Hwy 151 Regional Development Effort
D~~~E
~t/de-~
MEMORANDUM
May 9,2005
, ,
, '
, ,J 'I
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Regional Development Effort Along Highway 151
On Saturday April 23, Rick Dickinson, Executive Director of Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation, Karen Adams of East Central Intergovernmental Agency,
and Economic Development Director David Heiar joined about fifty other
representatives, at the invitation of the City of Marion, to discuss the possibility of
working together to promote development along Highway 151 between Dubuque and
Marion. There was a consensus among the participants that this concept has merit and
we need to move forward.
It was decided that an executive committee should be established. This Committee will
use the ideas and suggestions from this April 23 meeting to formulate a working plan for
further consideration of the larger group.
If the City of Dubuque wishes to be a part of this process, the next step is to name two
representatives to this executive committee. David Heiar recommends that the City
Council select one representative from City staff or the City Council and that the second
appointment be Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Executive Director Rick
Dickinson. If marketing becomes part of the joint strategy for this group, it seems that
GDDC would be a logical fit to assist with these efforts.
;1~i t1 !lt~"
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
MEETING SUMMARY
HIGHWAY 151 REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING MEETING
April 23, 2005 - 9:00 a.m.
Camp Courageous, Monticello, Iowa
Facilitator Jeff Schott of Marion and City Administrator Tim Rhode of Monticello
welcomed representatives from the communities along the Highway 151 corridor
between Dubuque and Marion to today's meeting. The following persons were present:
Jeff Schott, City of Marion; Dave Heiar, City of Dubuque, Gary Keoppel, Marion
Chamber of Commerce; Jennifer Fischer, Jones County Economic Development
Corp.; Lou Stark, Marion City Council; John Botkin, Marion Economic
Development Co.; John Nieland, Mayor, Marion; Nick Wagner, Marion City
Council; Steve Sprague, Marion Economic Development Co., Joan Marlin, Jones
County Tourism, Roy Ridener, City of Anamosa; Carla Ridener, Anamosa
resident; Dave Gilchrist, John County Land Use; Pat Murphy, Marion Economic
Development! CIPCO; Jane High, Marion Merchants Association; Gerald Muller,
Monticello Attorney; Keith C. Dirks, Jones County Supervisors; Bob Ballou,
Jones County Land Use; Maria White, Monticello Chamber of Commerce; Dan
Goodyear, Monticello Chamber of Commerce; Patty Manuel, Maquoketa Valley
REC; Dale Mescher, Jones County; Rick Dickinson, Greater Dubuque
Development; Jon D. Hatcher, Anamosa City Council; Karen Adams, ECIA; Seth
Williams, JRMC/Anamosa Chamber of Commerce; Rich Knepper, Mayor,
Cascade; Ben Leytem, Cascade City Council; John Howard, Cascade Economic
Development Corp.; Carol Hagen, Monticello resident; Joe Green, Monticello
resident; Tim Rhode, Monticello City Administrator, Bill Cooper, Mayor,
Springville; Michelle Phillips, Anamosa; Ron Freeman, MediaQuest, Cedar
Rapids; Lloyd Welter, Monticello lndependence Board; Lisa-Marie Garlich, East
Central Iowa Council of Government; Carol Frisch, City of Springville.
Schott summarized the minutes of the February 22, 2005 initial meeting of the planning
group in Monticello.
Participants were requested to caucus as communities and respond to the following two
questions: 1) Is your community interested in participating in a regional initiative? 2)
What selling points does your community have to ofter? All communities responded
they are interested in participating in this regional initiative. A summary of the selling
points of each community is attached as Exhibit 1.
The participants were then split into six groups and asked to respond to the following
questions:
1. What are our rooion's strength/selling points?
2. What are our weaknesses/deficiencies?
3. What opportunities/challenges do we face?
4. What are our areas of mutual interest?
5. How do we market our region?
6. How do we pay for this marketing?
7. What are our priorities?
8. Where do we go from here?
9. What do we do next?
10. What do we call our regional effort?
A summary of the responses to these questions is attached as Exhibit 2.
After the groups reported, there was agreement to take the following steps to be
completed no later than June 1:
1. Participants will report the results of today's meeting to their respective City
Councils, Boards of Supervisors, organizational boards, etc.
2. An executive committee will be formed to take the ideas and suggestions from
today and move the planning process forward to implementation.
3. Each community is to identify two persons for this committee (preferably one
person from local government and another person representing the business
sector). In addition, there would be one representative from each of the three
counties (Dubuque, Jones and Linn) and one representative each from ECIA and
ECICOG. Names of the representatives should be forwarded to Jeff Schott (319-
377-1581 or bye-mail: citvmanagerCCi>.citvofmarion.om).
4. Each city is to identify their legislators so they can be added to the mailing list.
Submit names to Jeff Schott.
5. IDEO regional Representative Cali Beals should be briefed on today's meeting
(preferably in person).
Meeting adjourned at 1: 1 0 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Schott
City Manager
Marion, Iowa
JS:st
EXHIBIT 1
SELLING POINTS
DUBUQUE
Greater Dubuque Development Corp
Resources
Assistance
Staff
Information
Etc.
City of Dubuque
Tourism
Higher education
River
Rail
Tri-state area
CASCADE
Location
Affordable residential subdivision developments potential/bedroom community
Industrial site - economic development
Education system - Pre-K-12, public and parochial
Parks and recreation areas
Small town atmosphere/town safety
Caliber of people/community involvement/citizen teamwork
Neat, clean community
Antique specialty shops
Home-owned utilities
ANAMOSA
Centrally located - county seat
Schools - public and parochial
strong in diverse areas
academically
drama/art/music
sports
Only hospital in County
New one will be just off Highway 151
24-hour emergency room
Industrial park development
Strong employment base
Penitentiary - 200
Hospital - 140
J & P - 270
Restaurants - including Daly Winery
Gift Shops
Antique Shops
Only Theatre
Only Community Theatre
Tourism
National Motorcycle Museum
Grant Wood Country
Penitentiary Museum
Quarry
Residential growth
Streetscape
Fayade program
State Park
Hale Bridge Project
New library
JONES COUNTY
Unique Quality of Life
Two county parks - strong camping
State park
Strong museums with National Museum
Festival attendance very strong
Pumpkinfest
Grant Wood Art Festival
J & P Motorcycle Open House and hill climbs
Starlighters Theater
Location
Half way between Cedar Rapids and Dubuque
Regional medical center
Airport
Ideal commuting
Affordable, desirable housing
Business and Industry
Good mix with Super Wal-Mart, antiques
Expanding local industries
Maintenance of labor shed studies
Education
Kirkwood Center
SPRINGVILLE
Small town atmosphere, like Cheers - where everyone knows your name
Broad agricultural community and associated services
Broad range of service businesses
Several specialty businesses - e.g. bed and breakfast
Strong K-12 education system
Economic Development Group (just getting started)
Myriad civic and church groups
Potential for growth
Proximity to large urban areas
Close to several colleges
Modem infrastructure and new sewer lagoon (three times the size needed)
Progressive/forward thinking City Council
New library
Five large city parks (trails)
Ample clean water supply
MARION
Regional transportation - access to other corridors
Recreationallfamily opportunities
Baseball, hockey, basketball, parks, trails, river, parks theater
Health systems
Financial institutions
Small town with city amenities
Strong service organizations
Diverse manufacturing/industrial
Available commercial and industrial developments and land
Pro-growth w/real growth
Small business opportunities and strong entrepreneurial programs
Working relationships within area
Over ten opportunities to higher education opportunities
Diverse housing
Diverse religious
Strong local and regional tourism efforts
Safety - safest city in Iowa with population over 10,000
MONTICELLO
Public open spaces
Potential of tourism with arts and antiques
Good public and private schools
Shared facilities
Strong park and recreation programs for all ages
Regional airport
Clinic level health care
Regional July 4th parade and activities
Strong banking and industrial base
Farm implement dealers (3)
150 Residential and plenty of commercial development opportunities
Ethnic restaurants
New pool and library
No crime
Wetland areas (2)
Natural beauty
Strong Youth Assets Program
Affordable senior housing
Community college
Churches (12)
EXHIBIT 2
REGIONAL ISSUES
1. What are our region's selling points/strengths?
. Scenic location
. Tourism
. Transportation
. Education
. Health care
. Educated available work force
. Senior care
. Corridor gives options and choices
. Housing
. Day care
. Work ethic
. Picturesque drive along 151
. Quality of life
. Access to metropolitan areas (Chicago, Twin Cities, St. Louis)
. Large labor shed and customer base
. Regional population growth
. Telecommunications infrastructure
. Lower cost of living
. Pro-growth communities across area
. Strong recreationlleisure/arts
. Access to major markets
. Potential for small businesses as well as larger
. Diversity of lifestyles
. Career opportunities - variety
. Available spaces for upcoming industry
. Rail and river transportation
. Air: Eastern Iowa Airport, Dubuque Airport, Monticello Airport
. Low crime
. Different sized communities in region
. Amana Society on west-end of 151
. Camp Courageous
2. What are our weaknesses/deficiencies?
. No track record for regional projects
. Lacking a strong corporate headquarters business
. Availability of large labor force
. Lack of mufti-cultural opportunities
. Arts
. Public transportation
. Limited industrial growth nation-wide
· Lack of communication/coordination in region to promote events and
opportunities
. Failure to communicate strengths
· Power supply and transmission
. No identified target
. Real proud independent communities
· Lack of youth involvement
. Lack of professional work opportunities
· Lack of social/recreational opportunities, especially in small communities
· More choices in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque
· Promoting as a region when we are competing with each other
. Infrastructure not fully developed
. Aging population
. Lack of degree opportunities
· Not currently reorganized as a region
. Lower wages
· No geographic draws like mountains/oceans
· No major league sports
3. What opportunities/challenges do we face?
. No current marketing
. Lack of identity
. Consensus or goals
. Funding commitments
. Regular meetings
· Working together/cooperation
. Sharing of success (benefits all)
· Developing an effective organization
. Maintaining interest
· Under-employed population
· Amount of available land
. Preserve natural beauty
. Sharing of information
. Reaching new markets efficiently
. Labor sheds
. Open to working with Wisconsin
. Identifying a niche
· Effective communications for college students about opportunities have
. Ag base
. Make newcomers feel part of community
4. What are our areas of mutual interest?
· Regional business attraction
. Recreation
. Tourism
· Small town feel and identify
· Wholesome lifestyles
. Joint advertising/marketing
. Ag development
. Residential development
· Antique shops
. Education
· Preserve environment/quality of life
· Growing revenue base
. Mutual pride
. Joint lobbying
. Fiber opticlhigh speed communications
5. How do we market the Region? How do we pay?
. Access grant
. Explore advertising options
. Corridor map
. Brochures
. "Show" on the highway
. Connect with other communities
. Web sites
. Corridor calendar
. Logo
. Work with IDED
· Collaborate with adjoining efforts "Super Region"
· Greater Dubuque Development Corp. and Priority One as anchors
· Community colleges
· Consistent budget commitment for all
· Web site links to Greater Dubuque Development Corp., Priority One and
local cities
. Banks
· Community college
. Define target
. Common marking theme
. Work with travel agents/tour companies
. Billboards
. Fundraising activities
· Public/private partnership
6. What are our priorities?
· Promoting the region
· Zoning/orderly growth
· Get some success under our belt
. Define the target
· Define organization
. Define cooperation
. Develop structure
· Name - identification
. Mission statement
· Long-term plan
· Formal organization - Board
· Stay focused on the corridor
· Appoint executive committee
. Set a plan of action
. Begin now
. Assign task forces
· Establish financing/budget
· Continue to be in front of IDED
· Work with ECIA and ECICOG - collaborative efforts
· Look at region successes - nationally and in-state
· Invite college students to participate.
7. Where do we go from here?
· Establish executive committee to report back to larger group-include
representatives of cities, counties, COG's
. Report back to individual cities, boards, organizations
· Get commitment of funds
. Marketing
· More beyond brainstorming - Do It
· Start the excitement - tap media outlets
. Sell the idea - educate/inform
· Make sure we don't exclude any potential partner/stakeholder
8. What do we call our regional effort?
. Project 151
. Marion to Dubuque - 80 miles of fund on 151
. Seasons of Fun on 151
. 151 Four Lane to Fame
. Gateway 151
. Grant Wood 151
. String of Pearls
. Inspirational Highway
. Courageous Corridor
· Don't use the work "corridor" to avoid confusion with 1-380 Technology
Corridor
· American Gothic Pathway
· 151 Experience
. Iowa 151 Experience
. Keywords
Eastern Iowa
Network
Regional
Development
Avenue of Successes
Pathway for Successes
Growing
Heart of Eastern Iowa
Travel
Vision
From the Rolling Hills to the Rolling River
9. Other/Issues/Comments
. Look at fastest growing jobs - target for education
. Target what fits our region
. Mix resources we already have
. Establish internet message board/exchange
. Social exchange/business card exchange
The Gazette, Sun., April 24, 2005
Highway 151's name
may reflect scenery
By Orlan Love
The Gazette
MONTICELLO - The word
"corridor" will not likely be
included in the name eventu-
ally used b:>. market fO!1l'-lane
Highway 151 between Marion
and Dubuque, representatives
of cities along the route
agreed. Saturday during a
brain-storming session at
Camp Courageous.
Proponents of a regional
approach to economic devel-
opment along Highway 151,
whose expansion to four
TRANSPORTATION
lanes was completed last
year, said they want to avoid
confusion with the Technolo-
gy Corridor along Interstate
380 between Iowa City and
Cedar Rapids.
A name for the highway
was just one of several topics
discussed Saturday by about
three dozen representatives of
cities, counties and other
agencies committed to expe-
diting commercial and resi-
dential growth along 151.
Suggestions included Gate-
way 151, Heartland Eastern
Iowa, American Gothic Path-
way and the 151 Experience.
Unlike" most of Iowa's four-
lane highways, which are fast
and efficient ways to get from
Point A to Point B, 151 pr0-
vides motorists an opportuni-
ty to enjoy some of the state's
rmest scenery, said Marion
City Council member Lou
Stark.
Scenery was also one of
several Highway 151 selling
points listed by the partici-
pants.
Others included residents'
strong Midwest work ethic, a
commitment to economic
growth, good schools and
health care, an established
tourism indust,ry and the
charm and friendliness of
small towns such as Spring-
ville, Anamosa, Monticello
and Cascade.
Participants also identified
regional weaknesses and defi-
ciencies, including a lack of
ethnic diversity, limited in-
dustry and mass transit and a
tendency toward insular
communities.
Springville Mayor Bill Coo.
per said the cooperation in-
herent in the regional promo-
tional effort will encourage
communities to think beyond
their own boundaries.
Members of the ad hoc
group agreed to formalize
their relationship by estab-
lishing an executive commit-
tee that will consist of two
representatives from each of
the six participating towns
and cities, one representative
each from Linn, Jones and
Dubuque counties and one
each from the East Central
Iowa Councll of Governments
in Cedar Rapids and the East
Central "Intergovernmental
Association in Dubuque.
Committee members'
mimes are to be submitted by
June 1 to Marion City Manag-
er Jeff Schott, who facilitated
Saturday's meeting.
Participants said the execu-
tive committee's immediate
priorities will be to .derme the
group's identity, draft a mis-
sion statement and formulate
a strategic plan.
A formal organization will
enable the group to apply for
state and federal grants, said
Rick Dickinson, director of
the Greater Dubuque Devel-
opment Corporation.
"We need to have some
money in order to be effec-
tive," Dickinson said.
. Contact the writsr: (319) 934-3172 or
orIan.love@gazettecomlcations.com