Why Rural Economic Developers Need a Marketing Strategy—And What Happens Without One
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The Risk of Marketing Without a Plan
Many 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 Economic developers in rural America rely on one-off marketing efforts, outdated websites, and word-of-mouth to promote their communities. But site selectors, businesses, and job seekers are making decisions based on what they find online.
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Selfless. 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...
The 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...
