Storm Lake leaders heard a detailed snapshot this week of how local businesses are performing—and where the biggest opportunities lie—as the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation presented its annual Business Retention and Expansion findings at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Iowa Lakes Corridor Senior Vice President Trevor Smith opened the presentation by reminding council members that the Corridor’s work is rooted in Storm Lake and Buena Vista County.
Smith highlighted the Corridor’s record‑setting BizRec event earlier this year, where Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake was named Large Business of the Year and Veso Coffee in Storm Lake earned Small Business of the Year. He also previewed the upcoming Build My Future career exploration event on April 23rd—an effort designed to keep northwest Iowa students connected to local career paths.
Smith emphasized the enthusiasm behind the upcoming event.
Corridor Business Retention and Workforce Partnership Coordinator Joanne Follon walked the council through the 2025 GROWTH Report—highlighting 117 business visits across the Corridor’s four‑county region, including 35 in Buena Vista County.
She underscored northwest Iowa’s outsized role in statewide economic data.
Follon reported that 27 percent of companies visited plan to expand, representing more than $110 million in projected capital investment and 218 new jobs over the next three to five years.
She noted that 86 percent of businesses reported stable or increasing sales, but workforce challenges remain—180 jobs went unfilled last year, and half of companies said they’re struggling to recruit.
Housing, childcare, and workforce upskilling continue to be top sustainability priorities across the region. And in every county, “local support” ranked as the No. 1 community strength.
Storm Lake Development Services Specialist Lee Dutfield presented Buena Vista County‑specific data, noting that of the 35 county visits, 31 were in Storm Lake.
He described the value of those conversations.
Dutfield said Storm Lake businesses reported $20.4 million in planned capital investment and 21 percent preparing for expansion, with 85 percent reporting stable or increasing sales. The most common concerns echoed regional trends: housing, talent attraction, childcare, and workforce training.
He also noted strong marks for public services—Storm Lake’s police, fire, and schools all rated among the highest in the region.
The Corridor closed by reminding the council that its Homegrown Talent Initiative—which provides grants to young professionals returning to their home counties—will announce new recipients next month.
The full BRE report is available at lakescorridor.com/2025BRE.
