In the simplest of terms, interstate commerce activity directly impacts job creation, wages and benefits, capital investment and tax revenues. OUTSIDE DOLLARS COME INTO THE IOWA CITY AREA In any community, the primary force driving economic growth comes from the goods and services produced locally and sold outside of the market. Interstate Commerce: Driving TOURISM AGRICULTURE THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Join us in our commitment to shaping our region’s future and establishing the quality of life we leave for our future generations.ĬHUCK PETERS SOURCEMEDIA GROUP CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR KELLY HAYWORTH Your time, talent and dollar commitments to the ICAD Group program of work is one of the most important investments you will make.
Vision 2030 is a journey with benchmarks set all along the way to measure and ensure progress and performance. ICAD Group consistently adds value by growing existing interstate business and recruiting companies in targeted sectors we desire to add to our economic mix. Well-orchestrated economic development, with a clear vision for the future, is pivotal to our region’s well-being and community quality of life. Long gone will be the days of humble, risk-averse Midwesterners.įORWARD THINKING. The families, workers, students and retirees living in this region will embrace our sense of community and belonging. The results will not only aid and impact business and industry, but will also strengthen our global reputation as a leader in education and workforce development.īy bucking old trends and traditions, we will further develop a culture of innovation that is entrepreneurial in its thoughts and actions. These systems will be developed to meet the needs of our marketplace with the input and collaboration of the community. Our region will be known for its world class workforce and education systems. Existing partnerships with our clients, the community, regional partners and the University of Iowa will help foster this global connection. ICAD Group, and the communities we represent, will be connected to the world and it to us. We are committed to developing a region that is global in thinking and action. This strategy will augment our core work with existing industry, workforce development, business recruitment and entrepreneurial development in order to compete on the global stage: In order to begin the journey toward the 20-year vision, ICAD Group is executing a bold new game-plan one that we believe is necessary to build capacity for future competitive success and that focuses the strengths of our prior work in new directions. HOW WE WILL GET THERE SALLY MASON UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR We will create, collaborate and lead regional economic development initiatives that contribute to a highly skilled, educated and inquisitive workforce and enhance a collection of communities powerfully bonded together and strategically aligned under a regional brand. That vision will guide our programming for the next five years: Our purpose is to create a center of commerce and innovation nestled in an area providing an unmatched quality of life. WHERE WE’RE GOING Starting in the fall of 2009, ICAD Group’s leaders created a 20-year vision of the future for our region consistent with the culture of innovation that is required to compete in a global economy. Many might say - “good enough for me.” But despite the good work accomplished during the past five years, despite the efforts of talented and hardworking people, the abundance of resources, the central location, the presence of strong K–12 schools, Kirkwood Community College, and the University of Iowa, our region remains challenged by complacency, lack of recognition and the absence of a common purpose to compete globally. The organization’s core programming contributed to positive outcomes with 34 individual projects and resulted in over 3,100 new and retained jobs and more than $275 million in new capital investment.ĬHARLES FUNK MIDWESTONE BANK CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR The past five years were quite successful for the Iowa City Area Development Group. We have a well-educated citizenry, a strong mix of local, regional and interstate businesses and we continue to fare well in the lingering national economy. Vision 2030 WHERE WE’VE BEEN Our region has a rich history of a “can-do” attitude and of achieving what we set out to do.
Driving the Economy CASE STATEMENT FOR THE IOWA CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT GROUP’S VISION 2030 CAMPAIGN