Plan Purpose:
The final completion of the four-lane U.S. Highway 20 in the Siouxland region, in November 2018, creates many opportunities for the counties and communities along the corridor. This study records the Siouxland region’s economic development opportunities associated with the U.S. Highway 20 corridor that extends across the nation from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon. The purpose of this SIMPCO Region U.S. Highway 20 Corridor Economic Development Study is to develop collaborative strategies to:
- Enhance the SIMPCO region’s prosperity through the promotion of the U.S. Highway 20 corridor and marketing of the communities on a regional level
- Promote commerce and industry along the U.S. Highway 20 corridor and increase the capacity of the region to promote job creation and private investment in the regional economy
- Inform community stakeholders of the economic development strengths, potential, opportunities, and assessment of specific development sites and future projects for consideration
- Facilitate collaboration between multiple dedicated stakeholders by identifying economic development partners, providing opportunities to network and facilitating private-public partnerships
Recommendation:
To implement the recommended strategies identified in the study in the following topics: Region Context, Economic Development Partners, Community Identity, Transportation and Utilities, Cluster Analysis, and Site Selection.
Future Impact:
- A record of the 5-County study region’s context and economic development indicator’s that act as benchmarks for future comparison and measurement of the impact of the U.S. Highway 20 corridor conversion completion in the region. Indicators include population demographics, wages, number of jobs, cost of living, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT), commuting trends, and an inventory of transportation and utility infrastructure.
- A catalog of the 5-County study region’s Economic Development Partners for future collaboration and initiatives
- An inventory of the participating sponsors community identities for marketing of the communities on a regional level
- Cluster Analysis of the 5-County study region to increase the economic development capacity of the region, promote job creation and promote private investment in the regional economy
- An inventory of the existing available sites and buildings in the region to promote private investment, commerce and industry along the U.S. Highway 20 corridor and site development opportunities for future consideration
- Identified economic development strategies for implementation and consideration
- Facilitated collaborative efforts to enhance the community and quality of life in the region
To view the U.S. Highway 20 Corridor Economic Development Study: click here
