Mary Lou Freeman STATE REPRESENTATIVE Fifty-Second District Statehouse:  (515) 281-3221 e-mail – mary.freeman@legis.state.ia.us   HOME ADDRESS 203 Villa Road Alta, IA 51002 Home: 712-732-3781

House of Representatives State of Iowa Eighty-First General Assembly STATEHOUSE Des Moines, Iowa 50319

COMMITTEES Natural Resources, Chair Commerce, Regulation & Labor Human Resources   APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Economic Development

 

FREEMAN FOOTNOTEES

March 3, 2005

 

 

Economic Gardening vs. Economic Hunting

 

Our Economic Development Appropriations Committee had the privilege of hearing from directors of two of the booming areas for economic development in Iowa, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.  Both presentations stressed the importance of working with existing businesses to nourish and “grow” what is already in your community as well as “hunting” for new businesses to locate in the area.

            Rick Dickinson, Director of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, told of the transformation of the Dubuque area since the 1980’s when the bottom fell out of the economy there, unemployment was at an all time high, and people were leaving to find jobs elsewhere.   At that time, it became apparent that people want to live where they work, and they work where they can make a living.   Something had to happen if they expected to have people live in the Dubuque area, and that was to create jobs that paid a living wage.

The Dubuque area economic development strategy is based on the acronym REACT.

                        Retention: Retain existing employers.

                        Expansion:  Expand existing businesses.  

                        Attraction:   Attract and “hunt” new business and industry.

Creation:   Entrepreneurship….encourage and work with those people who have new ideas and who may need some help in putting them into action.       

                        Transformation:  Do what it takes to be successful in today’s economy.  Seek

accomplishments that enhance your community, whether it be in improvements         to infrastructure such as highways, railroads, airports, telecommunications, or in quality of life enhancements such as bike/hike trails or recreational facilities.

 

            Both communities agree that access to four-lane highways has played a vital role in their success.   We will relish the day when Northwest Iowa has that particular advantage for attracting new business.   In the meantime, we will continue to garden, as well as maintain and improve on the quality of life enhancements for the enjoyment of people who live and visit our area.

            I can be reached via email at mfreema@legis.state.ia.us or mfreema@iw.net ; phone 515-281-7481 (weekdays) or 712-732-3781 (weekends).

 

    

     

 

     

     

    

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