Tag Archives: cedar valley

‘Dream Big Grow Here’ receives Mid-American EDC economic development award

‘Dream Big Grow Here’ receives MAEDC economic development award

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa’s Dream Big Grow Here program received first place in the Mid-America Economic Development Council’s 2012 annual Economic Development Awards’ online marketing category in the small market division.

Dream Big Grow Here was started by the UNI Regional Business Center through MyEntre.Net, Iowa’s online community for Iowa entrepreneurs and small business. The contest is a way to award grants to deserving small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses in Iowa. In 2012, hundreds of Iowa companies from nearly 60 different communities competed in one of 10 regional Dream Big Grow Here contests for $5,000. The regional award winners then compete for a $10,000 grand prize.

The Mid-America Economic Development Council is dedicated to enhancing economic developers’ knowledge, capabilities and opportunities through multi-state networking, education and site selector interaction. For many years, it has sponsored the annual Economic Development Awards competition to recognize and stimulate the creative use of quality marketing by economic development organizations throughout the 10-state Mid-America region in promoting their respective communities. MAEDC’s awards partner is Site Selection magazine, and all first-place winners will be highlighted in an ad in the January issue of Site Selection magazine.

For more information about MAEDC, please visit www.maedc.net.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, in partnership with UNI’s Small Business Incubator and Regional Partners, hosted the 2012 and 2013 Cedar Valley Dream Big Grow Here contests. More information can be found at http://cedarvalleyalliance.com/cms/238/Cedar_Valley_Innovation_Day.

GCVAC Work the Valley Talent Tells All Event to Help Employers See What They Are Missing.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is bringing together a panel of recent college graduates and young professionals to share ideas for how the Cedar Valley employers can become more engaged with the local, YP population.

CEDAR VALLEY of IOWA (December 3, 2012)—On Friday, December 7^st from 10 am-12pm, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber (GCVAC) will host a panel discussion to help Cedar Valley employers improve their recruitment practices. This event, titled Talent Tells All, part of the GCVAC’s “Work the Valley” program, will feature approximately six, young professionals who chose positions in communities outside the Cedar Valley. The goal of the event is to provide candid feedback in order to make Cedar Valley employers more competitive and attractive to college graduates and young professionals. All Cedar Valley business leaders and HR professionals are encouraged to attend the event to be held at Hilton Gardens Inn & Conference Center, 7213 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls, IA.

“We are always looking for better ways to attract and retain talented young professionals. Work the Valley events help us highlight the outstanding opportunities the Cedar Valley has to offer. We believe the fresh perspectives and frankness of the Talent Tells All conversations will help Cedar Valley employers increase their competitiveness in the race to secure highly skilled talent,” said Steve Dust, CEO of GCVAC.

Talent Tells All, made possible by a partnership with UNI Career Services, is part of the GCVAC’s focus on workforce development for the Cedar Valley. Having more young professionals choose local opportunities over those in outside communities, is a key to business growth and innovation says Britt Jungck, Director of Business Services for the Alliance and Chamber, “Our goal is to increase the contact between our top employers and the emerging talent in this community. We want our young professionals to see the career opportunities and become inspired to get invested in our community, and we want our businesses to get access to fresh ideas through this impressive generation of rising professionals.”

Employers interested in attending the event or desiring more information on GCVAC workforce initiatives can contact Brittany Jungck, Director of Business Services at the GCVAC office: (319) 232-1156.

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Cedar Valley Talent Connect Job Fair Scheduled to Serve Former Hostess Employees

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is partnering with Cedar Valley IowaWORKS to host a job fair for former Hostess employees looking for opportunities for employment in industrial positions, logistics, and maintenance.

CEDAR VALLEY of IOWA (November 27, 2012)—On Friday, November 30st from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber (GCVAC) will host a job fair for former Hostess employees looking for new positions. This fair, a part of the GCVAC’s “Cedar Valley Talent Connect” program, will feature approximately twenty, local employers and will be held at Schoitz Room of the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St. Waterloo, Iowa. Displaced workers with an interest in careers in industrial positions including production workers and material handlers, truck drivers, warehouse personnel, and maintenance will be the focus of this event. The GCVAC is partnering with Cedar Valley IowaWORKS to make direct connections with as many, former Hostess employees as possible. “Brittany Jungck and our entire Economic Development team, along with our partners at IowaWORKS and the Rapid Response team are committed to making unemployment a short-lived condition for former Hostess employees,” said Steve Dust, CEO of GCVAC. Employers interested in participating in the fair can contact Brittany Jungck, Director of Business Services at the GCVAC office: (319) 232-1156. A direct link with information about this event can also be found by clicking here.

Branstad to Visit Cedar Valley to Promote Local SkilledIowa Campaign

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is hosting Governor Terry Branstad and Teresa Wahlert, Director of Iowa Workforce Development to promote the local SkilledIowa campaign aimed at creating a robust talent pool for the 21^st century workforce.

Cedar Valley of Iowa (Nov. 8, 2012) All Cedar Valley businesses are encouraged to attend a SkilledIowa presentation featuring Governor Terry Branstad and Teresa Wahlert, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. They are in the Cedar Valley in support of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber and Hawkeye Community College’s partnership to develop a SkilledIowa Communities program and promoting involvement of local employers. The presentation will include information on how Cedar Valley business and industry can become a Featured Employer, the positive impact of the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) testing system and how to gain access to job profiling advice from workforce professionals.

The GCVAC is promoting the SkilledIowa program as a tool for our employers to attract and retain quality talent. Representatives from the GCVAC and Hawkeye Community College’s IowaWORKS division will be available to answer questions.

“The supply of high quality talent is a key component to economic growth,” states Steve Dust, CEO of the Alliance & Chamber, “Our role is to encourage and facilitate the participation of Cedar Valley companies and institutions so they can fill their positions with skilled job seekers.”

The event is free, but seating is limited. The program will begin at 3pm in the auditorium inside Barrett Forum Auditorium on the Allen College Campus (1990 Heath Street, 50703.

Vote for job creation, favorable business climate and prosperity

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is proud to participate in the Iowa Prosperity Project (P2) sponsored by Economic Progress for Iowa ‘s Citizens (EPIC), a not-for-profit entity founded in 1991 by a number of businesses and statewide business associations. EPIC is a non-partisan organization dedicated to research and the dissemination of data on the attitudes of Iowa ‘s citizens, legislators, and legislative candidates on matters affecting business.

Like the GCVAC, EPIC believes that Iowa and its citizens will benefit from a “pro-business” environment. The resources found on the P2 website neither endorse nor oppose any candidate for public office, rather, it is a resource to inform the electorate by publicizing issues and factual information on those issues, and to be active participants in the political process.

The GCVAC encourages you to subscribe our Legislative Relations blog where we will be providing local insights and links to resources including P2 .
Use the link in the right side column to subscribe.

With all the political messages filling the media, it can be confusing whose name will be on your local ballet.
Find your candidates by entering your full street address below. You may also enter just your zip code if you wish.
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Use this search form to find your elected officials at all levels of government and see how your incumbent performed in the last term.
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Election Insights is a political analysis publication of the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC). BIPAC is an independent, bipartisan organization, that is supported by several hundred of the nation’s leading businesses and trade associations.

“The importance of election at the state level cannot be emphasized enough. While most of the focus and attention revolves around the tightening presidential race and a few contests for the U.S. Senate, what happens at the state level is typically more relevant to our daily lives and the pocket book issues Americans rate as the most important issue facing the country.” – By Michael R. Davis

Encouraging Young Professionals to Work the Valley

As part of an overall strategy to develop, recruit, and retain talented people in the Cedar Valley economic area, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is launching Work the Valley, a talent retention program targeting college students and young professionals (YPs). Work the Valley encourages YPs to stay in the Cedar Valley by showcasing appealing work places, careers, great company cultures and local life style amenities attractive to their demographic.

Work the Valley engages students and YPs with tours of Cedar Valley employers, business districts and cultural & entertainment venues, discussions & informative presentations, and specialty job fairs.

GCVAC Director of Business Services, Brittany Jungck says that when YPs experience firsthand all that the Cedar Valley offers they will be more likely to stay to build a career. “We want to show them that the Cedar Valley really can provide opportunities in line with their career goals yet with a much lower cost of living than bigger metros they may be attracted to.’’

The initial Work the Valley Bus Tour is November 1st in partnership with the UNI Career Center. Forty UNI students will visit four businesses and cultural venues and have opportunity to speak with 10 companies about current job openings and future employment outlooks.

Fulfilling the Vision2 – The Cedar Valley’s Equation for Continuing Economic Growth

The work of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber (GCVAC) is to help business and institutions grow in our area, increasing economic vitality and wealth. Repositioned and growing businesses and institutions have produced significant results for the Cedar Valley economic area over the past five years, which included some of the worst years in modern US economic history. GCVAC delivered major development projects, services and opportunities resulting in healthier businesses, over $260 million in new capital investment, good jobs, and a more robust business climate. In those unfavorable times, GCVAC’s work contributed to rising wages and a modest increase in population, when similar cities around the country saw decline. It has emerged as a leader in regional economic development, building relationships with businesses and development organizations throughout the Cedar Valley economic area.

The financial investments of businesses and institutions throughout the Cedar Valley fund our work – fulfilling your vision of more economic growth and prosperity to the area. The Fulfilling the Vision2 is both a framework plan and funding campaign designed to respond to today’s quickly shifting and sometimes unpredictable economic realities. Through FtV2, the work of GCVAC is focused on: Workforce & Talent Retention, Recruitment and Development; Business Growth Through Expansion and Location in Targeted, High Value Sectors; Building a Strong Cedar Valley Brand Message to Businesses, Talent, and in Government Relations; Increase Regional Collaboration Among Business & Civic Interests; and Collecting & Reporting Useful Data on our economic base. Emphasis will shift as opportunities and need of our Cedar Valley region dictate.

GCVAC is finding strong, unprecedented regional support for FtV2 program and campaign. The campaign is now over the 50% level, with momentum building to reach successful completion near the end of 2012. To learn more, please visit www.CedarValleyAlliance.com to view a video featuring several area businesses, cities, and GCVAC work.

Your financial support – an investment in our work to expand our economy – is important to our success. It will benefit everyone who wants to strengthen our businesses, expand quality employment opportunities, and create a greater place to work, build a career, and enjoy life. To schedule an appointment with one of our FtV2Leadership Team volunteers to discuss why they are involved and how you can best assist, call Campaign Coordinator Blake Woods at 319-232-1156

Total Resource Campaign – Brings Value & Opportunity to Local Business

Be Part of Something Greater – the Cedar Valley of Iowa is more than a tag line. It is an invitation to be part of the largest business organization in Northeast Iowa. It is an invitation to leverage the reputation, opportunities, and the benefits of being an investor that the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber offers. An investment in the GCVAC gives your company the opportunity to gain exposure for your product or service, and build brand awareness through event and advertising sponsorships. Involvement helps keep you up to date with the latest public policy and legislative issues, and provides frequent opportunities to network with local business leaders who are committed to the strength and vitality of the Cedar Valley regional economy. Business services and resources are also available to help with workforce and expansion needs. Here are three ways your company or organization can benefit from investing in the GCVAC:

1. GCVAC Website/Mobile app Investor Directory

The GCVAC website is a resource for the both B2B decision makers and consumers when searching for other area businesses to work with. As an investor/member you receive an online directory listing with links to your website, videos, social media channels and coupon promotions. A directory is also printed annually and distributed throughout the community and in relocation packets. The soon to be released mobile versions of the investor directory will put your company’s contact information in the palm of consumers’ hands for convenient dialing and mapping.

2. B2B Targeted Marketing

With approximately 900 investor/member businesses and organization, promoting your company’s brand, events, or milestones through our e-newsletter, Business Monthly newsletter, mailing label or fax distribution service are cost effective ways to reach approximately 1,500 subscribers or more. Only GCVAC investor/members have this kind of access to the engaged local business community.

3. Sponsor or Host a GCVAC event

GCVAC events are wildly popular! These events often sell out. Sponsors and hosts are highlighted in various ways through promotions, print pieces and signage, and in some cases companies are given opportunity to speak or have a display table at certain events. Sponsorships come at a variety of price points to accommodate businesses large or small.

A team of GCVAC volunteers are available to speak with you about the sponsorship opportunities that best suit your marketing needs. Through the Total Resource Campaign (TRC) you can design your sponsorships to work with your annual marketing budget.

For more information about GCVAC investor/membership and sponsorships contact Bette Wubbena, Director of Member Services or Business Manager, Kim Schleisman by e-mail at bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com, kschleisman@cedarvalleyalliance.com or call 319-232-1156.

Call for Nominations and Applications Diversity & Inclusion Awards

These awards will be given for outstanding contribution by a business or organization for leadership in creating and strengthening an environment of diversity and inclusion in the workplace culture, business practices and in the community. Awards will be made in three catagories based on the size of the business or organization.

Awards to be presented at the 2013 Annual Celebration, March 7, 2013 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, Waterloo.

The application is a great score card to use in evaluating your company’s Diversity & Inclusion practices. Please contact the Bob Justis at the GCVAC if you intend to participate.

More information and application here.

http://cedarvalleyalliance.com/cms/146/Diversity_Inclusion

Grow Cedar Valley