Renewing Rural Iowa: Strategies for Economic and Community Development

1. Annual Meeting January 21, 2011 What Does it Take to “Renew Rural Iowa”? Rand Fisher, President Iowa Area Development Group 800-888-4743 www.iadg.com

2. The economic development leader for Iowa Rural Electric Cooperatives, associated Municipal Utilities, and Independent Telecommunications Companies IADG MEMBERSHIP 60 consumer owned electric utilities & 150 Telcos

3. IADG Sponsorship

4. IADG Mission Advance business and community development projects and priorities on behalf of our utility sponsors, members, and economic development partners.

5. Economic and Community Development • Demonstrates Commitment to Community and Service Territory • Long Term Strategy • Investing in the Future of the Region • Creating Wealth and Opportunity • Utility Sustainability and Growth

6. Economic and Community Development Learning from History

7. Economic and Community Development Boom or Bust?

8. “Ten Keys for Community Vitality” • Lessons from IADG’s 25 years of business and community development work • An opportunity for organization assessment and analysis

9. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #1 Leadership The most important key!

10. “Community Minded” Leadership • Team oriented • Inclusive and diverse • Shared vision and values • Proactive and future oriented • Embrace change and assume risk

11. Six Principles of Leadership: • Purpose • Passion • Preparation • Perspective • Performance • Perseverance "" P

12. Leadership Expectations: V alues ision ictories

13. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #2 Research & Assessment “Know Thyself”

14. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they aren’t entitled to their own facts.”

15. S.W.O.T. WorkSix Sector Analysis: • Government • Economics • Demographics • Infrastructure • Environment • Leadership " " 6

16. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #3 Planning “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up somewhere else.” Yogi Berra

17. “Plans are dispensable. Planning is indispensable.” General Eisenhower

18. Community Planning is Essential • Begins with Values • Embraces Research & Analysis • Encourages Goal Setting & Prioritization • Allows for Measurement, Reporting & Celebration

19. Establishing Community Values • Harmony & Respect • Diversity • Economic Strength & Vitality • Education • Preservation of Small Town Life • Cultural Richness, Arts & Recreation • Natural Environment • Beautification • Identity & Reputation • Civic Integrity • Opportunity • Children • Seniors • Working Families

20. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #4 Comprehensive Strategy “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

21. Multiple Strategies for Economic DevelopmentCommunity Development & Business Development Go Hand in HandMake your community a great place to: • Live • Work • Shop • Play • Invest • Visit

22. Community Development Strategies: • Leadership Development • Social Infrastructure • Physical Infrastructure • Workforce Development • Entrepreneurial Development

23. Business Development Strategies: • Existing Business Retention/Expansion • Entrepreneurial Business Development • Non-Traditional Business Development • Business & Industry Recruitment

24. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #5 Assist and Support Existing Business & Industry Gardening vs. Hunting

25. Competition is Fierce! • 15,000 Organizations • 1,500 Projects • 150 Real Projects Do the math . . .

26. 70%of new jobs and investment come from existing business and industry!

27. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #6 Embrace "Non-traditional" Business Development Ideas

28. Embrace “Non-traditional” Business Development Ideas • Tourism/Recreation • Retirement Development • Historic Preservation • Downtown Development • Film Industry • Natural Resource • High Technology • Entrepreneurship • Value-Added Agriculture

29. Genuine! Distinct! Authentic! BE “Different places, different paths.”

30. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #7 Attention to Physical Environment “You only get one chance to make a first impression”

31. Stimulate community beautification and pride • Plan and build thoughtfully • Encourage stewardship of the natural environment

32. These goals and values are manifested in: • Sign ordinances • Clean up days • Design standards • Capital improvement planning • Gateway enhancement • Nuisance control • Public Art

33. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #8 Community Investment “Yes, it takes some money, So build public/private partnerships!”

34. Maximize your Resources: • Grow your Tax Base • Develop Your Community Foundation • Explore Private/Public Partnerships • Leverage State and Federal Programs

35. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #9 Marketing & Promotion Let people know you’re special

36. Promote Your Community! • Branding • Community Website • Public Relations • Point of Presence • Citizen Ambassadors/Networking • Advertising & Promotion • Talking Points

37. Ten Keys for Community Vitality #10 Think & Work Regionally

38. C ommunication ooperation ollaboration • Research • Planning • Promotion • Workforce • Public Relations • Marketing • Recruitment • Technical Assistance

39. One Final Thought! Measurement, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

40. Play to win! “Run your civic and community organizations like a business.”

41. Celebrate Success

42. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” • Margaret Meade, • Anthropologist

43. www.iadg.com 800-888-4743