Western Iowa Advantage Receives Marketing Funds |
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CARROLL, IA --- Michael Blouin, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED), recently announced a $175,000 dollar grant to the Western Iowa Advantage, a seven-county group, to assist in their economic development marketing efforts. The announcement was made to representatives from Western Iowa Advantage at the Region XII offices in Carroll.
 Western Iowa Advantage, made up of Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, and Sac Counties, is a collaboration of county economic development groups who have joined forces to market their communities as a part of a larger region. The counties will maintain their separate economic development organizations, but will work together in marketing efforts utilizing the grant from IDED.
“A collaborative approach to economic development marketing will benefit everyone. Companies looking for locations to grow their businesses want to know that an area has the critical mass to attract and sustain their employees. By representing communities in the state as groupings, we show that the amenities are available,” said Blouin.
The IDED grant, which is awarded over three years, will match contributions from local governments and private sector groups involved in the continuing effort to create a stronger Iowa economy. The Western Iowa Advantage plan calls for a five-year effort collectively infusing nearly $578,000 into the area. The plan calls for significant resources to be spent on direct marketing including website development, a critical tool in the site selection world.
Ray Forsythe, Executive Director of Midwest Partnership, which serves Adair, Greene, and Guthrie Counties, was in Carroll for the announcement. “We are very excited about the opportunities that this grant will give us and we look forward to working with our neighboring counties in an effort to increase growth through proactive marketing efforts.” |
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