800-888-4743

What Does it Take to

“Renew Rural Iowa”?

Rand Fisher, President

Iowa Area Development Group

www.iadg.com

Annual Meeting

January 21, 2011

IADG MEMBERSHIP

60 consumer owned electric utilities & 150

Telcos

The economic development leader for

Iowa Rural Electric Cooperatives, associated Municipal Utilities, and

Independent Telecommunications

Companies

IADG Sponsorship

IADG Mission

Advance business and community development projects and priorities on behalf of our utility sponsors, members, and economic development partners.

Economic and Community Development

• Demonstrates Commitment to Community and Service Territory

• Long Term Strategy– Investing in the Future of the Region– Creating Wealth and Opportunity– Utility Sustainability and Growth

Economic and Community Development

Learning from History

Economic and Community Development

Boom or Bust?

“Ten Keys for Community Vitality”

• Lessons from IADG’s 25 years of business and community development work

• An opportunity for organization assessment and analysis

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

The most important key!

“Community Minded” Leadership

• Team oriented• Inclusive and diverse• Shared vision and values• Proactive and future oriented•Embrace change and assume risk

Six Principles of Leadership:

1. Purpose

2. Passion

3. Preparation

4. Perspective

5. Performance

6. Perseverance

Leadership Expectations:

alues

ision

ictories

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

“Know Thyself”

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they aren’t entitled to

their own facts.”

S.W.O.T. WorkSix Sector Analysis:

1. Government

2. Economics

3. Demographics

4. Infrastructure

5. Environment

6. Leadership

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up

somewhere else.”

Yogi Berra

“Plans are dispensable.

Planning is indispensable.”

General Eisenhower

Community Planning is Essential

Begins with Values

Embraces Research & Analysis

Encourages Goal Setting & Prioritization

Allows for Measurement, Reporting & Celebration

Establishing Community Values

• Harmony & Respect• Diversity• Economic Strength

& Vitality• Education• Preservation of

Small Town Life• Cultural Richness,

Arts & Recreation

• Natural Environment• Beautification• Identity &

Reputation• Civic Integrity• Opportunity• Children• Seniors• Working Families

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

Multiple Strategies for Economic Development

Community Development & Business Development Go Hand in Hand

Make your community a great place to:

Live Work Shop Play Invest Visit

Community Development Strategies:

Leadership Development Social Infrastructure Physical Infrastructure Workforce DevelopmentEntrepreneurial Development

Business Development Strategies:

Existing Business Retention/Expansion Entrepreneurial Business Development Non-Traditional Business Development Business & Industry Recruitment

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

Gardening vs. Hunting

Competition is Fierce!

15,000 Organizations 1,500 Projects 150 Real Projects

Do the math . . .

70% of new jobs

and investment come from existing business and industry!

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

Embrace “Non-traditional” Business Development Ideas

Tourism/Recreation Retirement Development Historic Preservation Downtown Development Film Industry Natural Resource High Technology Entrepreneurship Value-Added Agriculture

“Different places, different

paths.”

Genuine!Distinct!Authentic!

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

“You only get one chance to make a first impression”

Stimulate community beautification and pride Plan and build thoughtfully Encourage stewardship of the natural environment

These goals and values are manifested in:

Sign ordinances Clean up days Design standards Capital improvement planning Gateway enhancement Nuisance control Public Art

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

“Yes, it takes some money,So build public/private partnerships!”

Maximize your Resources:

Grow your Tax Base Develop Your Community Foundation Explore Private/Public Partnerships Leverage State and Federal Programs

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

Let people know you’re special

Promote Your Community!

Branding Community Website Public Relations Point of Presence Citizen Ambassadors/Networking Advertising & Promotion Talking Points

Ten Keys for Community Vitality

• Research

• Planning

• Promotion

• Workforce

• Public Relations

• Marketing

• Recruitment

• Technical Assistance

ommunication

ooperation

ollaboration

One Final Thought!

Measurement, Evaluation &

Continuous Improvement

“Run your civic and community organizations like a business.”

Play to win!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed individuals can change the world; indeed,

it is the only thing that ever has.”

- Margaret Meade,

Anthropologist

800-888-4743 www.iadg.com