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Jefferson Matters Celebrates National Recognition Of Being Named Great American Main Street
Apr 14 2025Jefferson Matters celebrates the national recognition of winning the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). Jefferson Matters was one of the three main street organizations selected across the United States, for all the work in preservation and revitalization of commercial and downtown communities. Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich says...
Running a business? We get it. It’s a challenge! Managing the paperwork, accounting, all the regulations, solving workforce challenges, figuring out how to obtain essential capital to keep the doors open… It's a daunting process for any entrepreneur.So, where can a new or existing business owner turn to get their...
Growing Together: National Agriculture Month Honors Iowa’s 84,000 Farmers and Industry Leaders
Mar 19 2025Ranking first in the nation for corn and soybean production with over 30.7 million acres of rich farmland, Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) is tipping its hat to the state’s bumper crop of farmers, ranchers and industry participants during March’s National Agriculture Month.“Iowa’s economy is grown in our soil,” said WIAD...
Growing up on a farm, Mariah Tasler said one usually just wears a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. At school, Tasler said she always liked to express herself by wearing a nice outfit.“I’ve always loved fashion, I’ve always loved dressing up. . . but I’m a farm girl at...
The City of Manning has earned statewide recognition with the 2025 Iowa Tourism Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award for communities with marketing budgets under $50,000. The award was presented to Manning at the Iowa Tourism Conference on March 13, honoring the city’s creative and collaborative marketing efforts that have elevated the...
From Agriculture to Auto Technology, Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) will be humming as a hub of Career and Technical Education (CTE) once its new, multi-million dollar Career Academy swings open its doors in the fall of 2025.As the Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE),...
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird made a stop at Puck Enterprises in Manning, touring the facility and meeting with team leadership, along with other city officials and law enforcement. Puck President Jeremy Puck went over the history of the company, how it expanded from 13 employees in 2010 to an...
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced seven designated Main Street Iowa communities have reached new benchmarks in private investment in 2024, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to revitalization, economic growth and historic preservation.Since launching their respective Main Street Iowa programs, these communities have collectively attracted $100 million in private dollars...
The Workforce Crisis in Rural AmericaWorkforce shortages are one of the biggest obstacles rural communities face today. Businesses are struggling to fill open positions, young professionals are leaving for bigger cities, and many rural regions simply aren’t on the radar for job seekers. The issue isn’t always about the availability...
President of Ike Auen Distributing Co. reflects on career amidst company’s 75th anniversary
Feb 28 2025It’s not easy for a company to reach 75 years, according to Jim Auen, president of Ike Auen Distributing Co.Continuing his family’s legacy from his parents, Ike and Dorothy Auen, Jim Auen said a company can’t last this long without “a little bit of luck and a little bit of...
The Risk of Marketing Without a PlanMany rural communities struggle to attract business investment, site selectors, and workforce talent–not because they lack opportunity, but because they don’t have a clear economic development marketing strategy.We’ve seen it happen time and time again. Economic developers in rural America rely on one-off marketing...
Celebrating the Life and Outstanding Accomplishments of Late Founding Partner Shirley Phillips
Jan 21 2025Selfless. Tenacious. Driven. When Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) founding partner Shirley Phillips passed away unexpectedly in November 2024, friends and colleagues immediately began celebrating the unmatched legacy she left behind.“Shirley's selfless dedication to her community left her fingerprints across western Iowa. She knew the power of regional collaboration and understood...
Impact of pork industry on the rise
Jan 18 2025The Iowa pork industry contributed over $15 billion in added value to the states economy and supported over 120,000 jobs in 2023 according to the 2024 Iowa Pork Industry Report sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers.In 2023, the industry reported hog cash receipts reaching $9.328 billion, accounting for 34.3% of...
Economic development organizations take a multi-track approach to sustained community growth. Supporting local small businesses is frequently a top priority for intracommunity growth, and its importance grows in economic downturns or times of crisis. There are several ways to champion these enterprises no matter the size of the program budget...
A new name has been officially revealed for the merger between Main Street Manning and the Manning Chamber of Commerce.In a letter signed by Main Street Manning Executive Director Andrea Rohe and Chamber President Kathy Singsank, the Board of Directors revealed the organization will be known as Manning Area Partners...
Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham says growth in Iowa’s economy not only depends on the state’s tax and regulatory climate, but on community development.“What is community development? That’s housing. That’s quality of life That’s placemaking,” Durham said during a presentation earlier this month at the Iowa Taxpayers Association’s...
As the need for childcare increased, thought leaders in two communities of the Western Iowa Advantage region emerged to create solutions to benefit its working families. The need for a facility in Glidden, Carroll County, became apparent when parents who worked in town had to drive their kids twenty miles...
When the demand for housing in western Iowa spiked as current and new residents began fulfilling an abundance of job opportunities in healthcare, management and manufacturing, Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) realized their communities had a problem: despite the vibrant economy, approximately 700 jobs remained unfilled due to a lack of...
When a chorus of fire alarms pierced a cloudless sky in Lake City on June 15, 2021, the community stood shocked as flames engulfed and destroyed the historic Dobson Pipe Organ Builders facility on N. Illinois Street. But for owner John Panning, the wheels were already turning to figure out...
City Of Denison Next To Participate In Rural Housing Readiness Through Iowa State Extension
Nov 23 2024The City of Denison is partnering with Iowa State Extension and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to address any housing needs within the community. City officials are asking residents to complete a brief ten-minute survey to gather input and ideas to drive strategic planning and create a vision and action...
When executed effectively, digital ad campaigns help drive traffic and generate leads for economic development organizations. But how do you develop resonating ads able to reach your audience? For EDOs, consistent referencing of the tailored marketing strategy, or blueprint, informs strategic ad choices and the creation of ads designed to...
On the heels of an economic boom that resulted in more job opportunities and options for relocating to communities with a small-town atmosphere and high quality of life, Western Iowa Advantage wrapped up its “Navigating the Waves of Housing Success” summit on October 9 to address an increasing demand for...
For a manufacturer to stay in operation for a lengthy period in its original location, it has to make a good product while maintaining the flexibility to change as the market dictates. Bowie International has done that, strengthening its position as the oldest mobile veterinary clinic manufacturer in the country...
The City of Sac City is working on securing funding to complete a multi-phase project to construct a recreational complex featuring walking and biking trails, nature spaces, and more. The proposed first phase of the project is to expand the trail within the city limits, estimated at $1.5 million to...
