GROWING GREATER FORT DODGE

The Greater Fort Dodge area continued to grow and flourish with constant economic growth and

progress in 2013 from an influx of new restaurants, hotels and retail. Planning has also continued

in the community development areas concerning a new recreation center, crosstown connector

and other image related programs.

Iowa�s Crossroads of Global Innovation is close to becoming one of only four certified sites in

Iowa. Community collaboration continues to improve, as the unemployment rate dropped from

6.7% to 5.4% in just a years time. With continued growth in our primary sector, the future of

Webster County and the Greater Fort Dodge Area is looking very bright.

However, economic stability and growth of any area depends on the success of its existing

employers. This report comprises the second year of this report. The report is a product of our

retention program in which the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, City of Fort Dodge and

MidAmerican Energy have partnered to develop.

The report helps to assess the needs of and barriers to existing business. Those needs and barriers

can then be addressed to ensure business viability and growth. It allows for the monitoring of any

changes in market place dynamics so that policy makers and community leaders can make

decisions that can decrease threats or enhance opportunities and increase economic growth.

Finally, I want to thank the companies who took their time to meet with us to participate in

Growing Greater Fort Dodge. I also want to thank our partners: The City of Fort Dodge and

MidAmerican Energy and hope to have continued success in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Dennis A. Plautz

CEO

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

You had me @ hello�.

The 2013 Growing Greater Fort Dodge annual report marks our second annual report. The Greater

Fort Dodge Growth Alliance again partnered with the City of Fort Dodge and MidAmerican Energy

Company to get a first hand feel of the pulse of the community. The program includes

face-to-face interviews with top leaders of the existing business of Greater Fort Dodge to gather

feedback on doing business in the Region. The interview includes 38 detailed questions designed

to draw-out business as well as community issues that can impact growth and/or business stability.

Sections in the interview include: Product/Service, Market, Industry, Management, Workforce,

Technology, Utility Service, Quality of Life/Community Services and vary from open ended to ranking.

This feedback helps the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, the City of Fort Dodge, Webster County

and educational institutions to connect business with the resources they need to stay here and grow

here.

ULTIMATE GOALS · Removing local and statewide obstacles that prevent existing firms from remaining or

increasing their operations

· Reduce the cost of doing business

· Improve business competitiveness

· Increase access to markets for business

· Enhance business infrastructure

NOT JUST IN OUR BACKYARD�

The same 38 questions were asked throughout the nation by economic development organizations

1000

Executive Interviews

49 Counties

38

Detailed Questions

142

Economic Development

Organizations

JUST

THE F

ACTS

INDUSTRIES INTERVIEWED

DATA COLLECTION The data was collected by interviewing

22 members of Greater Fort Dodge�s

industry leaders.

WEB

STER C

OUNTY STA

TISTIC

AL BACKGROUND

59.1%

13.6%

9.1%

4.6%

37,273 Median House Hold income

$42,444

Labor Force 18,110

High school Diploma 88%

Bachelors Degree or higher

18.7%

Unemployment Rate

2012 6.7%

2013 5.4%

Population

* Sources: STATS Indiana, IowaWorkforce.org, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Government

Transportation

Agriculture, Forestry, Minerals

Advanced Manufacturing

Communications Industrial Goods

Retail Related Operations

GROWTH A c o m p a n y � s

survival in today�s

economy depends on keeping pace

with the market through innovation and

introduction of new products.

OF THE COMPANIES INTERVIEWED...

71%

have increased sales

67% of the respondents state that there is no reason

NOT to expand within Greater Fort Dodge

78% 84%

INTRODUCTION OF PRODUCTS WITHIN THE PAST 5 YEARS

86%

84%

NEW PRODUCT/SERVICE ANTICIPATION IN THE NEXT 2 YEARS

76% 76%

76%

74%

PLANS TO EXPAND IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS

*MIDWEST: Data collected from the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.

Greater Fort Dodge

Iowa Midwest * Nation

71% 57% 57% 53%

RECRUIT AND RETAIN, RETAIN AND RECRUIT

WORKFORCE Having an available and productive workforce is key to supporting a successful, growing

business climate. Notwithstanding, there are 409 more people working in the Greater Fort

Dodge Area in December 2013 that were not the previous year, 73% of business leaders still

rank the workforce availability either good or excellent, with 86% ranking workforce quality as

good or excellent.

WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY GOOD 55% EXCELLENT 18%

FAIR 14% GOOD 63% EXCELLENT 23%

FAIR 27 %

WORKFORCE QUALITY

Clearly the Region needs to retain and recruit a qualified workforce to keep up with the demand of our existing and future industries. While putting over 400 people within the Region to work who previously didn�t have jobs, we still need skilled workers to continue to fill jobs that

have already been created. Here are a few initiatives that the Growth Alliance is working on to retain and recruit skilled workers:

· Attended FOUR career fairs at State Universities as well as Iowa Central Community College. By participating we were able to collect hundreds of resumes from soon to graduate and intern candidates.

· Created the Internship+ program that will add value to industries that are offering internships within their organizations.

· Organized a Workforce Summit which business leaders, educators, economic developers, and etc. attended from around the Region. Several initiatives, challenges and solutions were delivered at the Summit.

FUNDAMENTALS Rarely does one get up in the morning thinking about the fundamental

services provided by the government or a community. These services

are still critical to the day-to-day operations of a business.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES

THANKS!

FAIR, GOOD & EXCELLENT

UTILITIES

Water Sewer Natural

Gas Electric Telecom

Internet Access

QUALITY OF LIFE

Community College

K-12 Education

Healthcare Services

Police

Streets and

Roads

Fire/ Emergency

Services

Airline Passenger

Service

Zoning/ Building

Permits

Property Tax

Assessment County Services

Economic Development

PUBLISHED MARCH 2014

24 N. 9th Street, Suite A | Fort Dodge, IA 50501 | T: 515.955.5500

www.greaterfortdodge.com