The Iowa Innovation Corporation, created by lawmakers to spark development of innovative companies and products in Iowa,  is in the process of establishing a seed fund to assist entrepreneurial activity in Iowa. According to the Des Moines Register, sparking such start-up activity is seen as key to Gov. Terry Branstad’s pledge to add 200,000 jobs in Iowa and boost family incomes 25 percent over five years.

Read the full article from the Des Moines Register, here. 

Opportunity^2 is an economic development project for Southeast Iowa, of which Jefferson County is a part. The project is the brainchild of the Area 15 Regional Planning Commission which has been in operation since 1974 and serves the local jurisdictions of service delivery area 15. This ten county region is comprised of the following counties:

The purpose of the Area 15 Regional Planning Commission and Opportunity^2 is to promote the general welfare, convenience, safety and prosperity of its regional neighborhood in four broad categories - economic development, community development, transportation planning and housing assistance.

Here is a video they produced about coming home to Southeast Iowa:

FEDA is ushering in the New Year with a few changes. The Board of Directors welcomes Lori Schaefer-Weaton as the new President and Greg Lowenberg, and Art Sathoff as new Directors. The two new directors assume 3 year directorships and replace retiring Pat Doyle and Dave Reiff. Mrs. Schaefer-Weaton is replacing Mr. Doyle as President.

The Iowan Magazine featured Fairfield in the "Sizing Up Small Towns: Rethinking Success in Rural Iowa" section of its Nov/Dec issue.

The following is excerpted from the article by Carol Bodensteiner:

Debi Durham, the Director of Iowa's Economic Development Authority, visited Fairfield this month as part of her statewide tour. Her itinerary in Fairfield included:

• Breakfast with FEDA members
• A FEDA sponsored meet-and-greet banquet
• Tours of local businesses: Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Revstone Foundry, and Agri-Industrial Plastics
• A tour of the Fairfield community

The following is excerpted from an article written by Mark Newman, Ottumwa Courier, Staff Writer. 

FEDA member Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (Cambridge) has been recognized as one of the top 10 mid-size employers in Iowa. Sponsored by The Des Moines Register, the Top Workplaces 2011 survey was led by Workplace Dynamics and over 900 employers were invited to participate, nearly 26,000 employees responded.

"We are proud to be named a Top Workplace in Iowa for 2011 because we believe our associates are our most valuable resource and it is important to us how they value Cambridge as a workplace," said Amy Webber, president and chief operating officer. "As a firm, we strive to provide an environment that empowers our highly talented and intelligent associates by encouraging collaboration; supporting work/life balance; and remaining committed to our core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness."

If you're a local business owner, Google Places can help you take control of the information Google lists (or doesn't list) about your business on GoogleSearch and Google Maps. Google Places provides business-owners with powerful yet easy-to-use tools to help you reach existing and potential customers more effectively.  Google Places enable business owners to verify and supplement their business information to include: 

This month, Tracy Vance joined the Fairfield community as the Executive Director of the Fairfield Economic Development Association and the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Tracy served as the Executive Director of the Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce in Fort Madison, Iowa, owned his own small business, and served ten years on the Lee County Board of Supervisors.

Serving as the Chief Administrative Officer for both organizations, Tracy is charged with administrative oversight; policy and program development; new and existing business growth and retention; membership relations; and local, regional, state, and federal governmental relations and policy advocacy.

Excerpted from February 14, 2011 Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Fairfield Economic Development Association media release:

Willett tenders resignation

The Conscious Times Online, the student newspaper of MUM, has featured an article on FEDA’s new program, Project Grow Our Own. The idea behind the article was to simply spread more awareness among the MUM student community about FEDA and the program. Wade Koch, Editor-in-Chief of the Conscious Times Online was very receptive to the idea and generous with his time and effort in publishing the article. The entire article can be read by clicking here.