Executive Summary of Regional Collaboration
Background: Historically, there has been little evidence of cross-county and cross-discipline collaboration in Central Iowa. The value of self-reliance and a fierce pride in local communities taking action to face challenges has generally served this area well for many years. However, the act of closing the Maytag Corporation facilities in Newton in 2006 and 2007 is what made the need for regional collaboration evident to leaders and gave rise to this regional strategic initiative known as the Iowa Innovation Gateway.
The Department of Labor awarded to the 7-county region in Central Iowa the first in the nation “Regional Innovation Grant” for $250,000 to create a strategic regional innovation plan. The plan was completed in June, 2008 and implementation of the plan is now being facilitated in partnership with ABI and guided by Executive Director, Kim Didier and a 17 member Executive Board representing leaders in business, education, work-force development and economic development.
Geography of Region: Story, Marshall, Tama, Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion, and Mahaska Counties.
Mission of Initiative: To form a dynamic, vibrant network that works collaboratively to create a globally competitive region in Central Iowa.
Regional Innovation Plan Goals:
1. Analyze workforce supply and demand
2. Build data-driven partnerships to match workforce supply and demand
3. Provide infrastructure to foster sustainable communities
4. Create a culture of entrepreneurism
2009/10 Focus:
· Collect industry data through existing business calls within target industry sectors utilizing Synchronist (Workforce Strategy 3.1)
· Actively support efforts to expand passenger rail to Iowa City and then to Des Moines (Infrastructure Strategy 3.4)
· Increase regional participation in Business Horizons (Entrepreneur Strategy 1.2)
· Expansion of MyEntre.Net to entire region (Entrepreneur Strategy 1.2)
· Introduce entrepreneurship curriculum to secondary students (Entrepreneur Strategy 2.1)
· Provide technical assistance to other regions to promote regional economic zones in Iowa
Funding Partners (to date): U.S. Department of Labor, Fisher’s Division of Emerson Controls, Des Moines Area Community College, CIRAS/MEP, Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Poweshiek County, Marion County, Marshall County, Jasper County, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Workforce Development, and ABI.
