traer, Medicap Pharmacy, Central Counties Coop, Tama County Board of Realtors Bronze Traer Municipal Utilities, Designer Inn & Suites, Senator John Putney, H & R Block, Sandhill Auto Salvage, Bohemian Mutual, Kenkel Law Office, Manatt's Inc., Custom Creations by Sheri, Plaza Family Dental Center, James E. Roan, Eikamp & Associates, Deer Creek Health Center/Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Iowa Builders Supply, Ag Bio-Power, LC, Mark Harrington, CPA, F & M Bank, Wrage Realty, LLC, Dysart Development Corporation, Carl Luze Real Estate, Rube's Steaks, Deimco Finishing Equipment, Poweshiek Water Association, John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Tama County Mutual Insurance Association
Roger Ochs, Chelsea Pat Veit, Chelsea Gerry Kopriva, Clutier Arlene Vondracek, Clutier Dwayne Luze, Dysart Don Lyons, Dysart Mark Fisher, Elberon Carl Zoffka, Garwin* Lori Leytham, Garwin Geri Eilers, Gladbrook, (Chair)* Mark Lowry, Gladbrook Roland Fink, Lincoln Tony Smith, Montour Dale Gericke, Montour Chris Bearden, Tama Robert Tyynismaa, Tama, (Vice Chair)* Bill Christensen, Toledo Pete Zmolek, Toledo Ellen Young, Traer Nick Podhajsky, Traer LeAnn Boldt, Vining John Mehlert, Farm Bureau Keith Sash, Board of Supervisors Larry Vest, Board of Supervisors Patrick Henry, Board of Supervisors * denotes executive committee