FAIRFIELD —
It’s a compliment of sorts, but residents should not want it to be true: Iowa is one of this nation’s best-kept secrets.
“We’re going to change that,” said Debi Durham, Iowa’s Economic Development Authority director. “I see my job as chief salesperson of the state.”
Durham was touring Cambridge Investment Research and other businesses in Fairfield Tuesday with a group of local leaders including Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy and Tracy Vance, director of the chamber and economic development association.
“We’re one of the best-run states in the country,” said state Rep. Curt Hanson, D-Fairfield. “We don’t need [that] to be a secret.”
He said Durham does something more of us need to do — she “educates” people about Iowa’s strengths.
Part of the problem, Durham said, may actually be one of the characteristics some people admire in Iowans: They don’t brag about getting a job done. They just get the job done.
“Iowans are humble by nature,” Durham said.
She told the Courier even if some Iowans won’t talk about their strengths, she has no problem bragging about her state and its people.
“I tell that story. That’s part of my job,” she said.
She regularly “sells” the strengths of Iowa to out-of-state businesses and has accompanied Iowa’s governor overseas to encourage business from around the world to consider Iowa for investment.
And since most job growth comes from existing business, she said, she feels the need to remind Iowa businesses of the benefits of expanding here.
Does she remember rural Iowa in her travels?
“I’ve said many times, if at the end of my tenure, there’s been growth in the urban areas, but not in the rural areas, we will not have been successful.”
But there’s a question she would ask, too.
“Do you have everything ready in your community?”
Because if she gets a company interested in a region because of several local strengths, it may be a tougher sell if that area is without infrastructure modern businesses need.
“A good example is broadband [computer access],” she said. “But we’ll work with you. Let’s look at your strengths so we can [market those] and your challenges so we can [address] those, too.”
Some challenges may be statewide, however.
Vance said one of the benefits of meeting with Director Durham is the chance to talk about what his members say about regulations or laws that can hamper the growth of business, and impede economic development. When she’s talking to the governor about economic development, Vance said, he hopes some of what she heard in Fairfield will be part of the conversation.
“She may be hearing some of the same things as she visits other communities across the state,” he said before joining Durham on a visit at the Revstone foundry.
Durham said when she sees what’s going on in each community, she’s better able to do a type of networking, where she tells a company in one part of the state about a product they need actually being manufactured by a company elsewhere in Iowa.
“I try to connect the dots,” she said after another tour.
In addition to telling Durham about the business of Fairfield, quality of life and what steps the state could take to support growth, her visit was a chance for local people to listen.
“She’s bringing some fresh ideas to us,” said Hanson. “Ideas on what we can do to [strengthen] our efforts toward economic development, what’s working in other places in Iowa and how we can do that in southeast Iowa.”
Local News
Selling Iowa
Iowa’s “Chief Salesperson” speaks in Fairfield
- Local News
-
-
Bridge work will close trails section
The closure of the trails between Black Lake and Mary Street is expected to remain in effect through November.
-
PHOTOS: Fire and Ice — Raising funds for smoke detectors
Cooper Chickering, 3, of Ottumwa, enjoys the “ice” part of the “Fire and Ice” event, while Ottumwa Master Firefighter Bill Keith shows a crowd the “fire” part of the fundraiser, which raises money to buy smoke detectors for Ottumwans who need them.
-
Ottumwa schools toughen Internet policy
This week, the Ottumwa school board adopted a new policy for Internet use in the district. The new policy fits with The Children’s Internet Protection Act, a federal regulation tied to government funding.
-
‘A peek behind the curtains:’ Weekend events gear community to check out trails, downtown
This weekend's events to benefit the trails and educate the community of what’s new and changing downtown include the annual Tips for Trails at the Tom Tom Tap and the mediathon to raise money for the Wapello County Trails Council.
-
Eisenhower bridge repair in the works
Insurance companies are still hammering out final reimbursements after a truck hauling a wide-load wind turbine struck the Eisenhower Pedestrian Bridge in April 2011. The city also finalized severing ties with Centerplace and blasts the company's management of Bridge View Center.
-
Cremer takes command of Veterans Affairs office
The Wapello County Board of Supervisors has approved hiring Marty Cremer of Agency as the county’s new Veterans Affairs director. Dan Hoy, the outgoing director, told the board his last day will be Friday.
-
PHOTO: Rewarding field day at Wildwood
Students at Wildwood Elementary School reap the rewards of collecting Box Tops worth more than $2,000. The school had 12 activity stations Monday at its Field Day, where Wildwood alumni came back to help the kids have fun.
-
Ottumwa school district, teachers agree on contract
The Ottumwa school district approved the 2012-13 Master Contract for teachers on a unanimous vote.
-
IHCC eyes 2012-13 budget estimates
A potential state funding increase could add $800,000 in new money to the Indian Hills Community College's bank account next year. On the other hand, an estimated decrease in student population may reduce funds by about $800,000.
-
Gothic House Center has new outdoor exhibit area
Four outdoor panels will be available to visitors who stop by when the American Gothic House Center is closed. One panel features the history of the American Gothic House, and the others are about Grant Wood’s painting, his life and the impact of this painting.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Bridge work will close trails section
