New event hopes to connect Southwest Iowa community and economic development leaders
January 10, 2020 | TS Bank
Treynor, IA - TS Bank plans to host the first Southwest Iowa Community and Economic Development Forum on Friday, February 28, 2020, in Griswold, Iowa in partnership with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), Golden Hills RC&D and Western Iowa Development Association (WIDA).
The interactive forum will take place at the new event venue, East of Omaha in Griswold, Iowa, and will be geared toward city, county and government officials, chamber of commerce staff, organizations working on community and economic development, board members and anyone who is passionate about bettering their community.
Attendees can expect to hear from TEDx keynote speaker, Deb Brown, along with a panel of economic development peers on a variety of topics. Guests will also have a chance to network and participate in roundtable brainstorming sessions centered on topics such as downtown development, workforce development, housing, recreational amenities and more. The end goal of this event is for everyone to be able to bring back fresh ideas to their board, organization and community.
The concept for this short-day forum was inspired from the positive interactions and new collaborations that happened during TS Bank’s community advisory group meetings held across Southwest Iowa last year.
“TS Bank is fortunate to serve clients across Southwest Iowa. We appreciate the opportunity to witness all of the amazing things happening in each community,” said Director of Marketing, Melissa Peterson. “We were inspired by all of the forward progress and momentum and hope that this event serves as a conduit to bring all of these amazing people and organizations together to learn from one another.”
The event begins at 9:00 a.m. with a light breakfast and lunch provided. Discussions will wrap up by 2 p.m. and it costs $25 to attend.
Event Agenda:
9:00-9:15 a.m. - Welcome
9:15-10:15 a.m. – Keynote Speaker Deb Brown
10:15-10:30 a.m. – Break
10:30-12:00 p.m. – Panel Presentations and Moderated Discussion
12:00-12:30 p.m. – Lunch
12:30 - 1:50 p.m. – Roundtable Discussions
1:50-2:00 p.m. - Closing
Panelists:
Jenna Ramsey, Community Development Director, Stanton
Beth Waddle, Executive Director of Adams Community Economic Development Corporation
Todd Valline, Executive Director of Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Phil Reed, Oakland Industrial Fund, Oakland
Moderator:
John McCurdy, Executive Director of Southwest Iowa Planning Council
“Our overall goal is to see Southwest Iowa prosper,” said Peterson.
There are currently over 55 people registered, representing Southwest Iowa from Bedford, to Atlantic to Glenwood, Iowa.
To purchase tickets, go to tsbank.com/econforum. For more information call Jessie Shiels at 712-487-0432.
About TS Bank: TS Bank’s mission is to Ignite Prosperity® in the communities it serves. Leading the resurgence of community banking, TS Bank reinvests 10% of their net income locally; hosting educational events and partners with local organizations and non-profits. Treynor State Bank was chartered in 1923 and branded to TS Bank in 2005. TS Bank has $365 million in assets, along with the largest Iowa state-chartered C-Corp trust department west of Des Moines at nearly $218 million in assets named TS Prosperity Group. Locations include Treynor, Macedonia, Atlantic, Corning and Council Bluffs, Iowa. For more information visit tsbank.com.
About Southwest Iowa Planning Council: Southwest Iowa Planning Council's (SWIPCO) goals are to promote regional cooperation and to serve the counties and cities within our region with community and economic development activities to improve the quality of life for all residents in Southwest Iowa. Some of our services include: Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), which operates the public transit system in our eight county region. Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF), which provides safe, affordable housing and expands housing opportunities in the region. RPA 13 provides technical assistance and transportation planning in a four county area. Multiple types of planning and technical assistance are available to our cities and counties including writing plans, grant applications, project management, codes and ordinances, etc. SWIPCO is also the designated economic development area for a six county region and provides funding assistance to new and existing businesses through our Business Revolving Loan Fund.
About Western Iowa Development Association: Western Iowa Development Association (WIDA) functions as a rural chamber of commerce for Pottawattamie County. We coordinate towns, businesses, nonprofits, schools, organizations/groups, city officials, and residents to benefit all and provide a greater community. Our goal is to encourage entertainment, enterprise, tourism, and a quality lifestyle in our rural county areas.