Two-state regional economic development

[icejammer]

Governors on hand for new Iowa, Nebraska economic development agreement

Members of the private, public and nonprofit sectors mingled Friday morning in anticipation of an announcement all three groups said would greatly benefit the Council Bluffs-Omaha metropolitan area.

And beyond.

With Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman in tow, officials announced the formation of a two-state, regional economic development organization during an event at Gallup in Omaha.

Advance Southwest Iowa – a newly-formed partnership between the city of Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, Iowa West Foundation, Pottawattamie County and the Western Iowa Development Association – formally joined the Greater Omaha Economic Development partnership.

"Partnering with you will make us all stronger," Branstad told Heineman. "We are in global competition, state lines mean nothing when companies are looking for the best place in the world to do business. And we think we are the best place in the world to do business."

[icejammer]

Pottawattamie County to join Nebraska counties in economic venture

The big economic news in this town of about 250 people is the Painted Camel, a studio, classroom and retail store that potter Peter Koch is opening in a vacant building on Main Street.

That’s just across from the Back 40, the tavern and restaurant where taco nights draw a crowd, and down the block from the museum that holds Dr. Guido Stempel’s 312-bird, 100-year-old taxidermy collection and the 132-seat Grist Mill McCready Theatre and its new black curtain.

Macedonia, named after a biblical reference and located where the West Nishnabotna River is perfect for kayaking – some of the time – is about to become part of a six-county, $6.3 million-a-year, 872,000-person economic development zone.

Starting today, the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership expands its full array of services into Iowa for the first time, adding the two-week-old Advance Southwest Iowa Corp. to its Nebraska partners. . . .

But economic developers in five Nebraska counties and Pottawattamie County in Iowa say they will work together on business recruiting, expansion and retention; marketing and branding the region’s image; improving the business climate; and developing talent.

“Nobody else is doing full-service like we’re planning,” said David Brown, CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Jeff Finkle, president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C., said Omaha has some characteristics that can make a two-state organization viable. . . .

The cross-border courtship hasn’t been 100 percent smooth, and some experts warn that no matter how friendly the new partners seem now, competing interests between the two states could endanger the relationship.

But starting with today’s official kick-off, the partnership will have 37 staffers working both sides of the Missouri River, all sharing leads on new businesses and cooperating on projects large and small.

“What’s driving it is the feedback that we’re getting from site selectors and corporate real estate professionals,” said Bob Mundt, CEO of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce.

“They want to work with regions that cooperate and work together.” . . .

As for neighboring states trying to lure away each other’s employers, Brown said, “We’ve decided we’re not going to do that. That’s the death knell of a regional partnership.” . . .

[icejammer]

Hopefully, this is one more step in the right direction in cooperation between the cities...

Officials: Missouri River should be no barrier between Omaha, Council Bluffs

The Missouri River shouldn’t be a barrier when it comes to the future growth of Council Bluffs and Omaha, a Council Bluffs official said Wednesday.

“It should be a seam that ties us together,” said Memory Mescher, president of the CB Ambassadors.

That seam may be a little stronger following Wednesday’s lunch and tour of the Bluffs by Omaha chamber officials at the invitation of the CB Ambassadors, the welcoming arm of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce.

“This was a nice invite from the CB Ambassadors, a tremendous idea,” said Phil Moyer, chairman of the Omaha Chamber’s Presidents Club, the chamber’s membership arm. “Both chambers need to talk with each other. It’s about doing things together.” . . .