BY CINDY TOOPES COURIER STAFF WRITER
July 11, 2008 12:38 am
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OTTUMWA — Jobs and electricity. Those are two important components of most citizens’ lives.
Representatives from Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation and Alliant Energy recently updated the Ottumwa City Council on their efforts and presence in the community.
OEDC Director Roger Jones said the organization’s main job is to “bring jobs to the city.” Most of his leads are from Area 15 and inquiries usually include a need for existing buildings.
Jones said the city is still “in the running” for two manufacturing businesses — windtower components and experimental airplanes.
“Sears may open a store here and I hope to see the appliance-sized Sears,” Jones said.
OEDC makes numerous calls to businesses in targeted areas and asks if they “are planning to expand in the Midwest.
“Lately, we’re lucky to get two answers out of 100 calls but we think it’s great when anyone calls back,” he said. “We have our targeted communities and we’re working hard on those.”
Jones said OEDC also contacts leaders of existing businesses two or three times a week to ask about their concerns and plans.
Mayor Dale Uehling said “retaining business is important.”
“Eighty percent of the city’s growth has come from retaining businesses,” he added.
Jones is also working with “Opportunity Squared” and OEDC is no longer part of the River Hills Initiative or the Southeast Iowa Manufacturers Consortium. OEDC has retained contact with Indian Hills Initiative and Mick Lawson of IHCC assists with the OEDC Web site.
“We’re still streamlining our Web site, which is a top marketing tool these days,” Jones said.
“Ottumwa Trends” is still ongoing and he hopes the online publication “provides valuable information to citizens.” (Online at opportunitysquared.com)
“We do have some success — unemployment is down and the majority of business is up,” Jones said.
All citizens wants the power to be there when they flip the switch. Alliant Energy contributed $6,095,387 in “electric infrastructure investments” in Ottumwa during a five-year period (2005-07), according to Laurie Appleget, an Alliant strategic accounts manager.
In 2007, Alliant crews responded to 346 non-storm related electric outages with an average restoration time of 71 minutes; and, crews also responded to 392 storm-related outages, including the February and December ice storms.
Appleget also told the council Alliant has contributed $22,300 to “economic development in the Ottumwa area from 2000 to 2008.”
The power company has contributed to OEDC by featuring industrial properties and community in several Alliant Energy ads and on the Web site; been involved with the Rubbermaid Corporation warehouse/distribution center project; and conducted a “Ready, Set, Go! Positioning Your Small Community for Success” workshop in Ottumwa.
Appleget said Alliant Energy Foundation Support of Ottumwa contributed $74,927 during 2000-07 in corporate contributions and foundation grants; and, the foundation matched $1,160 in 2007 employee gifts to Ottumwa organizations.
Alliant has an operating facility at 550 Gateway Drive, Ottumwa. Thirty employees work out of that office, including management and field personnel; and, the Ottumwa Generating Station, 20775 Power Plant Road, near Chillicothe, Wapello County.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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