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.

SIMPCO Regional Economic Diversification Summit (REDS)

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

On June 12, 2019, SIMPCO and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) hosted the Regional Economic Diversification Summit (REDS) at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City.  Attendees of the event learned about the region’s economic development resources, networked with other economic development professionals, and shared success stories.

Panels of speakers included representatives from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); U.S. EDA, Iowa State Center for Industrial Research and Service(CIRAS); University of Northern Iowa; University of Nebraska; South Dakota State University; Siouxland Economic Development Corporation (SEDC); Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota Small Business Development Centers (SBDC); Iowa’s West Coast Initiative; University of Iowa Venture School, Iowa Economic Development Authority; Nebraska Department of Economic Development; South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development; South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG); and SIMPCO.

This event was sponsored by: U.S. EDA, WITCC, Mid-American Energy Company, The Siouxland Initiative, Northwest Iowa Development, and SIMPCO.

REDS Agenda June 12, 2019

REDS June 12, 2019 Presenter PowerPoint Slides