Group Hires Consultant for Recovery Plan

January 6, 2006
For The Daily Gate City

WEST BURLINGTON - The Southeast Iowa Regional Economic Development Consortium has named AngelouEconomics of Austin, Texas, to be its consultant to help develop an economic recovery strategy for Southeast Iowa.

AngelouEconomics' proposal includes research in past studies of the region and solicitation of public input through interviews, focus groups and surveys. It further proposes two in-depth reports on targeted industries and an action plan and implementation strategy.

AngelouEconomics proposes a timeline of approximately five months to complete the project in order to reach the June 30 deadline.

“We studied each and every proposal from top to bottom,” said SIREDC spokesperson, Chuck Betts. “AngelouEconomics was clearly the front-runner in terms of their stellar client list and past successes. They offered considerable detail into their processes and included ample opportunity for public input. Our region is just learning how to really work together cohesively. AngelouEconomics has an excellent track record in working with regions. They came in strong and really impressed us.”

AngelouEconomics identifies itself as the largest independent economic development firm in the U.S. It specializes in creating strategies for communities seeking high impact investment and targeted, managed growth solutions.

Clients include the states of Texas, New York, New Mexico, Delaware and North Dakota. Cities include Cleveland, Orlando, Fla., Montreal, Canada, and Charleston, N.C. Regional clients include Northwest North Carolina/Winston-Salem, Illinois Quad Cities and Central Arkansas/Little Rock.

The consortium will work closely with AngelouEconomics to develop a regional economic recovery/marketing plan. Earlier in 2005, the region was awarded more than $350,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Iowa Department of Economic Development to create a plan that would prepare the region to be more competitive in the new global economy.

The SIREDC has been in existence for just over a year. It is comprised of economic development organizations from Des Moines, Henry, Lee and Louisa counties, Iowa Wesleyan College, Southeastern Community College and Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission. The group was formed for the specific intent of bringing all the communities and regional players together to strengthen all Southeast Iowa by identifying opportunities, marketing the region as a whole, and sharing information and ideas.

For more information contact Betts, cbetts@scciowa.edu or call 319-752-2731 ext. 8221.