Mahaska County Ag & Rural Development
Highlighted Activities ~ January 1 to April 14, 2004
Agribusiness
Emu Oil: MCARD and USDA’s Jeff Kuntz continue to work with a regional
limited liability corporation to develop a business plan for an emu oil
processing operation. We are meeting on April 14 to discuss the business
plan.
Vineyards: Tassel Ridge Vineyards continues to take shape along Hwy 163.
Bob Wersen reports that construction is on schedule and he expects to raise
steel on the site on April 19. The equipment will be installed in June.
After a state inspection /certification in July, Bob expects to be producing
wine by August of this year. Steve DeBruin is planning to plant grapes at
the vineyard site the first week of May. Both he and Bob recently met with
Leighton City Council in to share the plan and vision for the winery with
the community. They are scheduled to speak to the Pella Chamber as well.
We hope to have them speak to the Osky Chamber this summer.
Annie’s Project: Bob Wells’ (ISU Field Specialist for our region)
request to the Western Center for Risk Management Education for $40,000
grant to implement “Annie’s Project- Iowa/Missouri” was
approved in February. Annie’s Project is designed to empower farmwomen
to manage information systems used in the areas of financial and production
records, marketing plans, regulations and human resources. MCARD will be
assisting Bob in the administration of the grant.
VandeRose Foods: The Company experienced growth in the
first quarter of 2004. They increased their customer base, hired one full
time employee to
manage the catering division, leased a kitchen facility/freezer
space and developed a relationship with a federally inspected meat locker
to expand
their retail meat sales division beyond state lines. VandeRose
will specialize in primal cuts and snack food items to allow full use of
the beef and pork
animals they deliver to the processing facility. If you are interested
in having VandeRose cater an event, call their new Catering Manager, Roberta
Hall at 673-8886.
Value-Added Ag Retailer: Throughout the last quarter,
MCARD has worked with a local retailer/value added ag enterprise that plans
to expand into
new site in Oskaloosa. Along with Jeff Kuntz (USDA), we traveled
to Pella to a special meeting of the executive committee of the Pella REC
in March.
We asked that they submit a USDA Rural Economic Development Loan
application (available only through cooperatives) on behalf of the business.
The Pella
REC decided to decline the request. However, the business continues
to work with Marion County Bank. MCARD, USDA and the business developer
will meet
again on April 14 to define a financing strategy. One of the reasons
the Pella REC decided not to participate in the project was because of the
investment/loan
guarantee they already have in place for the Co-Line expansion
in northern Mahaska County. Although the partnership with the Pella REC
did not come
about for this particular project, the effort was worthwhile. It
allowed us the opportunity to reiterate our interest in working together,
across
county lines, for the development of our region.
Rural Development
New Sharon: The renovations for the East Market
Grocery, Inc. are well
underway. Dennis Houser reports they will open in May. On behalf of Pro-Line,
Mahaska County submitted an Iowa Department of Transportation RISE grant,
(written by MCARD), to help fund the paving of a road into their new site
off Hwy 63. Amy Davis and I went before the IDOT Commission on January 13
to present the application that was consequently approved. The County accepted
a bid from Manats for the road project. Pro-Line is poised to begin work
on the new site this spring. They have already hired a portion of the 15
new jobs created by the expansion. Ralph Ihde reports that Snyder
Manufacturing is in the process of expanding into a new facility under construction in
New Sharon.
 Fremont: Speaking of Pro-Line.... The Fremont Community Foundation has
hired Pro-Line to construct Fremont’s first-ever Community
Center.
Construction is set to begin June 1st on the 3200 square foot building
that will be located on Main Street. I recently completed an application
to KCCI-
Channel 8’s Project Mainstreet grant program that awards $3,000 grants
to five community projects every year. The total cost of the building
is $115,000. The community has already raised over $90,000 in donations
for
the project. Fremont recently announced they are re-instating their
annual Frontier Days celebration. It is scheduled for September
11, 2004. MCARD
attended the March 29th meeting of the Fremont Development Corp/Fremont
Community Foundation. I will be writing a RACI grant for the Center.
Barnes City: A new restaurant/tavern, The Longhorn, is now open for business
in Barnes City. The town’s application for a CDBG grant for a sewer
system was not approved. Area XV Regional Planning wrote the grant. CDBG
staff said the project is worthwhile and encouraged Barnes City to resubmit
the application next year. MCARD recently worked with Mike Doonan, Fire
Chief and Shelly Robertson, City clerk, to submit a FEMA Fire grant on behalf
of the Barnes City Volunteer Fire Department. They requested $80,000 to
match their $20,000 contribution toward the purchase of a new tank truck.
University Park: The City recently contacted MCARD to initiate the process
to apply for a CDBG grant to improve the municipal sewer system. The City
will have to conduct an income survey to determine if they are eligible
for the grant. They are also looking at the possibility of improving Burlington
Road, a farm-to-market road.
Eddyville: Mid American Energy put MCARD in touch with a local business
start-up in Eddyville. They are in the process of purchasing a local property
there. MCARD completed a $10,000 Empowerment grant request for the Eddyville
Child Care Center to create an outdoor learning center. We are gearing up
for another application for the Center this month. The Eddyville City Council
is looking into improvements to the Frog Pond Recreation Area following
the recent purchase by a local developer of land adjacent to the site. They
are considering a trail there. They also contacted MCARD about improving
their City Park. Area XV is planning to call together a group from Eddyville
to discuss the projects. Work on the new Des Moines River Bridge has begun.
Oskaloosa:
- Project Blackhawk – In January, we responded to
the State’s
request for proposals for a prospective industry seeking to
locate a manufacturing facility to process organic and non-organic
soybeans. The project has the
potential to employ 54 people. They considered rail access
a plus. The State was particularly interested in seeing a site
proposal from Oskaloosa
due to the other soybean processors in the area. We sent a
packet of information about available sites in Oskaloosa. In
the end, they chose to go to Illinois
to be near a soy processor with whom they already did business.
- Project Fairway – We just sent in a response to the State’s
request for information for a manufacturer seeking a site near a four-lane
highway. This industry has the potential to employ 65 people. We are
competing with eight other communities in Iowa as well as other states
in the Midwest. We are waiting to hear if the site selection consultant
is interested in visiting Iowa and any one of the three sites we proposed.
- Racing Components Company – Pitched several possible locations
to a California company seeking a site near Knoxville and/or the Southern
Iowa Fair Racetrack. The company would include two employees. They chose
a site in Knoxville.
- Childcare Center – Jerry Leighton (Childcare Resource and Referral
Director) and MCARD have teamed together to assist a group looking at
creating a new childcare center in Oskaloosa. The group has met several
times over the last quarter. Efforts originally focused on the possibility
of merging the YMCA and Kid s Corner, and other child related services
under one roof. We also discussed the possibility of Mahaska Health
Partnership serving as managing partner but that is no longer the case.
The scenario continues to change and develop. Currently, Kids Corner,
the YMCA Childcare Center and SIEDA/Headstart are participating in an
income survey to determine if the project will be eligible for a state
grant. Dave Dowdy of the USDA is working with the group on a possible
USDA loan as well.
- Southern Iowa Fair – met with the Foundation Board on January
15th for their first planning meeting. MCARD continues to assist them
in their efforts to develop/improve the fairground camping area, grandstand
and other buildings.
 Team Mahaska: Team Mahaska met on March 31st. We are continuing efforts
to find efficiencies in three areas of local government, namely
information technology, legal services, and health care coverage.
Matt Boeck, the County’s
new GIS Coordinator, and Patrick Robinson and Frank Hansen with
Mahaska Communications Group gave a presentation on how GIS can
be used to support
economic development efforts. We also presented Al Calvert and
Gordon Lindblom (left), Barnes City’s representatives on Team Mahaska,
with a cake to commemorate a significant success in Barnes City.
They enforced an ordinance
that required a woman remove a horse she had been raising at her
home within City limits. This was a test case for Barnes City that
took four years to
resolve (they had to update the ordinance) but it proved to them,
and to other small towns, that the time and money invested in maintaining
and enforcing
city ordinances can benefit the community. Team Mahaska’s next meeting
will be April 29th It will include a special presentation from
the Committee of 82. See next item...
Committee of 82: The Committee of 82, which represents
the 82 non-urban counties in Iowa, is working to determine what will generate
economic development
and growth in rural Iowa. The committee hired researchers from
Iowa’s
universities to develop a statistical index that measures economic
vitality in every Iowa county and Iowa’s neighboring states. The results
of the research will be presented by Doug Gross, Chair of the Committee
of
82, at a special presentation hosted by Team Mahaska in the boardroom
at the George Daily Community Auditorium on April 29 from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m.
The public is invited to attend. Those planning to attend are asked
to RSVP
(pizza will be provided) to me by calling 641-673-6385 or by email
to mcard@mahaskacounty.org.
Individuals wishing to learn more about The Committee of 82, its
mission, presentation schedule, or new developments can visit its web site
a www.committeeof82.org or
by contacting the committee directly at 309 Court Avenue, Suite
214, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Chamber
Town & County Banquet: The 58th Annual Town & Country Banquet was
held Saturday, March 13th . Close to 400 people had dinner in the Center
Court of the Penn Central Mall. The Eddyville Jazz Band gave a stellar performance.
Our speaker was well received but it is difficult for those sitting in the
back to hear so we are working on improving the audio for next year. We
had strong support from our sponsors which included seven banks, the Hospital,
B&B Bedding, Farm Bureau and New Alliance. Mahaska Rural Water donated
over 500 bottles of water. The School, the Fair Board, Pizza Ranch, Comfort
Inn and the Mall also provided in-kind donations. Next year the event will
be held on March 12.
Executive Director: Joel Akason’s last day with the Chamber was January
9th. Approximately 30 applications for the position came in March. After
an initial review, the search committee selected 15 to move on to a second
tier of evaluation. The Chamber is in the process of determining funding
availability prior to the hiring of the next executive director.
Outreach/Miscellaneous
Life in Iowa: Brooke Hunsicker will be living in Oskaloosa this summer,
working as an intern as part of ISU Extension’s Life in Iowa program.
The program is designed to encourage graduates to settle in Iowa’s
communities. Brooke will be splitting her time between MCARD and the Mahaska
County Recreation Foundation. She will be rooming with a second intern who
is working with Mahaska County Extension. Musco is sponsoring the interns.
Amy Nossaman, Extension Director, will be coordinating the program on the
local level. Brooke will be visiting each of our towns to develop a photo
library of community resources, such as meeting halls and ball fields. She
will also interview local leaders to catalogue other community assets and
attractions such as active service clubs, community events, historical buildings,
etc. Her work will be the foundation of a comprehensive database that will
be of great use to area economic and community developers.
Indian Hills Regional Development: We are continuing work with Monroe and
Wapello County to market our area as a destination for biotechnology
industries. We are hosting a booth at the National Bio Conference in June.
Work on improving
rail service to the region is ongoing. A representative from a
national rail carrier is meeting with businesses across the region to determine
need.
We are also working with industries in the Cargill complex to respond
to Alliant Energy ’s
recently announced rate increase.
River Hills Initiative: Attended several meetings of this ten county development
group this quarter, including one with Jim Lindenmeyer and Jill Rossiter
of Indian Hills. They reported that the College has sent a proposal into
the DNR to establish a Rural Leadership and Entrepreneurship Institute at
the Honey Creek destination park at Lake Rathbun.
Mahaska County Revolving Loan Fund: Met with USDA State Staff in April
to review Revolving Loan Fund status. We currently have over $388,000
available to loan to a new or expanding industry in Mahaska County. One
loan was paid
off this quarter so we currently have three loans out, all of which
are current.
MCARD Funding: MCARD received a contribution from Bob Wersen in January,
Thanks Bob! The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors approved their $30,000
annual contribution to MCARD for 2004. Thanks to the all of you who showed
up to their January meeting an sent letters and emails to them to support
our request. We also received $6,000 in donations from various industries
and generated $2,500 in grant writing fees.
Mahaska Community Economic Development: Randy Irwin, Osky’s Housing
and Community Development Director, called together a group of us who work
on economic development projects to discuss the possibility of creating
a team approach for such efforts. We then pitched the basic idea (which
we have been calling Mahaska Community Economic Development or “McEd”)
to a group of industries/organizations who support economic development
in Osky and the County. Reactions were mixed but generally encouraging.
Following the group’s suggestion, we are meeting with representatives
from the City and County and Chamber in April to brainstorm how the team
approach can be implemented within the structure of the Chamber.
General Assistance: MCARD provided business start-up or expansion information
and assistance to a variety of potential development projects, such as:
- a technology/computer business in northern Mahaska County
- a possible apple orchard in New Sharon
- a service industry based in New Sharon
- a potential grape grower
- a service industry seeking to expand in Oskaloosa
- a communications/media company based in Oskaloosa
- a tech support center seeking a site
Farm Bureau Ag Tour: Farm Bureau has announced they will host their annual
Ag Tour on June 28th. This promises to be another interesting event and
a great way to learn more about how agriculture affects our local economy.
They will provide more detailed information in the near future. |
