Greene County Development Corporation is now part of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. GCDC board president Scott Weber (left) and Alliance president and CEO Dan Culhane (right) signed a contract at an early morning gathering Aug. 6 in downtown Jefferson.
The GCDC board and the entire 17-member Alliance staff attended.
Alliance will provide organizational administration and expertise in workforce development, business retention and expansion, housing initiatives, communications, website development and media support.
Michelle Book, who served as GCDC interim director after the departure of Ken Paxton at the end of May, called the new partnership “a crossroads,” and “a full union between two powerhouse organizations.”
“Today we celebrate not only the creation of a transformative partnership, but also a pivotal moment in Greene County’s proud tradition of economic progress,” Book said.
CEO Culhane said Alliance would provide autonomy to GCDC, providing management and “credible support.” Greg Piklapp, who has been with Alliance for four years, will serve as GCDC executive director, “the tip of the spear.”
Piklapp has worked with the smaller towns in Alliance and also lobbies in the Iowa statehouse and in Washington on public policy dealing with businesses and communities. Every member of the Alliance staff specializes in various aspects of economic and community development.
He said signing a contract “reflects a shared vision, regional trust reflected in communities growing, innovation and prosperity across the Hwy 30 corridor.” He called the agreement between GCDC and the Alliance “a testament to the belief that together we’re stronger.”
Piklapp plans to be in Jefferson two days a week, officing at the Gravitate co-working space.
Weber said GCDC has had many successes, and added, “I’m very excited for today and the future success for Greene County. Today marks a new era for GCDC and Greene County, and I’m as confident as ever that we, along with the AREA group, will help our businesses and our communities succeed even more as we move forward with this cooperation.”
Greene County supervisor Pete Bardole, who serves ex officio on the GCDC board, said the board is looking forward to good communication with Piklapp and opportunities to grow the population of the county.
With the partnership, AREA now works in four counties – Story, Boone, Hamilton and Greene.
Early in the program retired newspaper publisher and longtime GCDC board member Rick Morain spoke of Sid Jones, retired Home State Bank president and an energetic champion of economic development in the county. Jones passed away Aug. 3 at the age of 71. Morain recalled Jones’ spearheading the Vision 2020 strategic planning project 10 years ago. He also initiated the Multicultural Family Resource Center, and recently set GCDC on the pathway with AREA. He spoke of Jones’ “thoughtful, patient community development guidance,” called him a “futurist,” and concluded, “I look forward to the bright future for the county toward which Sid helped to steer us.”
