Start, Grow, Transform

February 1st, 2010 admin No comments

Start, Grow, Transform

“Documenting, inspiring, and accelerating community resilience.”

Peer-to-peer Business Network Survey

January 27th, 2010 admin No comments

Peer-to-peer

Iowa Workforce Development’s Peer-to-Peer Business Network Survey.
We know your time is valuable, but the few minutes you take to complete the questionnaire will provide essential feedback for us.

Click here to take the survey!

About 175 Brave Sub Zero Weather to Attend Jobs Forum in St. Louis

January 12th, 2010 admin No comments

Many dug out of snow drifts and bundled up due to temperatures well below zero on Saturday to attend the Tri-State Jobs & Economic Development Forum in St. Louis hosted by USDA Rural Development  (RD) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.  The forum was held in conjunction with the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture.

Click here to read the full story.

The Entrepreneur Next Door and Tests

January 12th, 2010 admin No comments

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Jobs Forum Open to the Public

January 6th, 2010 admin No comments

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FARM SERVICE AGENCY FOR ILLINOIS, IOWA AND MISSOURI HOST ROUNDTABLE ON JOBS, ECONOMIC GROWTH

Click here to read event details…

Pitch Your Business Idea Video – $1,000 CASH PRIZE!!

January 5th, 2010 admin No comments

Creative Capital Pitch Session coming to Des Moines on 1/28 – best pitch wins $1000
Anyone with a big idea can give it a $1,000 boost by competing in the Creative Capital Pitch Session. The contest highlights innovation and creativity and promotes the entrepreneurial spirit.

Entries are being sought now – click here for details!

Healthy Henry County Communities, Henry Co., Iowa

January 4th, 2010 admin No comments
A great place to live, work and play — Henry County, Iowa!
Healthy Henry County Communities works to make Henry County a better place to live by providing multiple opportunities for families and people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to better themselves through education and recreation.

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An Entreprenurial Story

January 1st, 2010 admin No comments

Whatever words are used to define an entrepreneur, each individual’s story is special and enrich our lives, whether we be family, friend, businessperson, employee or were a resource for this person.

I am blessed to have such a person in my life and call him Dad…

Happy New Year!

Click here to read the story.

Sal Alaniz, Jr

Entrepreneurship Task Force Meeting Notes – December 2009

December 23rd, 2009 admin No comments

“We will hold one in each state by June 1st, 2010.  Sub-committees for each state will be established.  Gordon, Charles Holland, Bob and Robert will work on the Missouri event.   The topic will be:  New Markets; Government Contracts, Export and Emerging Industries.”

Read more…

Counties in Iowa – Population Projections with Business Growth and Economic Data overlays

December 3rd, 2009 admin No comments

Staff and interns will assist with review of Strategic Planning for various regions in the Midwest and also updating and compiling economic data and establishing data linkages which have not been previously made available.

(Counties of Iowa Population Projections with business growth and economic overlays.pdf
County Unemployment and State Population Projections by current population.pdf
For other formats, please make a comment with request.)

Click Here to Read Full Page …

Increases in Businesses by Counties in Iowa

November 25th, 2009 admin No comments

Company Growth

Data shows growth in businesses by county. What types of businesses drive growth in fastest growing counties? regions?

Number of Establishments with Employees for Iowa’s Counties: 2000-2005.pdf

Minority Business Projections

November 25th, 2009 admin No comments

Minority Business OwnersMinorities in Business:
A Demographic Review of
Minority Business Ownership

Minority Business Projections.pdf
-|-
Minority Owned Firms Total Report.pdf

New Videos posted – Engage 2009 “Leader In Me!”

November 23rd, 2009 admin No comments

We’ve posted some new videos for you! Inspirational talks and interviews from inspirational people. With Richard Branson, Dr. Stephen Covey, Tony Robbins,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mattie Stepanek.

Thinking About the Midwest

November 23rd, 2009 admin No comments

Posted by Richard C. Longworth on Thursday, November 19, 2009


Try Googling “Southern studies” and see what pops up. From the University of Virginia to Ole Miss, it seems that every school in Dixie has a curriculum devoted to the South — its history, economy, culture, triumphs and grievances.

Now try Googling “Midwestern studies.” Don’t worry, it won’t take long. A couple of societies exist to promote Midwestern literature. A college or two teach Native American history in the region. And that’s all.

Read more …

Creative Economic Development Initiatives

November 17th, 2009 admin No comments

TOURISM INITIATIVE

  • Chinese and International Tourism to Southeastern Iowa
  • Largest Growing Tourism Dollars – Target China and International Tourists
  • Agricultural Experiences and Tours
  • Recreational, Rural, Cultural and Ag Experiences.

See all the Initiatives here…

Visioning and Planning Economic Development.

November 17th, 2009 admin No comments

Discussion Points – Visioning and Planning Economic Development.

The Big Picture: What do we envision and aspire to?  Is it 25,000, 50,000 people,  200,000 population?

Culture: Create an environment which embraces failure. What is learned?  Gained?  Changed?
Celebrates ALL successes, small and large. Encourage people. Believe in people. All People.

Read more…

“Power Comes From Within”

November 17th, 2009 admin No comments

Change your vision, change your life. Liz Nead Inspiration

“Birds of a Feather, fly together. I’m sure you have heard this one. You are who you are with. Yes, those people you spend the most time with influence. It might be true that your income is the average of the seven people with you spend the most time. But your power comes from within.”
Check out her video and Read more about Liz Nead.

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit November 2009

November 16th, 2009 admin No comments

The 2009 Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit’s mission is to bring businesses of diverse backgrounds together to share, learn, and celebrate the immigrant entrepreneurship experience and contribution to the overall community.

The Summit will exhibit the success stories of immigrant entrepreneurs. Create true understanding among different ethnic groups and business growth tips are shared among immigrant business owners and the keys to succeed by working with immigrant populations are shared in a non-competitive and supportive environment.

Read more!
Click to download PDF or Click to view HTML

E-Invitation for Upcoming Henry County Economic Development Forum!

November 11th, 2009 admin No comments

Upstairs Meeting Room – Heatilator Center
307 E Monroe St
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Tuesday November 17, 2009
6:00 p.m.

JOIN US!

Join us Tuesday, November 17th @ 6:00 pm at the Heatilator Center Upstairs Meeting Room for this important Economic Development Forum!

Community Meeting: Get Involved!
This Community Meeting is an opportunity for Henry County residents to share their vision of what our future will be. Local citizens will present their goals and ideas for Community and Economic Development. Community members are encouraged to offer new ideas and identify ways that we can work together to improve Henry County for generations to come.

Click here to read more!

Leading Bold Change! Nov 10th at SCC

November 3rd, 2009 admin No comments

E-Invitation for UNI Entrepreneurship Eco. Dev. Seminar

October 26th, 2009 admin No comments
E-Invitation for Upcoming UNI Entrepreneurship Economic Development Seminar
Iowa Wesleyan College – Howe Center Mount Pleasant, Iowa November 4, 2009 10:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Greetings!
Join us Wednesday, November 4th from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm at the Iowa Wesleyan College Campus for this important seminar entitled “Entrepreneurship Economic Development: Turning Policy Into Practice.”

This Seminar is for Community Leaders, Elected Officials, Service Providers and others interested in fostering entrepreneurship in their local communities. Join us at the Iowa Wesleyan Campus, Howe Student Activties Center, Mt. Pleasant, Ia. Entrepreneurship is an increasingly important part of Iowa’s economy. By the year 2015, more than 20% of America’s rural population is predicted to be self employed. Entrepreneurs create jobs, generate local wealth and improve the quality of life in Iowa communities. Learn how to create an entrepreneurship support system to identify, attract and serve locally owned business in your town! We’ll show you how to do it during this interactive, information packed one day seminar.

  • Part One: Learn about entrepreneurship trends, the four species of entrepreneurs, critical services and resources that all entrepreneurs need, and receive a tour and training on using Iowa’s free Online Community for Entrepreneurs to engage and serve small business in your town.
  • Part Two: Learn how to develop a support system in your community! The afternoon session will cover the role of communities and service providers, how to put it all together through collaboration and some best practices from other parts of the country!

Participants will take home a wide array of tools and resources to facilitate the development of an entrepreneurship
support system. All participants will receive:

  • A database of existing entrepreneurs in their respective county.
  • 2 GB jump drive with templates for business start up resources.
  • Administrative access to the online resources at www.MyEntre.Net

Instructor Maureen Collins-Williams is the Director of the Regional Business Center and Business Development and Incubation at the University of Northern Iowa. The Regional Business Center serves as an umbrella for several key outreach entrepreneurship programs of the university, including a service/technology business incubator in Waterloo, an Innovation Incubator on the UNI campus, the offices of the SBDC and an award winning entrepreneurship development system called MyEntre.Net. Collins-Williams is a frequent national speaker on topics associated with entrepreneurship and is on faculty at Heartland Economic Development Course and the International Economic Development Council’s Economic Development Institute.

There is no charge to attend this seminar, but pre-registration is required.
Contact Kiley Miller at 319-
385-3101 Kmiller@MountPleasantIowa.org,
Sal Alaniz at 319-385-4939 Sal@printgroupusa.com
or Amy Kuhlers at 319-273-4328 Amy.Kuhlers@uni.edu

Lunch is on us!
Sponsored by Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, the University of Northern Iowa,
Iowa Wesleyan College and local entrepreneurship champions
Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

Iowa Wesleyan College

New Audio of Midwest Studies Initiative Conference

October 19th, 2009 admin No comments

Here are the actual recordings of the Symposium that is changing history and the way we think of the Midwest!

The two main speakers are Jack Schultz and Richard Longworth.
You can find them on 1330 WRAM Radio’s website.
Click here for 1330 WRAM Radio.
Click here for GrowHenryCounty’s MultiMedia page.

New Video of Midwest Studies Conference

October 19th, 2009 admin No comments

MCvideoHere is a new video of the
Midwest Studies News Conference.
Check it out here!

Upcoming UNI Entrepreneurship Economic Development Seminar

October 14th, 2009 admin No comments

Greetings!

Join us Wednesday, November 4th from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm at the Iowa Wesleyan College Campus for this important seminar entitled “Entrepreneurship Economic Development: Turning Policy Into Practice.”

This Seminar is for Community Leaders, Elected Officials, Service Providers and others interested in fostering entrepreneurship in their local communities.  Join us at the  Iowa Wesleyan Campus,  Howe Student Activties Center, Mt. Pleasant, Ia.

Entrepreneurship is an increasingly important part of Iowa’s economy.  By the year 2015, more than 20% of America’s rural population is predicted to be self employed.  Entrepreneurs create jobs, generate local wealth and improve the quality of life in Iowa communities.  Learn how to create an entrepreneurship support system to identify, attract and serve locally owned business in your town!  We’ll show you how to do it during this interactive, information packed one day seminar. Read More!

Monmouth College takes initiative with local focus.

October 12th, 2009 admin No comments
schultz_monmouth02.jpg

Economic Development Potential of the Midwest Examined

A symposium inaugurating the Midwest Studies program at Monmouth College examined how the Midwest could participate in a growing global economy and how the region can overcome the obstacles that has created diminishing entrepreneurial efforts. One of the featured speakers was Richard Longworth, who delivered the keynote address based on his book, “Caught In the Middle: America’s Heartland In The Age Of Globalism.” Longworth’s contention is that in order for the Midwest to participate in what has become a global economy, we have to “get rid of the old way of doing things.” Jack Schultz, founder of the industrial firm Agracel, Inc., and author of the book, “Boomtown USA: The Seven And A Half Keys Top Big Success In Small Towns,” says that an area like ours which has experienced high unemployment and the out-migration of college graduates has to create an environment that fosters growth among young entrepreneurs. Other participants included:

  • Colleen Callahan, Illinois State Director of Rural Development, USDA;
  • Lawrence Morrissey, mayor of Rockford;
  • Bill Ratzburg, of Deere and Company;
  • Jim McConnehay, president and CEO of the Heartland Partnership Economic Development Group.
“Difference between struggling
small towns & prospering ones”


OklahomaHorizonTV

March 20, 2008 We visit with author Jack Schultz to examine what makes the difference between struggling small towns and those that are prospering.
Jack Schultz gestures to audience members during a presentation Friday afternoon in Dahl Chapel and Auditorium at Monmouth College. Schultz said it takes only one or a handful of individuals to be the inspirational leader to build success in a community. “Are you that person?” Schultz asks. “Maybe it’s you … or you.”

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