Recent News

Visitors to Montana know the state’s nickname of “Big Sky Country” is well deserved. The state’s rural setting and wide open spaces, aside from being scenic, factored into the recent decision-making process of an international industrial company. The result was an economic development plum for the state. Hyundai chose Bozeman a...Continue Reading

In Celebration of National Manufacturing Day – Audubon County Economic Development is hosting a career day for regional high schools and a job fair featuring local manufacturing companies in Audubon County.  The job fair – 3-5 pm will be open to the general public to attend. Continue Reading

After years of planning and more than 12 months of construction despite some supply chain delays, the new childcare center at 306 South Vine in Jefferson is ready to open its doors on Monday, September 26.   “We couldn’t be happier to welcome children and families to our new center,” sai...Continue Reading

October is Manufacturing Month, the perfect time to spotlight one of Western Iowa’s manufacturing stalwarts, VT Industries, Inc.  VT has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada, but its heartbeat is headquartered in Holstein, Iowa. While there is no doubting innovation keeps VT Industries at the leading edge o...Continue Reading

“Education is now the #1 economic priority,” according to Don Gilman, CEO of Ignite College and Career Academy in Georgia. In the past, most economic development organizations focused their efforts on creating jobs and capital investment. Today, the pandemic’s “Great Resignation,” coupled with the high level of Baby Boomers retiring...Continue Reading

Westside State Bank President and CEO Matt Lujano, part of a banking family with roots in the Carroll area, takes the reins Tuesday as chair of the Iowa Bankers Association. His term lasts for a full year with an organization that dates back to 1887 when the Iowa Bankers Association becam...Continue Reading

The Chevron Renewable Energy Group biodiesel plant in Ralston played host to several Congressional and Administrative staff members on August 16, where they learned about the biodiesel production process. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association brought their “Iowa Biofuels: Science and Sustainability Tour” to the Ralston biorefinery as part of thei...Continue Reading

EXIRA — For those in southwest Iowa looking for an adjustment — The Stalk Chiropractic and Health, at 106 West Washington Street is open five days a week to help. A quote on the business website explains the name. “All vitality of a plant must travel through the stalk, just a...Continue Reading

October 5, 2022 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Templeton Center 230 S. 5th Avenue, Templeton, IA   9:30 a.m. • Registration 10:00 a.m. • Welcome Host: Kimberly Tiefenthaler, Executive Director, Carroll County Growth Partnership 10:05 a.m. • 11:00 a.m. • Downtown Case Studies Part 1: Walnut Downtown Revitalization & Sac City Public Investment Presenters: Shannon Wood and Bruce Perry 11:0...Continue Reading

The Iowa Finance Authority Wednesday awarded $1 million in low-to-middle income housing tax credits for a Kansas City-area development group with a multi-state portfolio of housing to construct an $11-million, 35-unit town-house complex east of MidAmerican Energy and Auen Distributing and south of the Union Pacific Railroad lines in Carroll. Carrol...Continue Reading

Marketing your quality of place, local events, and community brand are crucial to an economic development strategy because they can help with workforce and business recruitment. Forbes reported in 2017 that "Millennials want a better everything." Years later, that remains true, and other generations are joining them. People demand bette...Continue Reading

September 2, 2022 (DES MOINES) – At yesterday’s meeting, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants totaling $775,000 to a pool project in Akron and a gymnasium expansion in Audubon. The details for the projects receiving CAT grants are as follows: Project Name: Akron Family Aquatic Center, Akron Tota...Continue Reading

August 31, 2022 (Des Moines) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced $19 million in awards to help restore 13 historic buildings into new spaces while maintaining their character. The awards were made through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. “These projects breathe new life into historic treasures an...Continue Reading

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University students are pulling data from across the state to inform policymakers and decision-makers on some of the biggest challenges in Iowa. Now in its third year, the Data Science for the Public Good Young Scholars Program engages undergraduate and graduate students to work on project...Continue Reading

Individuals are invited to attend a two-day immersive experience in Western Iowa to see firsthand how agriculture has evolved. The event is called Evolution of The Heartland and takes place next week, starting on Wednesday, August 31. The Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park is excited to host this premiere agritourism event...Continue Reading

Baseball is back in Carroll County! During a summer of rising prices and costs, easy-on-the-wallet family-friendly entertainment smashed it out of the park in Western Iowa! Fans came out in force — 8,498 to be exact — to support the Carroll Merchants, with an average home game attendance of 472. Th...Continue Reading

A program run by Iowa State University professors and John Deere is helping high school graduates enter John Deere’s workforce and improve their communication skills for future employment through a new apprenticeship program. The four-week speaking and writing course works with 50 students going into their senior year from 12 hig...Continue Reading

When you first started your business, you likely created a business plan that outlined your company’s needs, goals, strengths and challenges, as well as how it would progress over the coming years. Often overlooked is the importance of evaluating your plan periodically – quarterly, annually, every couple of years, o...Continue Reading

Genvax Technologies, a startup dedicated to bringing advances in self-amplifying mRNA vaccine production to animal health, has secured $6.5 million in series seed funding. This funding moves the company toward USDA and international regulatory approval of its vaccines in anticipation of any foreign animal disease outbreak in order to increas...Continue Reading

Meeting your community's existing needs while laying the groundwork for its anticipated need is more critical than ever. Meanwhile, the concept of infrastructure is evolving. In addition to being functional, capital improvements now need to be aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. They must also be planned, executed, and publicized to mak...Continue Reading

The Ida Grove City Council announced that they will be holding a public hearing for the Downtown Facade Revitalization project during their regular meeting Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. They will present the proposed plans, specifications, contract and estimated costs before putting the project up for bid. Read full article.Continue Reading

Iowa’s economy improved in July as durable goods manufacturers reported solid growth, according to a monthly survey of supply chain managers. Despite the improved performance, Creighton University’s MidAmerican Business Conditions Index, released Monday, contained forecasts of continued inflation and low economic confidence. The report showed that Iowa’s index score for July increase...Continue Reading

Calhoun County weighed in above the state’s 2.6 percent unemployment rate as Iowa jobs numbers continue strong despite a nationwide slow-down. By two-tenths of a percent, Calhoun County edged out the state average for employment numbers in the most-recent figures released by Iowa Workforce Development. Read full article.Continue Reading

An estimated 47.4 million Americans left their jobs in 2021. While unemployment today is hitting record lows, there are still many industries that are struggling to find employees, including food service, hospitality, manufacturing, education and health services. If your organization has been straining to fill open positions, you may be askin...Continue Reading