The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation laid out a vision for regional growth during Tuesday morning’s Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors meeting, spotlighting housing, workforce, and business expansion across northwest Iowa.
Senior Vice President Trevor Smith says the Corridor’s Homegrown Talent Initiative is expanding, thanks to strong fundraising.
The initiative offers $6,000 grants to young professionals returning to the area, including recent BVU grad Taylor Kragor, a Peterson native who now resides in Lakeside and works at Farm Credit Services of America in Storm Lake.
Corridor Coordinator of Administration and Communication Alyssa Petersen shared highlights from August’s Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, which drew its largest class since before COVID.
For the first time, she says students toured Storm Lake businesses.
Beth Fraser of Sioux Rapids shared her story of rebuilding and launching Small Batch Baking Company after last year’s flood.
The Corridor, which includes Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties, is working with state officials on downtown redevelopment, including potential Catalyst Grants for retail and housing.
Business Retention data shows 36% of surveyed companies plan to expand in the next three years, with $230 million in projected investment and 300 new jobs, says Smith.
The Corridor also unveiled a new Wage and Benefits Survey and previewed a Regional Laborshed Study to support local hiring.
