HISTORIC LANDMARKS IN TAMA COUNTY: New Commission at work to develop new resources

Heartland Experts present: SKETCHES OF THE FUTURE

Tama County Economic Development CommissionTama County Economic Development Commission

www.tamacountyiowa.org

Summer 2008Summer 2008

Photo by Mike Adams, Toledo

Financing: Milken Institute ranks Iowa 3rd in the nation for favorable business climate.

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

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.

Attraction: bi-lingual calling centers specifically in rural communities are expected to become increasingly sought after.

Real Estate: downtown use is ex-pected 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 work-force are expected to be Entrepre-neurs by 2020.

Expansion: the trend of manufactur-ing plants, once making an interna-tional exodus, is expected to turn around.

Workforce: our employment markets are getting saturated with 4-year lib-eral arts degrees. Need is increasing for workforce with 2-year technical trade degrees or specialized science & technology.

Community: a unique sense of place will grow increasingly important as technology, telecommuting and trans-portation allows people to have more flexibility in picking the right community to raise their children.

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 leg-acy 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 Water-loo’s Historic Preservation Commission have also ex-tended 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 His-toric Preservation Commission.

Page 2 Tama County Economic Development, Summer 2008

SUNNY DAYS! H i g h l i g h t s o f Q 1 i n 2 0 0 8

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 sup-port 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 EDUCA-TION: 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 a t G l a d b r o o k - R e i n b e c k .

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 dis-cussed.

TAMA CO IN THE PRESS: three local enterprises drew national media atten-tion 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) Dy-sart’s The Gathering Place was fea-tured 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 Attrac-tion & Tourism (CAT) grant was an-nounced. A new generation, River Community Attraction & Tourism (RiCAT) grants will also soon be avail-able specifically for projects that de-velop 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 DIN-NERS: 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).

SUMMER CALENDAR Toledo Farmers Market Starts Courthouse Square Fridays 5-7 p.m. Traer Farmers Market Starts Farmers Savings Bank parking lot Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival Tama Carnival, parade, 5k run/walk, chamber beef BBQ, dance Memorial Day Services Vining Ceremony at National Cemetery, dinner & dance at CSA Hall Dysart Farmers Market City Park Tuesdays 4-6 p.m. Garwin Farmers Market & Concerts in the Park 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. Quasquicentennial Celebration Lincoln Family activities, car, motorcycle, & tractor event, live entertainment Tama County Community Foun-dation Grant Awards Ceremony Reinig Toledo Center, 7pm Rube’s Fest Rube’s Steakhouse, Montour Live music, food & drink tent Elberon Chautauqua Rounders, scrapbooking, special guests, dinner & breakfast Gladbrook Corn Carnival Midway rides, parade, 5k run/walk, cruise, dances, fireworks Independence Day Activities Toledo 5k, Fireworks Dysart 5k, parade, food, fireworks Garwin games food fireworks Sat. Cornman Triathlon 9:00 a.m. Union Grove State Park Tama County Fair Gladbrook Fairgrounds RAGBRAI 2008 Montour, Tama-Toledo, Vining, Chelsea Dysart Old Iron Days Vintage equipment, cruises Flea market, craft vendors, food

MAY

Fri. 2

Wed. 7

Fri.-Sat.

16-17

Mon. 26

Tues. 27

JUNE

Wed. 4

Sat-Sun.

14-15

Wed. 18

Sat. 21

Sat.-Sun.

21-22

Thur-Sat.

26-29

JULY

4

3-5

4-5

Sun. 6

Wed-Sun.

16-20

Wed-Thu.

23-24

Fri-Sat.

25-26

www.tamacountyiowa.org

The Tama County Economic Development Commission depends on a wide array of con-stituencies 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 organiza-tions leveraging local assets to maximize Tama County’s growth and development, please visit: www.tamacountyiowa.org/partners2008

The Economic Development Pie: 2008 — 2009

Roland Fink &

Jerry Buskohl

Expertise: Financing & Com

-

munity Development

2020 Vision: housing de-

velopm

ent expansion

K♣

www.tamacountyiowa.org

Page 3 Tama County Economic Development, Summer 2008

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Vision Tama CountyVision Tama CountyVision Tama CountyVision 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 pre-serve and expand Tama County’s strengths.

K♦

Geri Eilers & Mandy Gehring Expertise: Financing & Com-munity Development 2020 Vision: Unique com-munity, population growth.

Chris Bearden & Josh Youngbear

Expertise: Small business & Industrial Development 2020 Vision: Vibrant industrial and downtown development

A♦ City of Tama

Ellen Young & Nick Podhajsky

Expertise: Community De-

velopment & Financing

2020 Vision: New Industry,

vibrant main street, population

growth

A♥

Midge Horton &

Phyllis Hosek

Expertise: Community Devel-

opment

2020 Vision: highspeed

voice

and data communication ser

-

vices, sewer system.

Q♣

Carl Zoffka & Merle

Parks

Expertise: Real Esta

te &

Workforce

2020 Vision: Basic n

ecessities

in every town: fuel, fo

od, hair-

cuts, mechanic, plumber elec-

trician, school, church

es

Q♠ City of Garwin

Mark Fisher & Scott McMains Expertise: Small Biz & Com-

munity Development 2020 Vision: Increase popula-tion, increase number of small businesses & pool

Q♦ City of Elberon

Dwayne Luze & Don Lyons

Expertise: Business Retention & Expansion 2020 Vision: new industrial park, high quality senior living

K♠ City of Dysart

Gerry Kopr

iva &

Arlene Von

dracek

Expertise: C

ommunity Develop

-

ment

2020 Vision

: vibrant dow

ntown

development an

d sidewalks

A♣ City o

f Clutier

Roger Ochs & Pat Veit

Expertise: Real Estate &

Community Development

2020 Vision: new housing &

downtown buildings, landscap-

ing and beautification

Q♥ City of Chelsea

Pam

Wood & Pete Zm

olek

Expertise: Community Devel-

opment

2020 Vision: green towns,

Clean Towns and best possible

education.

City of Toledo

A♠

Susan Holubar & Dale Gericke

Expertise: Small Business & Community Development 2020 Vision: not available

K♥ City of Montour

City of Vining

City of Gladbrook

Leadership Focus Feature:

City of Traer

City of Lincoln

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

Tama County Economic Development Commission

Economic Development Partners

Platinum

Gold

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.

* list as of press date 05/01/08

Please consider partnering with Tama County Economic Development Partnership form is available at: www.tamacountyiowa.org/partners2008

Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid

Toledo, IA Permit No. 22

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.

Staff Lindi Roelofse, Exec. Director Joanne Husak, Secretary

Tama County

Abstract Company TIP RURAL ELECTRIC Tama Paperboard

Silver 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

Tama County Economic Development PO Box 22 Toledo, IA 52342 www.tamacountyiowa.org