Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance looks to build on success

In many ways, 2023 was among the most successful years in the 13-year history of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance (CRMEA). A total of 163 new businesses joined the CRMEA’s ranks last year, a 15% membership increase, boosting the economic development group’s total membership close to 1,200. Red-jacketed CRMEA ambassadors participated in more than 100 ribbon-cuttings and groundbreaking ceremonies in the metropolitan area in 2023. And the launch of the SubZero construction project in southwest Cedar Rapids in September 2023 marked the fourth consecutive year that Cedar Rapids had a $100 million project to propel the city’s economic development efforts. “It’s a pretty good run,” said CRMEA Policy Board director Hugh Ekberg, who hinted “we're pretty sure that 2024 will continue that trend for the fifth consecutive year” before introducing TrueNorth’s Anne Parmley as the board’s newest director. Still, with the recently-announced downtown visioning plan and the “Buy 319” campaign that drew more than 100 commitments from local businesses to purchase supplies from local vendors, there’s still plenty of potential to propel additional growth in 2024, CRMEA leaders said at the group’s annual meeting Jan. 18 at the DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Cedar Rapids, which attracted just over 1,000 attendees – one of the largest audiences in CRMEA annual meeting history. Mr. Ekberg noted that the downtown visioning plan involves collaboration among the city, the Economic Alliance, the Downtown District, Linn County, and the 2001 Development Corporation through “catalytic strategies” for riverfront development, activating Third Street and using downtown bridges as connectors of vibrancy on both sides of the river. The plan includes some 75 action steps, as well as an implementation committee that's accountable to ensuring the plan is executed and doesn't get lost “amid whatever the future has in store for us.” “I'm confident we're going to make great progress on this in 2024,” he said. “The key is to sustain and maintain the energy and focus behind this to keep it going. Many successful downtowns and communities have executed similar plans. I've been fortunate enough to spend time in some of those communities. And when this is done, (we’ll have) a great Cedar Rapids, a magnificent place more people will want to experience and enjoy. Consistent patience, passion, commitment, communication and collaboration is what's required to get this done. It's going to be a long haul; it's going to be worth it.” Ms. Parmley echoed that sentiment, and also stressed that with her background in education, efforts to improve student success – such as CRMEA board member Rocki Shepard’s drive to incorporate WordFlight, a Coralville company’s reading program, to help improve third grade reading test scores – will be critical in addressing the state’s education needs from a business perspective. “Business leaders have always understood the importance of education to the future of our workforce,” she said. “But often, we've served as cheerleaders from the sideline, instead of players in the game. Today, business leaders cannot be passive bystanders to the issue of educating the next generation of our workforce. Our business needs are evolving, and the challenges in educating our workforce continue to grow. It's just too important for us not to be well-versed and involved in helping improve student outcomes.” In her remarks, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said a number of statewide initiatives under her administration have improved the state’s business climate, including cuts in corporate and personal income tax rates and eliminating state taxes on retirement income, leading to a $1.83 billion state budget surplus and a reserve fund of over $900 million. She also detailed changes in the state’s unemployment system, including infusing case management when claimants enter the system, which has lowered the average unemployment term to less than 10 weeks. She also noted her proposal to cut employers’ unemployment insurance payments in half, saving businesses an estimated $800 million over five years – savings they can use, she said, to create more jobs and increase salaries. Another proposal would tax the state’s child care centers at the residential income tax rate, rather than the higher commercial rate, a plan that would provide cost savings for child care providers on top of the state’s $546 million investment in child care in recent years, which has created more than 24,000 new child care slots statewide and allowed more parents to enter the workforce. Ms. Reynolds also promoted a new literacy program for students with disabilities and a proposal to increase beginning pay for Iowa teachers to $50,000 a year. Yet another proposal would allow registered apprentice programs to count as high school core credits, rather than electives. “What that means is more high school kids will be able to participate in the registered apprenticeship programs and work-based learning programs, because right now they can only do it as an elective,” she said. “This will hopefully get more kids injected and interacting with our great businesses, and more importantly, keeping them here in the state of Iowa.” And finally, a proposed $30 million Workforce Opportunity Fund would work with the state’s community colleges and businesses across the state on innovative programs to better meet the needs of business and industry. “It’s about continuing the partnership and the momentum that we've truly built over the last six years, where our policies – but most importantly, the results – have captured the nation's attention as one of the most livable, most affordable states in the country,” she added.

The event also included an emotional address from Lura McBride, the recipient of the CRMEA's annual Howard Hall Excellence in Business award. “It is such an honor to even be in the same sentence as Howard Hall,” said Ms. McBride, president and CEO of Van Meter Inc. “He definitely goes down in history as a person that I would have loved to have met, a man who adored and respected his wife and mother, the two Margarets of his life, who served our country, whose business savvy fueled local economic development and whose heart was focused on serving others.” Ms. McBride was also effusive in her thanks to her peers, family, friends and the employees of Van Meter. “Our people care a lot,” she said. “I am so fortunate. I get to work in the greatest company and live in the greatest community with the greatest people in the world, not just Iowa – in the world. This is a privilege. I am grateful and I am hopeful for our future, because I'm doing this with you and I know you all care a lot, too.” She concluded her remarks by stressing the importance of the CRMEA’s economic, workforce development and quality of life initiatives. “This is critical work that we all must continue to partner on, and to the Hall Perrine Foundation, thank you for taking such great care of the resources that the family left to us,” she said. “These resources serve as a catalyst to support the missions of our incredible local nonprofits and the work that they do today. And to all of you, fellow community leaders, thank you for all that you do. We have come a long way over the last decade, and there is so much more work that we need to do together for the next decade. Please don't stop caring and don't stop giving. Howard hasn't. Our region's best is yet to come.” The event concluded with remarks from Alex Baker, manager of location analysis and incentives for Maxis Advisors, who helped work with local officials to draw SubZero to Cedar Rapids. In a keynote discussion with CRMEA executive director Doug Neumann, Mr. Baker highlighted some of the factors that set Cedar Rapids apart in economic development and workforce recruitment efforts.