(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson County Supervisors Tuesday heard an update from Shannon Landauer, President and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. Landauer says they are increasing the number of businesses and industries they survey on a regular basis…
“The corridor traditionally had done 20 to 25 visits annually. This year we’ve done 55. I’ve really pushed the team to grow that effort. We have to know what’s happening and that starts at some of our small businesses and industries, not just those larger, primary employers. So of those, 12 were Dickinson county visits that we completed. Of those 55, 19 have expansion projects that are soon underway or slated within a 24 month timeframe for start. That totals 150 million dollars in capital investment and 200 new positions throughout the region. Of those, three are Dickinson county companies that are looking to grow as well.”
Landauer adds they are currently working with 26 new economic projects in Dickinson county…
“Several of those are start-up, they’re small business projects. One just last week was a service project wanting about a 20,000 square foot building, so a lot of different types of projects that we’re seeing. Six of those are small business expansions not previously noted with our area activity.”
Landauer says constructing a new spec building is becoming a priority now that the one in Spirit Lake has been sold. She says companies base decisions on where to locate largely in part on the immediate availability of a suitable structure, not just land.
