(Spencer)– The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has released its third annual report of interviews conducted with 37 existing industries throughout the corridor region.
Shaun Arneson, Vice President of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, says for the most part, the findings were positive.
Of the 37 companies interviewed in 2009, 58 percent plan to expand their facilities in the region in the next three years, which would create up to 206 new jobs and invest more than 50 million dollars.
25 of the 37 companies have introduced new products, services or capabilities in the last five years and 26 of the 37 plan new products or services in the next two years.
The 37 companies that were interviewed employ over 4,300 people and added 408 new jobs over the last three years…a net gain of 389 jobs.
Workforce availability was rated high, but the companies did express concern over training.
Arneson says results of the survey will be shared with the companies that participated along with the various governmental entities in the corridor’s four-county service area.
