Economic development is the process of building stronger and more resilient communities through an ongoing process of promoting the standard of living and economic health of the region. Economic development activities may include attracting new businesses, supporting and retaining existing businesses, or attracting and improving the workforce. However, Economic and workforce development also requires strong infrastructure, adequate housing options, and high quality of life to ensure that workers and businesses alike are happy, healthy, and productive.

The Economic Development (ED) Division of SIMPCO provides a variety of services for member communities including assisting local downtown improvement groups with efforts to revitalize the main street and central business districts, providing technical assistance to local communities and counties with needs assessments and resource identification for economic development planning, collaborating with multiple economic developments and business groups, and providing information to promote sustainable economic development efforts throughout the region.

SIMPCO’s ED division partners with multiple Regional Economic Development Groups which are active in and around the Siouxland Economic Development District. Regional Economic Development groups share the same goal of enhancing the economic health of the region and so actively collaborating with one another allows their resources to create more benefits for the region.