CEDAR VALLEY OF IOWA INVEST IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Our motto is One Vision One Mission One Voice. The mission of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is to increase economic vitality and wealth by leading collaborative economic and community development. The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber was created as the platform to unify and align economic development services in the Cedar Valley economic area. The strategies to execute our mission are focused in these key areas: Workforce & Talent; Regional Economic Development; and Regional Advocacy & Promotion. Please support our important work to make the Cedar Valley an even better, more productive place to do business.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The core of our work is supporting the growth and sustainability of our existing businesses as well as recruiting new businesses - resulting in a growing economy where more people have good jobs, and are buying and selling more goods and services. KEY ACTIVITIES FOR EXISTING BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION: Frequent existing business meetings to provide direct assistance or refer services and solutions. Conduct existing business surveys to gauge business climate and identify opportunities for growth. Support the Cedar Valley Manufacturer s Network to strengthen the position of manufacturing in the Cedar Valley Region. Support our retail and service sectors with a marketing campaign to promote buy local. Increase awareness of our investor s job opportunities through an online job board and social media promotion. KEY ACTIVITIES TO RECRUIT NEW BUSINESSES: Focus on project opportunities with the potential for at least $5M investment and wages greater than $19 per hour. Coordinate the regional economic development efforts through the Cedar Valley Regional Partnership. Assist city officials to attain shovel ready site certification to increase attention of site selectors. Execute a regional targeted marketing campaign highlighting the Cedar Valley s gigabit broadband capacity. Since July 2012, we have played a role in: FY13 Completed Projects: Blackhawk Engineering Hydrite Chemical Jack Henry & Assoc. (Banno/T8) KWWL-TV Redevlopment SG Interactive (Phantom EFX/Williams Interactive) KEY ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURS & STARTUPS: Sponsor and support start-up and entrepreneurial events such as Cedar Valley 1 Million Cups, Cedar Valley Startup Weekend, TechBrew, Startup Drinks, and BarCamp Cedar Valley. Support opening and coordinating co-working spaces throughout the Cedar Valley. Support the entrepreneurial ecosystem by making key connections between early stage businesses, business buyers, and needed resources. KEY ACTIVITIES ON TECHWORKS CAMPUS: TechWorks Campus is a redevelopment project that promotes innovation in advanced manufacturing, bioproduct development and applied research. The Campus includes the Tech 1 Industrial Technology Center, Tech 2 Mixed Use Project as well as other sites for new development. The TechWorks Campus is expected to create over 560 jobs with $19M in earnings and an estimated $64.1M of economic output over the next 20 years. $2.3 million in renovations were completed in June 2015, creating space for the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub. A business class hotel, restaurant and John Deere training center is scheduled to open in Tech 2 in Spring 2017. Cedar Valley Maker s Group recently started operation in Tech 1 shop space. Marketing of state-of-the-art wet-laboratories and other remaining space in Tech 1, outlots, and a marina site commenced. *TechWorks operations & financing is separate from the Alliance & Chamber. FY14 Completed Projects: John Deere PEC Freedom Camper Hydrite Chemical Williams Interactive Zuidberg, North America Inc. FY15 Completed Projects: ConAgra Foods CPM Roskamp Winnebago Industries VGM Homelink An investment in the Alliance is really an investment in our future. It s a dividend that will return for years to come. -Ken Lockard, Chairman, Lockard Companies Entrance at Tech 1
WORKFORCE & TALENT Businesses and industries need a skilled, available workforce in order to succeed, grow, or consider a location in the Cedar Valley. Therefore, it is vital that the Alliance & Chamber impacts the quantity and quality of the workforce that is available now and in the future in order to attract and retain high quality employers! Our approach to Workforce & Talent is two-fold. Promote quality of life & amenities that invite graduates and others to remain in or move to the Cedar Valley. Collaborate with K-12 education systems to ensure the next generation of workers have the soft skills necessary to succeed on the job and in life; and ensure that higher education delivers a sufficient supply of qualified workforce, and provides opportunities for lifelong learning. KEY ACTIVITIES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE Promote and expand the use of the Work the Valley job board. Communicate quality of life attributes and professional opportunities in the Cedar Valley to targeted workforce sectors through the Live the Valley social media campaign. Partner with Cedar Valley young professional organizations to increase their knowledge of Cedar Valley careers and quality of life. Collaborate with higher education institutions to inform students of job, career and business opportunities in the Cedar Valley. Become a certified Home Base Iowa region to increase exposure to US military veterans to the Cedar Valley as a place to work and live. Support Skilled Iowa to increase the qualified workforce through skills certifications and internships. Inform businesses of the business benefits of diversity in hiring and inclusive practices through events, publications and recognition. KEY ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP FUTURE TALENT Prepare emerging business leaders through the Cedar Valley Leadership Institute. Collaborate with Leader Valley, a business and education partnership initiative, implementing Leader in Me in K-12 schools and teacher prep programs.* Collaborate with school districts to promote Career & Technical Education for professional, manufacturing and skilled trade career opportunities. Support STEM and STEAM initiatives in Cedar Valley schools. *Leader in Me financing is separate from the Alliance & Chamber. CBE Companies, with 6 U.S. and international locations, chooses to keep their corporate headquarters here in the Cedar Valley where their success started over 80 years ago. We continue to tap into a rich talent pool in our own backyard to fill a variety of positions and levels from contact center associates to fraud service representatives to IT, Analytics, Finance, Marketing and HR professionals. Mary Phillips, Chief Human Resources Officer for CBE Companies
REGIONAL ADVOCACY & PROMOTION The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber provides a unified voice for Cedar Valley businesses and institutions to advocate for policies that strengthen the Cedar Valley business climate at the local, state and federal levels of government. KEY ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE BUSINESS CLIMATE Strengthen our pro-business influence in government relations through increased policy input from our investors and partners. Provide a variety of venues for businesses to interact with elected and appointed officials including: Friday Forums and Legislative Receptions to give our investors input on current issues and topics impacting their business. Take the business message to Washington DC with the Cedar Valley Coalition and through the Iowa Association of Business & Industry. A key role of the Alliance & Chamber is promotion of The Cedar Valley of Iowa. The Cedar Valley of Iowa has become a wellknown and effective identity for our economic area. KEY ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE CEDAR VALLEY Increase public awareness of the Cedar Valley region as a maker place, promoting tech-led businesses, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and higher education in the Cedar Valley. Distinguish the Cedar Valley with such messages as: Gigabit Valley broadband access and speeds for all types, sizes and locations of businesses; Cedar Valley Made a place where advanced manufacturing is a driver of economic growth; Leader Valley a global leader in preparing students for 21 st century careers emerging in the Cedar Valley; Blue Zones Communities where people are healthy and well at work, school and home; Value in the Valley emphasizing that buying local strengthens the entire Cedar Valley; Live the Valley the Cedar Valley offers unique quality of life attributes and professional opportunities in a variety of fields; Strengthen pride by promoting the positive attributes and stories of the Cedar Valley, locally. Since July 2012, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber has successfully advocated for the following policies and initiatives on behalf of the Cedar Valley business community: GIGABIT VALLEY When you look at the Cedar Valley and wonder why it s working it s the Alliance & Chamber. Dave Braton Publisher, Courier Communications
Invest in Your Economy, in Your Community Thank you for your consideration of a generous investment to support economic development in the Cedar Valley. The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber works to accelerate economic development success in the Cedar Valley, but we can be successful only if we have the help of business-minded people like you. Your investment is not just an investment in the future of the Cedar Valley. It s an investment in your business competitiveness and your family s quality of life. Your support provides the resources to attract businesses, expand the Cedar Valley talent pool and make sure the Cedar Valley s voice is heard. Join us and share ONE VISION, ONE MISSION, ONE VOICE, and be part of a greater Cedar Valley economy. INVESTMENT LEVELS Platinum > $100,000 Gold $50,000-$99,999 Silver $5,001-$49,999 Bronze $1,000-$5,000 INVESTOR BENEFITS Special recognition in: Printed directory Online directory Investor Update E-Newsletters At events In addition to all other benefits To make an investment today, contact: Sue Beach, Director of Investor Relations, sbeach@cedarvalleyalliance.com Steve Dust, CEO sdust@cedarvalleyalliance.com 10 West Fourth Street Suite 310 Waterloo, IA 50701 Phone: 319-232-1156 Fax: 319-233-4580