Grant Award to Calhoun County Economic Development
Calhoun County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC) has recently received two grant awards which support their 2024-26 CCEDC Strategic Plan – Collaborating for the Future.Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation has awarded a $2,500 grant to Calhoun County Development to use toward the development of “Leadership Calhoun,” a program, currently in design to support and grow Calhoun County leaders.
The Iowa Rural Development Council, made possible with funding from Empower Rural Iowa, has awarded a grant to CCEDC in support of the “Leadership Calhoun” initiative in the amount of $1,000. In addition to the grant award, participation in the Leadership Bootcamp event on October 29 and 30 in Perry and a mentor will be assigned to provide technical assistance over the next year as Leadership Calhoun is implemented.
Strategic planning means bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it now. That’s true in Calhoun County, where 16 participants gathered last November, 2023 to discuss what’s working and develop goals for future economic development.
The strategic planning event, which included a cross section of small business owners, educators, a health care administrator, CEOs, agriculture professionals, a county supervisor and other local leaders representing communities across Calhoun County designed a 3-year plan for the immediate future. As these leaders worked in small groups to assess what’s working in Calhoun County, their lists included:
- Attracting younger people back to Calhoun County
- Building the next generation of Calhoun County leaders
- Expanding broadband connectivity to more communities in Calhoun County
- A thriving ag sector
- Safe, secure communities
- Easy transportation access, thanks to four-lane Highway 20 (which was completed in 2018)
- An affordable cost of living. (In fact, Calhoun County offers the sixth lowest cost of living among Iowa’s 99 counties, based on data from the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
“Our mission is to enhance business retention, start-up and growth to increase employment opportunities and the tax base,” said Theresa Hildreth, executive director of CCEDC. “We also work to improve the quality of life here in rural Iowa.”
The workday focusing on strategic planning resulted in a 3-year road map for growing and maintaining the success of Calhoun County. “Economic development doesn’t happen overnight,” explained Hildreth. “As we work together for the future of our county we need a written plan, composed by community leaders to help us thrive. I truly appreciate the opinions and suggestions the participants shared in the planning session. Together we are strong, and I anticipate continued economic growth in Calhoun County.”
Four priorities of the 2024-26 CCEDC Strategic Plan have been identified and adopted by the CCEDC Board of Directors.
Priority 1 – Existing Business Support
Priority 2 – Workforce Preparedness
Priority 3 – Community Development & Capacity Building
Priority 4 – Business Attraction & Recruitment
Leadership Calhoun is designed to be a local, issues-awareness program for current and emerging Calhoun County, Iowa leaders. The program will bring together 10-12 diverse adults for an eight-month session addressing a variety of important topics including economic development, education, government, healthcare, agriculture and more. Leadership Calhoun will exist to educate, inspire and grow a network of informed leaders and to encourage their ongoing local and statewide involvement to create a better future for Iowans.
The Leadership Calhoun program, modeled after the 42-year successful Leadership Iowa program directly correlates to Priority 3 of the CCEDC Strategic Plan, Community Development & Capacity Building.
CCEDC Board Chair, Keaton Hildreth, shared “On behalf of the Calhoun County Economic Development Board, we are committed to all aspects of the Strategic Plan as designed by our local Calhoun County leaders. Their collaborative effort to identify the priorities of our economic development strategies leads all efforts of the development office. We truly appreciate the grant awards from Iowa Area Development Group and the added support, grant, and commitment to a successful program from the Iowa Rural Development Council. The future is bright in Calhoun County.”
Individuals interested in participating in Leadership Calhoun can reach out to CCEDC Executive Director, Theresa Hildreth, to learn more about this emerging program. Start date is anticipated in 2025.
