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DCDC Seeks New Executive Director

The Decatur County Development Corporation is in search of an Executive Director to manage the non-profit organization to support Economic Development in Decatur County, Iowa. The Director will serve as the COO of the organization, and will be responsible for all day-to-day activities and long term strategy for business retention, business expansion, and business recruitment. Visit www.dcdciowa.org to read the full job description. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to Sue Kelly, Board President, at sue.kelly@mchsi.com.

Job Title: Executive Director of the Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC)

Job Description: It is the role of the Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) Executive Director to facilitate economic growth for Decatur County, IA by fulfilling the following duties as Chief Operating Officer of the organization:

  • Focus on supporting existing businesses in Decatur County with business retention and expansion efforts.
  • Develop and apply specific local, regional, and state-wide resource tools to support local business development and recruitment efforts. 
  • Maintain a strong relationship with the following boards by regularly attending meetings:
  • Leon Chamber of Commerce/Development Board
  • Lamoni Development Corporation (LDC) 
  • Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI)
  • Leon Chamber of Commerce
  • Lamoni Chamber of Commerce
  • Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
  • Iowa Rural Development Council
  • Small Business Development Center
  • Stay up-to-date on Iowa Area Development Group and Iowa Economic Development Authority programs, projects, and business incentives.
  • Maintain and promote DCDC’s Revolving Loan Fund and other RLFs for entrepreneurs and expanding businesses.
  • Oversee all financial activity for the organization managed in QuickBooks, and submit payroll taxes to the state on a quarterly basis and federal taxes on a monthly schedule.
  • Attend business recruitment events.
  • Attend local, regional and state networking events.
  • Work closely with Ethan Pitt from the South Central Small Business Development Center.
  • Organize monthly Board of Directors meeting and report on monthly activities, financial reports, and current events of the organization. 
  • Organize annual meeting in January and provide report on the annual success of DCDC.
  • Implement on-going training activities for existing businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • Attend and report to City Council Meetings upon the request of Council, or when projects warrant a discussion.
  • Direct all marketing efforts of the organization.
  • Attend on-going training sessions and seminars regarding economic development endeavors.
  • Seek grants and funding to apply towards economic development.
  • Lead and assist in community development programs.
  • Maintain a healthy relationship with the business community and all residents in Decatur County.

Job Type: Full-time

Location: Decatur County, Iowa

Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

  • Knowledge and experience in non-profit management preferred.
  • Knowledge and experience in Economic or Community Development organizations as a staff member or volunteer preferred.
  • Proven track record of building and maintaining partnerships, and networking.
  • Self-driven leader with ability to multitask and manage many projects at once.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to plan, assign, and manage the work of volunteer boards and committees.
  • Valid driver’s license, and ability to insure.
  • Ability to work with business, community and governmental leaders effectively.
  • Ability to appropriately handle confidential information.
  • Ability to deal with problems and make sound decisions.

Education

BA/BS Degree plus 3-5 years’ experience in economic or community development preferred but not required.

How To Apply Email cover letter, resume, and 3 references to Sue Kelly, Board President, sue.kelly@mchsi.com.

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Decatur County Development Corporation Revolving Loan Fund Reallocated for Emergency Microloans for Small Businesses

Beginning March 23, 2020 Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) will be accepting applications for its newly reallocated Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Applications may be obtained by contacting Shannon Erb, Executive Director, via email at serb@dcdciowa.org, or phone call or text message at 641-442-6511. Businesses applying for the DCDC-RLF must be a small or emerging business with fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue. Types of businesses that may apply are Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, and Corporations. 

Emergency Microloans are available with the following specifications:

  • Business must be located in Decatur County, Iowa.
  • No less than $1, no more than $2,000 loan made to any single business.
  • Interest rate of 0%.
  • Repayment timeline of up to 2 years, with initial payment deferred up to 6 months.

Items to be financed may include but are not limited to:

  • Utility payments.
  • Rent/lease payments on building or equipment essential to business operations.
  • Existing debt for which default would cause loss of essential business supplies.
  • Essential personnel payroll.

Businesses interested in this program must:

  • Complete an application as provided by DCDC.
  • Provide up to 3 years of tax returns (if available).
  • Provide up to 3 years of profit and loss statements for the business (if available).
  • Provide current financial statement.
  • Provide copies of expenditures to be paid with RLF funds.
  • Provide substitute documents if those above are not available, upon approval by the Executive Director.

For more information and to obtain an application contact Shannon Erb, Executive Director, via email at serb@dcdciowa.org, or phone call or text message at 641-442-6511.

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We’re Hiring!

DCDC is looking for a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA member to join our team in 2020 for a 1-year appointment. This position will be responsible for the following project:

  1. Continue the work done in year one to plan and manage enrichment programs at Lamoni Elementary School and Mormon Trail High School to connect business owners with students to introduce them to career opportunities close to home.
  2. Assist the DCDC Executive Director in setting up a pilot high school business incubator for Decatur County students.
  3. Increase public facing marketing for the Decatur County Development Corporation, and implement a new fundraising plan to increase donations to DCDC in 2020.
  4. Build a database of all available development land and buildings throughout Decatur County. The database should include, but not be limited to: owner information, owner relationship with DCDC, utility information, property/building size, location, pricing, etc. This database will be used to assist the Executive Director when completing recruiting activities to bring new businesses to Decatur County.

The start date for this position is flexible, and paid training is included. The position comes with a stipend, mileage reimbursement, and professional development opportunities.

To learn more and apply, click here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=92949 , or contact our Executive Director, Shannon Erb, at 641-446-4991, or email her.

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Decatur County Development Corporation Celebrates Selection as a Beneficiary in the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program that Supports Local NonProfits

The Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) has been selected as a beneficiary for the month of February in the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program that supports local non-profits.

The Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program, which launched in November 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities customers live and work. DCDC was selected as the February beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the Hy-Vee located at 1004 W 1st Street in Leon. DCDC will receive a $1 donation every time a $2.50 red My Heart Reusable Bag is purchased at this location during February, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag.

“DCDC is a non-profit organization that operates based on generous donations from our business, municipal and county partners. Without this support, DCDC would not be able to recruit business, grow business, add jobs, or continue the development of Leon and Decatur County. By participating in the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program, you can help us grow our budget to have a larger impact. Every dollar counts,” said Shannon Erb, Executive Director of DCDC.

Learn more about DCDC by visiting www.dcdciowa.org . For more information on the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program, visit hy-vee.bags4mycause.com .

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LABORSHED STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED IN LEON

The Decatur County Development Corporation is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Leon area.  This study will geographically define which communities contribute to Leon’s workforce, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns.

The purpose of this Laborshed study is to measure the availability and characteristics of Leon area workers. Laborshed studies are useful tools for economic development teams and existing or prospective employers to understand the local labor market, make informed expansion and site selection decisions, and maintain/recruit a high quality workforce.

For the success of this study, we will be sending letters to employers in Leon asking that they provide us with aggregate counts of their employees’ residential ZIP codes. This will allow us to determine what the scope and scale of Leon’s Laborshed area is and better understand where Leon’s workforce resides.

A confidential survey of residents will also be conducted to collect workforce characteristic information specific to the area.  Residents will receive a letter directing them how to take the survey online and/or they will receive a telephone call to take the survey. The survey call originates out of Cedar Rapids, IA, therefore, the incoming number will have the 319 area code. It is possible that you may receive a text message from their 888 number as well, alerting you to expect a call from them. Survey questions will cover topics such as: employment status, current and desired wages, current and desired benefits, education level, and type of occupation among other things. However, Iowa Workforce Development will not be asking survey takers identifiable information such as: name, social security number, or date of birth.

Every year Iowa Workforce Development conducts Laborshed studies across the State. The results of each analysis are publicly available online at www.iowalmi.gov/laborshed.  If you have any questions about the Laborshed project, please contact Katie Lippold at 515-281-3035 or Shannon Erb with the Decatur County Development Corporation at 641-446-4991.

Thank you for your support and participation.

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DCDC Partners with CD Schools to Open Business Incubator and Co-Working Space

The Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) and Central Decatur High School, in partnership with GRM Networks©, City of Leon, Rotary Club of Decatur County, and MFA Oil Foundation, hosted a grand opening for a new business incubator and co-working space to serve high school students throughout Decatur County. The N.E.S.T (Nurturing Entrepreneurial Students for Tomorrow) is located in the Leon Community Center.

This project originated with students in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club at Central Decatur High School. This group formed in 2016, and as they thought about way to fundraise to support group efforts, they have focused on providing “value added” services to businesses throughout Decatur County in exchange for donations.

FBLA students plan to start by offering social media marketing to small and medium businesses in Leon. Students also have interest in working on other marketing material such as print, photography, videography, market research and analysis, and more.

Almost $20,000 in grants and in-kind contributions have been secured to fund the installation of this incubator in the Leon Community Center. This off-campus space will be used to host meetings, make presentations to business owners and potential clients, and collaborate.

DCDC will partner with the county director of the Senior Corps Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Rotary Club of Decatur County to recruit volunteers to help manage the incubator during open hours. The DCDC Executive Director will also hold office hours in the incubator, and will be available at any time to provide guidance and connect students to resources to assist in the continuous development of this program. If you are interested in utilizing this service for your business, contact Shannon Erb, DCDC Executive Director, by email at serb@dcdciowa.org, or by calling 641-442-6511.

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Decatur County Development Corporation Receives Award for Business Retention and Expansion Efforts

Pictured L-R: Shannon Erb, Executive Director, Decatur County Development Corporation; Clark Smith, Smart Solutions Group (award sponsor); Tad Whittom, Founder, Freedom Racing Tool and Auto, LLC; Tyler Whittom, Freedom Racing Tool and Auto, LLC; John Henderson, Treasurer, Lamoni Development Corporation; Ethan Pitt, Director, South Central Iowa Small Business Development Center; Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds; Lt. Governor of Iowa Adam Gregg.

Des Moines, IA – May 9, 2019:  The Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) honored the Decatur County Development Corporation during the SMART Economic Development Conference held in Des Moines on May 9.

The PDI Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Awards Program recognizes the outstanding efforts of local and regional economic development initiatives in supporting growth and expansion of existing Iowa companies. Decatur County Development Corporation received the 2019 Single Project BRE Success Award. This award recognizes a single event or issue in which a community successfully mobilized to retain or expand an existing business. Consideration was given to the process of identifying the opportunity, collaboration with local, regional and/or state partners and the ability to respond quickly.

Freedom Racing Tool and Auto was established in 2010 in Lamoni and is an industry leading e-commerce business that sells new and pre-owned automotive specialty tools. The company was experiencing rapid growth going from three to 29 employees, leading them to look for locations to expand. Freedom Racing was recruited by communities in Missouri, but the Decatur County Development Corporation teamed with the Lamoni Development Corporation, Iowa Area Development Group, CIPCO, GRM Networks, Aureon, South Central Iowa Small Business Development Center, and the City of Lamoni to put together a great package to keep them home in Lamoni by helping them build and expand their facilities to meet their needs. 

“Supporting Iowa’s existing industry is a key priority for PDI’s membership,” stated Kelly Halsted, PDI President. “The BRE Awards are intended to increase the focus on fostering Iowa business growth by economic development organizations and spotlight BRE programs and projects that have made a significant impact on Iowa communities.”

Founded in 1973, with current membership of over 310, PDI is an organization dedicated to advancing the professionalism of its members through a wide range of programs and services. As an association, PDI provides professional training that helps its members do a better job for their community. PDI creates an atmosphere of support and offers an instant network of seasoned experts for local professionals to seek advice and support. Learn more about PDI at www.pdiowa.com, www.facebook.com/ProfessionalDevelopersOfIowa and www.twitter.com/pdiowa . Learn more about the Decatur County Development Corporation at www.dcdciowa.org and www.facebook.com/dcdciowa.

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GRM Networks Designates Funds to Start Economic Development Opportunity Fund

The Board of Directors of Grand River Mutual Telephone Corporation d/b/a GRM Networks® has designated funds, in the amount of $37,176.00, to the Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) for economic development. The Economic Development Opportunity Funds (EDOF) will be disbursed under the direction of the Iowa Area Development Group acting as the agent for GRM Networks®.

The contributed funds will be targeted toward qualifying projects that include activity that supports business development, community development and/or community facility assistance and be geared toward creating and/or retaining employment in Decatur County.

The monies contributed to the DCDC Economic Development Opportunity Fund are from the unclaimed patronage capital credits of former cooperative members. In accordance with Iowa law, the funds, known as escheated funds, can be used for the development of economic opportunities of the cooperative members.

For more information on the EDOF program, contact Shannon Erb, DCDC Executive Director, by phone 641-442-6511 or at the DCDC office located at 207 N Main, Leon, IA.

GRM Networks® is proud to support the continued growth of the communities it serves.

About GRM Networks®
GRM Networks® is a member owned cooperative that provides communication services to customers located within a 4,500 square mile radius that covers 44 exchanges in northern Missouri and southern Iowa. GRM Networks® is dedicated to delivering reliable, advanced communications technology while providing an exceptional customer experience. GRM Networks® is committed to promoting and investing in its local communities. LTC Networks® & SCC Networks® are subsidiaries of GRM Networks®. For more information about GRM Networks® visit www.grm.net.

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Mission Accomplished

By: Dr. Jesse O. Bolinger

It is hard to believe that just one year ago I was entering my role with the Decatur County Development Corporation wondering how I would build relationships and complete only one project.  Today I am amazed at how I was able to achieve so many projects, make so many new connections and learn so much about Decatur County.

The past year has proven to be so much more than a year of service to my country and to my community.  It has proven to be a year of service to myself.  Knowing that I would have only one year of service, does not make writing this final column any easier. I have loved being of service to our communities.

Career education was the primary focus area of my service term.  My work initially centered around fourth through eighth-grade students and educating them about careers they may be interested in.  I found myself working instead with the Lamoni Exploration Academy students in Kindergarten through fifth grade and students at the Mormon Trail Middle and High School during their first ever career day.  These two experiences proved to be invaluable for the students and created life-long memories for me.

At the beginning of my year of service, I found myself completing a “gap analysis.”  I wanted to know what was missing in my VISTA Assignment Description.  What I saw, changed how I approached financial literacy.  It would also change how I conducted my own research and even thought about my own life and personal goals.  The projects I created related to financial literacy and will allow those struggling financially to learn and grow for generations to come.

The financial literacy project will also enable nonprofits throughout Decatur County to utilize a newly created online resource directory. The Directory supports the Financial and Resource Scarcity and You online course.  This online course will allow individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their personal financial and resource scarcity situation.  Beginning to understand these situations and think through the resources available in the county will aid in expanding resources on an ongoing basis.

Service as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Iowa is made up of some elements other than the projects designated by the host agency.  These include a disability inclusion project, collaborative project, networking with a commissioner and a Martin Luther King Day of Service Project along with an AmeriCorps Week project.  For each of these, I was able to design projects that were not only reflective of my own personality, goals, and community but also reflective of the needs of my host agency and my own desire to give something back to others.

For more information on these projects, please visit the AmeriCorps VISTA page on the Decatur County Development Corporation website at https://www.dcdciowa.org.  My hope is that these projects are utilized long into the future.

It has been a real pleasure serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. I want to extend a thank you to Shannon Erb, Executive Director of the Decatur County Development Corporation (DCDC) as well as the DCDC Board of Directors for their vision of utilizing AmeriCorps VISTA to make Decatur the best place possible to live and work in. My hope is that DCDC continues to utilize AmeriCorps and that Decatur county will be meeting a new VISTA soon.

I encourage every American to help your country through National Service at some point in your life.  Giving at least one year will aid you in both personal and professional development. To learn more about National Service visit www.natioanlservice.gov.

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The Value of Summer Employment

By: Dr. Jesse O. Bolinger

I grew up on a family farm five miles north of Creston and learned the value of hard work at an early age.  When I was fourteen, I went to work at the Green Valley Area Education Agency as Part of the JTPA (Job Training placement Act) program and have worked ever since.  Over the past several months, as I have worked to develop an internship program for high school students, I have thought a lot about the value of working while in high school. A recent article in USA Today  made me wonder how our friends and neighbors here in Decatur County started their journey as young people.

I have been fortunate to get to know some wonderful individuals in Decatur County, so I asked a few of them how they got their start.

Strong Start

JoBeth Smith, Director of Human Resources at Decatur County Hospital, told me that “My first summer job was at the Dairy Queen.  Even though my parents had instilled a sense of responsibility and work ethic into me by providing me with chores and babysitting opportunities, this job taught me how to work with the public and the true meaning of customer service.  Work hours & job duties varied as well as types of employees, at the DQ.   All which taught me that flexibility, willingness to learn and acceptance of others made the work more fulfilling!  Plus you got to eat ice cream!”

When Freedom Racing Tool and Auto owner Tad Whittom was a teenager, he never would have imagined that he would run a successful business providing automotive specialty tools to consumers around the world.  When asked about working a summer job in his younger days Tad responded that “Bucking hay bales is no fun. It motivated me to work hard toward a career that didn’t involve bucking hay bales.”

Shirley Kessel, retired middleschool science teacher and former director of the Graceland University AmeriCorps Youth Launch program, says that growing up on a family farm not only taught her the value of hard work but also taught her the value of service to others. “Growing up on farms in southern Iowa taught both my husband and me the work ethic of rural America. We have passed this on to our children and watched it blossom into careers and volunteer service to our communities.”

Providing quality customer service is essential in any job; however, it can be difficult for young people to gain customer service experience, or to understand that they are acquiring these skills.  When I was a teenager, I was fortunate to meet Heidi Bell, before the opening of From the Ground, and when I moved to Decatur County in 2013 I ran into her again.  After countless trips to From the Ground, I noticed something about Heidi, not only was she running a business, she was teaching her employees life skills.

When I approached Heidi about this article, she told me that “I have had the opportunity to work for a variety of employers since I officially started working away from our family farm at the age of 14.  My first summer job experience was at a small local ice cream and food shop. My boss modeled hard work.  Everyone was expected to pull their fair share of the workload.  She cleaned the bathrooms, so it wasn’t beneath me to clean the bathrooms.  She was detailed in her food preparations so I should be detailed in the ice cream treats that I prepared.  She treated even the most difficult customers with respect, and she also wasn’t afraid to have fun with her customers.   This was back in the day when waitresses heavily relied on their tips because we were making way less than minimum wage.  What I took home for pay on most nights depended on how hard I worked and how that work was perceived by the public.  The skills I learned from that first employer have helped me to be the entrepreneur and employer that I am today.”

Making Connections

Talking with these three individuals has reinforced my past life experience and the ideas surrounding the high school internship program I have been working to create in Decatur County.  While some individuals may feel that summer employment opportunities for youth are limited in our county, I believe that opportunities exist for individuals that wish to seek them out.  As Tad and Heidi may share with those who ask, starting a business takes a lot of work; however, that hard work can begin with a simple idea.  For young people who want to work, having common sense, the desire and someone to mentor them can make a big difference.

Making connections between school and work can be difficult for students.  Central Decatur and Lamoni Schools Superintendent Chris Coffelt did not necessarily know that he was developing a passion for education when he taught swim lessons as a teenager in Leon.  Chris shared that “I just wanted to get a tan and a date.” He did not think about the impact he was having on the lives of the children he was teaching.  Today, after being a teacher, principal and now shared Superintendent, Chris realizes that his summer employment experience may be the root of his love for education.  Chris understands the importance of classroom-based learning but also knows that students can gain a lot by being in the community.  “Making connections between the classroom and the real world is important, students need to understand that what they are learning today will help them tomorrow.”

Networking is a skill that can be taught at an early age.  As work continues on the high school internship program, it has become clear to me that the value of this program will be the ability for students to gain basic skills such as customer service while building relationships and the start of a professional network.  As I reflect on my own experience, and that shared by those quoted in this article, I want to encourage all youth in Decatur County to think about their future and how their current summer job, or a summer job they may hold in the future, can impact their future career.

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