April 15 - August 26, 2004
Agribusiness:
Emu Oil: Jeff Kuntz has finished the business plan for a regional limited liability corporation for an emu oil processing operation. MCARD is gathering information from the business owners to complete a grant application for submittal this fall.
 Vineyards: (Jeff Leak / Moon Valley Vineyard pictured at left) MCARD recently submitted a Value Added Producer Grant to USDA Rural Development on behalf of Moon Valley Vineyard in University Park. The grant request is for $25,000 in working capital to process carbonated grape juice at the facility there. Tassel Ridge Winery continues to take shape between Leighton and Highway 163. Steve DeBruin reports that they will be harvesting grapes this week. Jeff Kuntz and I traveled to Summerset Vineyard near Indianola this Wednesday to a meeting of the Iowa Wine Growers Association. They gave an interesting presentation entitled “How to Organize and/or Sponsor Local and Regional Wine Festivals.” According to the Iowa Wine Growers Association, our State’s native wine industry has seen phenomenal growth over the last four years. In 1999, Iowa had 13 wineries and 5 grape vineyard covering about 30 acres. Today Iowa boasts 30 wineries and 234+ wine grape vineyards covering 500+ acres. In Mahaska County alone, I think we have 55-60 acres of grapes planted, though not all are wine grapes.
VandeRose Foods: VandeRose entered some new markets this last quarter. Principals of the business traveled to California this spring where they met with several potential buyers from meat markets and restaurants. Relations established during the visit have resulted in primal cuts of VandeRose pork and beef being shipped to California. Meat markets in San Francisco and Oakland are carrying Vande Rose Meats as are restaurants in Sacramento and Napa Valley, California. VandeRose will be traveling to California again in October. They are also planning to sell their pork jerky product through food chains there. Here in Mahaska County, Vande Rose Catering had a busy season which included serving at Tulip Time and the Sweet Corn Serenade as well as many private catered events.
Value-Added Ag Retailer: As you may remember, MCARD worked with a local retailer/value added Ag enterprise that was planning to expand into new site in Oskaloosa. We made a presentation to the Pella REC to request that they submit a USDA Loan application (available only through cooperatives) on behalf of the business but the REC declined. The business is H& S Feeds and they are expanding to a new site this fall. They are going to open a Premium Purina Store across from Sears and Modern Floor Coverings on the west side of town. In addition to a variety of Purina products, the retailer is hoping to offer local value-added Ag products from area producers.
Rural Development:
New Sharon: The East Market Grocery, Inc. opened in May and initial reports are that business is doing well. Pro-Line has begun to work or their expansion south of town. John Pothoven and Jay Christensen and I represented the Chamber at Pro-Line’s groundbreaking ceremony at the new site on April 26. MCARD traveled to New Sharon in June to visit the East Market Grocery and the new facility at Snyder Manufacturing. Ralph Ihde reports that the New Sharon Recreation and Economic Development Foundation sold the lot which used to contain the New Sharon Elementary. A housing development is planned for the site. McGriffs Hardware has purchased the Pepperdine Building.
Fremont- This spring, MCARD wrote a successful RACI grant application for Fremont’s first-ever Community Center which resulted in a $9,000 grant from Prairie Meadows. The project was also awarded a $15,000 grant from the George Daily Family Trust and a $2,000 award from MUSCO. The exterior of the building is complete and already a wonderful addition to Fremont’s Main Street. Fremont is continuing to raise funds to complete the interior of the building. MCARD traveled to Fremont recently to see the new building, enjoy lunch at Bob’s Place and while there, Jackie Perkins gave us a tour of the “The Village Vine” newspaper office next to the community center. The building has additional office space available for other entrepreneurs and enterprises. Fremont will celebrate their annual Frontier Days celebration on September 11, 2004 which will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting on the community center.
Barnes City: 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. We are still awaiting word on its approval. Front Street Manufacturing reports business is going well. They have launched a new product line, had 60% growth in sales and now have 8 employees, (6 full time equivalents).
University Park: The City is in the process of conducting an income survey to determine if they are eligible for a CDBG grant to improve the municipal sewer system. They are working with Mahaska Rural Water and MCARD. They are also looking at the possibility of improving Burlington Road, a farm-to-market road.
Eddyville: MCARD wrote a grant for the Eddyville Child Care Center which provided them $10,000 to create an outdoor learning center. The roads and highways in and around Eddyville have changed a great deal with the opening of portions of the by-pass. The Eddyville Historical Society is now hosting lunch in the City Park every Friday to raise funds for the town’s museum.
 Beacon: Beacon has been busy! Nancy Hershey, the Mayor of Beacon, and the City Council are planning to widen the main road through town. They are working with the County Supervisors and Engineer to address some drainage problems along the road and to get their input on strategies to widen the road properly. Beacon also had a huge success with their City Clean Up, filling a record number of trucks with items for the land fill. They have also made some improvements to their City Hall (pictured above). I attended their City Council meeting in June and came away impressed with their renewed dedication and enthusiasm.
Co-Line Manufacturing- MCARD worked with the Oskaloosa Chamber Board to award Co-Line a $10,000 Direct Investment Fund forgivable Loan. In July, Glenda Booy, the Chamber President, John Pothoven and I traveled to Co-Line to present them with the check. They gave us a tour of the facility. They are planning to expand on the west side of the highway on their current site. It is always a pleasure to travel to Co-Line to see their growth and their excellent facility there. Co-Line recently paid off their Mahaska County Revolving Loan Fund and is considering applying for a second loan to help with their current expansion plans.
Oskaloosa:
- Childcare Center – MCARD is working with Jerry Leighton (Childcare Resource and Referral Director) to assist a group looking at creating a new childcare center in Oskaloosa. We conducted an income survey at Kids Corner, the YMCA Childcare Center and SIEDA/Headstart which determined the project is eligible to apply for a state grant. Kids Corner will own and operate the facility. MCARD wrote a $10,000 grant request to the Mahaska/Wapello Empowerment Board which was approved this week. The money will go to hiring an architect for the project. As per State requirements, we sent out Requests for Proposals to four architects with a reply deadline of August 13, 2004. We received three responses which we are reviewing now.
- Southern Iowa Fair – The Southern Iowa Fair Board had their first planning session in January. MCARD brought in Tom Quinn of ISU Extension to help the group prioritize their improvement projects for the fairgrounds. They determined the first priority was to build a new restroom/shower/storm shelter for the campground. MCARD recently supplied them with a list of possible funding sources as they launch their capital campaign to build the facility.
Chamber:
Executive Director Search: Local industries have come together to direct economic development in Oskaloosa. They have created a non-profit organization and pledged funds to support an Economic Development Director position. They hired an executive recruiter who is currently seeking out possible candidates to fill the position. Talks are ongoing as to how this effort will affect the Chamber and its director position.
Outreach/Miscellaneous:
MCARD Committee: On July 1st, Rich Johnson, a local producer, former President of the Mahaska County Farm Bureau and a member of the MCARD Committee, began his term as Chair of our MCARD committee, replacing our outgoing Chair Terry Brady. Many thanks to Terry for job well done. He will continue to hold a seat on the committee until the end of his term next year. Pat Powers, the FFA leader for the Eddyville School District, and Brian Hawk, with Bank Iowa, came on as new committee members. Welcome Pat and Brian!
Tunisia Women’s Business Exchange: MCARD was contacted by the Institute for Social and Economic Development, at the suggestion of Jim Zimmerman, to bring a group of 15 female entrepreneurs from Tunisia to Mahaska County to tour a farm site. Current plans call for the group to arrive on October 1st, have lunch in town, tour Nelson Pioneer Farm and then Rich Johnson’s farming operation.
Life in Iowa: Brooke Hunsicker spent three months in Oskaloosa this summer working as an intern as part of ISU Extension’s Life in Iowa program. She split her time between MCARD and the Mahaska County Recreation Foundation. Brooke visited each of our towns to develop a photo library of community resources, such as meeting halls and ball fields. She also interviewed local leaders to catalogue other community assets and attractions. She did an excellent job. Thanks to the many of you who took the time to meet with Brooke and to give her access to your various events and facilities, even to Mike Gipple, the Director of Mahaska County Conservation who led Brooke on an high powered hike through some of our County’s roughest terrain on one of the hottest days of the year! It was worth it though. Brooke got some great shots of a local waterfall and other conservation areas. These are now part of a large database of photos which includes photos of most of the events and points of interest in our County. These photos are available to use for any of your publicity or promotional campaigns. Let me know if you would like more information.
Southern Iowa Fair: As we have for the past five years, MCARD hosted a booth at the Southern Iowa Fair. A bevy of volunteers, local organizations and small businesses helped staff the booth. Thanks to all of you for volunteering your time. We use the booth to promote Mahaska County’s ten communities and our Ag industries. MCARD, the Chamber and Farm Bureau also hosted the 48th 4H/FFA BBQ on July 23rd. This year was another great success. We fed close to 400 people at the Pavilion and nine local banks awarded savings bond to nine of the kids. We host the BBQ to thank the kids, their families and their 4H and FFA leaders for all their hard work at the fair. Jim Lorber chairs the committee which is made up of local bankers and Farm Bureau. Thanks to all of the many businesses and volunteers who contribute to this event and a special thanks to the Chamber’s summer intern, Kate Van Veldhuizen, who did most of the work on putting the BBQ together this year.
Indian Hills Regional Development: In May, I stepped down as President of this three county economic development group and Dale Rowland, Plant Manager for Ajinomoto began his term. I continued to work with economic developers from Monroe and Wapello County to create a brochure to take to the National Bio Conference in June that marketed our area as a destination for biotechnology enterprises. Pam Blomgren and ArrowGraphix helped us put together the brochure this year, with great success. This group also is working with industries in the Cargill complex to respond to Alliant Energy’s recently announced rate increase
River Hills Initiative: MCARD presented information on our regional development efforts at a Regional Economic Development Meeting hosted by RHI on May 12, along with representatives from other counties. This group is working with Indian Hills Community College on their proposal to the DNR to establish a Rural Leadership and Entrepreneurship Institute at the Honey Creek destination park at Lake Rathbun.
Mahaska County Revolving Loan Fund: We currently have over $400,000 available to loan to a new or expanding industries in Mahaska County. There are three loans out, all of which are current. At the July meeting of the County Board of Supervisors, we briefly discussed the idea of changing the administrative rules of the loan to allow for a subcommittee of MCARD, the Chamber and the Supervisors to review applications, as well as to provide a portion of the funds for retail start ups or expansions which the fund does not currently support.. Our goal is to increase interest in, and access to, the fund. I hope to continue these discussions in the fall.
General Assistance:
MCARD provided information and assistance to a variety of potential development projects, such as:
- an artisan in Oskaloosa
- An expansion project at Nelson Pioneer Farm
- A restaurant in New Sharon
- The establishment of a regional venture capital fund
- A building demolition project in Rose Hill
- A water system improvement project in New Sharon
- A possible annexation project in an outlying community
MCARD also attended the following events
- Economic Development Day at Iowa State University on July 14 in Ames
- Iowa Department of Economic Development SMART Conference on May 6
- Practical Farmer’s Field Day Oakwood Sporting Resort near Sigourney to tour a pheasant/corn/grapes project there
- Worked the ticket booth for the 4th of July Event at the Fairgrounds
- Helped man a food stand for the Chamber at Sweet Corn Serenade
- Lt. Governors visit to Oskaloosa in July
- Rural Symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank in DSM in April
- The Chamber’s Annual Banquet in May
- Ongoing meetings with Randy Irwin, Marie Ware and Debbie Stevens to share information on various development projects in the County
Farm Bureau Ag Tour: Farm Bureau hosted their annual Ag Tour on June 28th. A bus took us to us to the Alternative School’s Water Quality Project and to Keith Van Waardhuizen’s cattle operation where we saw a presentation of a state of the art tracking system. Afterward we had a great meal at the Peppertree and heard a presentation from the Farm Bureau. This event always provides our urban counterparts with a great opportunity to learn about agricultural production and concerns in our community. Thanks to the Farm Bureau for hosting this event.
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