Catch up on this week's Corridor news.

This Week in the Corridor
10th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon

The Corridor's Annual Business Recognition Luncheon will be held Wednesday, November 13 at 11:30 a.m.

For 10 years, the Corridor has recognized businesses and community leaders for successes in our region. The Business Recognition Luncheon gives us an opportunity to thank all of you for your work to improve the Iowa Lakes Corridor Region.

The nomination period is open for  Big Business of the Year (30 or more employees), Small Business of the Year (under 30 employees), Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Professional of the year. To be eligible, the business or individual must be located in the Iowa Lakes Corridor Region: Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, or Emmet counties. Big and Small Business of the Year will be awarded to for-profit businesses. Businesses/individuals may nominate themselves, and multiple nominations may be submitted.
Nominations will be judged based on the following criteria:
  • Commitment to customers
  • Commitment to employees
  • Commitment to community
  • Level of innovation
  • Quality of product/service
  • Long-term sustainability of the business
Young Professional nominations will be judged based on
  • Commitment to the community
  • Impact on their place of work
  • Volunteerism and civic engagement
  • Social engagement with other young professionals

Nominate a business or individual  that you feel deserves recognition for their contributions to our community.
You can see the list of past winners here.
Industry Laborshed Reports

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Laborshed report was only released last week and already Iowa Workforce Development is offering enhancements.
 
IWD's Labor Market Information Division, a strong, strong partner of economic developers across the state, has prepared a series of industry specific reports for each of the four counties in our region. If the general reports are black and white photos, these reports add the color that local business leaders need to make actionable decisions.
 
Four reports are available for each county and the region:
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Biotechnology
  • Financial Services
  • Warehouse and Distribution
 
Consider a hypothetical Estherville company that needs to hire two people to move stock through the warehouse. With the new warehouse and distribution report, the hiring manager now knows that there are approximately 129 people in similar jobs in and around Estherville and their median wage is $15.20 per hour.
 
Similar jobs in Spencer, by comparison, pay a median of $14.94.
 
All 20 industry specific reports are now available on the Corridor website.
 
Our team is also happy to email electronic copies upon request. Just reach out to Kiley, kmiller@lakescorridor.com, Alyssa, apetersen@lakescorridor.com, Joanne, jfollon@lakescorridor.com, or Brian, bdalziel@lakescorridor.com, for assistance.

Thank you to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for funding this Laborshed.
Featured Real  Estate

Site: Spirit Lake Shell Building
Industrial, Warehouse/Distribution
Location: 540 5th St. E.
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
30,000 sf.
Sale Price: 
$799,000

For more information, visit  the Corridor website!
News to Know
Corridor businesses receive 'Top Workplace' awards

The Des Moines Register released the 2019 Top Workplaces rankings, and many Corridor businesses have made it onto the list. The companies were recognized based solely on surveys about the workplace that were completed by their employees. Employers from our region that are recognized include Arnold Motor Supply; Aventure Staffing; Bank Midwest; Buena Vista Regional Medical Center; Central Bank; Erpelding, Voigt & Co., LLP; ISG; and Northwest Bank.


ILCC to host Advanced Manufacturing Festival

Iowa Lakes Community College is hosting an event to interest middle school students in STEM-related careers. The Advanced Manufacturing Festival will be held on October 4th in the ILCC SERT building.

Learn about the program.

Anonymous donor gives money for BVU scholarships

An anonymous donor that believes in Buena Vista University's mission to make Northwest Iowa thrive has donated $1 million for student scholarships. The Invest in Rural Iowa Scholarship Program at BVU provides scholarships to enrolled students from Northwest Iowa that demonstrate a need while also showing potential to return to their rural community to be engaged as a citizen in Northwest Iowa.

Read more about the gift and the scholarship program.

Save the Date!
There are tons of great events coming soon in the Corridor!
Investor Spotlight
Each week, we want to feature and thank the businesses and individuals that have committed to economic development and growth in our communities. To learn more about these investors and others, visit our Business Directory !
Safco Products
Sector:  Manufacturing
Location: Milford
Description: Mayline® and Safco®: Together, stronger than ever, and ready to enhance work spaces one piece of office furniture at a time. 
Security Trust & Savings Bank
Sector: Financial & Insurance Services
Location: Storm Lake
Description : There is no substitute for experience. As a community bank that has been family-owned since it opened in 1908, Security Trust & Savings has a wealth of experience helping members of the community in good times and bad. The sense of "being there" for customers and community has been a huge part of the culture since the beginning.

Jobs in the Iowa Lakes Corridor
vacancy_sign_desk.jpg
Post your jobs where quality candidates are already looking: lakescorridor.com

See more current job openings here.


Job Title Employer Date
Human Resource Specialist Iowa Lakes Community College 9/16/2019

Questions? Want to be featured in next week's newsletter?
Contact the Iowa Lakes Corridor at info@lakescorridor.com, 
or call us at 712-264-3474. 
Iowa Lakes Corridor | 712-264-3474 | info@lakescorridor.com  |   www.lakescorridor.com
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