Highlight: Women-led Economic Development District’s Making a Difference in EDA’s Denver Region

EDA-funded Economic Development Districts (EDDs) - multi-jurisdictional entities, commonly composed of multiple counties and in certain cases even cross-state borders - play a vital role in leading the locally-based, regionally driven economic development planning process that leverages the involvement of the public, private and non-profit sectors to establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration.

Many of the EDD’s in EDA’s Denver Region are led by women and they are using their unique perspectives to drive the planning process in their organizations’ service areas.

Read about some of the work they are doing to create economic opportunity in their regions:

Michelle Haynes, Executive Director, Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Planning, Colorado

Michelle Haynes, Executive Director, Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Panning, Colorado

As the Executive Director of Region 10, an EDD and Council of Governments serving six counties in Western Colorado, collaboration is my primary responsibility and focus. Since 1972, Region 10 League of Economic Assistance and Planning has provided services such as regional transportation planning, economic development strategy, business services and loans, and senior services and support, as well as strategic projects to improve our region’s economic and social well-being.

One such project is regional broadband. As the country began recovery from the Great Recession, our rural areas lagged far behind. Exploring how to improve economic development in a rural area, access to broadband became a key focus of business retention and recruitment. Much of the area had limited access to service, and the access that was available through traditional carriers proved to be expensive.

Region 10, with the assistance of a state grant, began working with a consultant, Diane Kruse of NeoConnect of Carbondale, Colorado, for development of a broadband plan. This innovative plan relied heavily on use of existing infrastructure, much of which was constructed and utilized by the electrical services for operational use. With support from a state granting agency, EDA, and the regional counties and communities, development of a regional infrastructure began to bring affordable, abundant broadband services.

Access to broadband services with connectivity comparable to large urban areas will enable our region to be competitive for businesses, entrepreneurs, and location neutral employees, allowing freedom of choice for community and lifestyle, while retaining the connectivity needed to be productive in our current society.

Women leaders have the inclination to bring inclusion and collaboration to the table, serving multiple populations, needs, and projects for both communities and businesses, creating connectivity among our ourselves, and those we serve.

Rachelle Howe, Executive Director, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Iowa

Rachelle Howe, Executive Director, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Iowa

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) in Postville, Iowa, was formed in 1972 to serve the 52 cities and five counties in the Northeast Iowa region.

The Commission is incredibly experienced in the administration and management of federal and state funded programs. Since 1972, the Commission has received over $239 million in state and federal financial assistance to improve the quality of life for the region and has served as the fiscal agent for Iowa Workforce Development’s Region 1 Workforce Board since August 2010. The Commission has established a notable relationship with the regional manager of Iowa Workforce Development, assisting with annual budgets, subcontracts, and fiscal reports for Region 1.

The Commission’s goal has always been to provide our cities and counties with creative and practical consulting services at the most reasonable cost possible to enable our local governments to efficiently and effectively meet their goals and objectives. We take serious stake in building our region as an economic development driver. We have focused on building an entrepreneurial culture within the region and have developed workshops for entrepreneurs such as QuickBooks, social media and marketing, customer services training, farm succession, pasture grazing and more.

Assisting women with their career goals is a major focus of our organization and we have developed critical assets within our region to assist. Those include:

• The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative, which has brought people in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties together to make our region a place where, every day, all people have access to healthy, locally grown foods and abundant opportunities for physical activity in the places where we live, learn, work and play. They have developed a women summit each year highlighting women in leadership roles as well as high profile business roles. It allows women a chance to collaborate and build a network of women leaders within local foods and other businesses.
• Annie’s Project - an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in modern farm and ranch enterprises - has been localized to meet the needs of farm and ranch women by providing technical assistance in:
• Financial Risk – women and money, basic financial documentation, interpreting financial statements, enterprise analysis, USDA programs, and record keeping systems
• Human Resource Risk – communication and management styles, insurance needs, and succession planning
• Legal Risk – estate planning, farmland leasing, and employee management
• Market Risk – access to market information and grain or livestock marketing
• Production Risk – Natural Resources Conservation Service, web soil survey, and crop insurance.
• UERPC’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) assists businesses with start- up and business expansion in the five-county area jurisdiction. UERPC has a total of 39 RLFs on-going at this time. Out of the 39 awards, that includes a local capital investment of $1.5 million and an award total of $587,900. Out of the 39 business awards, 22 of those businesses are women-owned.
• UERPC partners with the Iowa Governor’s STEM advisory Council, University of Northern Iowa, Luther College, Northeast Iowa Community College, Iowa State University and Extension, and Keystone AEA to host a STEM festival for over 389 children. Attendees encounter 27 hands-on exhibits throughout one afternoon. The general audience is children from the 3rd to 8th grades, although the event attracts children of all ages. Over 195 of the children participants were girls. This event is a great way to show girls and young ladies that science, technology, engineering and math are not only for the men of the world.

To me as a professional woman, I believe that success isn’t based on how much money you make, but by the difference you make in people’s lives. I want to inform girls that they can succeed, they can move past the negative comments, to take chances and to learn to love themselves. I have found it helpful to surround myself with the strength of other strong women. I am proud to be a woman and am glad we have a celebration to commemorate women in history.

Sharon Hueftle, Executive Director, South Central Economic Development District, Inc., Nebraska

Sharon Hueftle, Executive Director, South Central Economic Development District, Inc., Nebraska

The South Central Economic Development District, Inc. (SCEDD) exists to be the resource businesses and communities rely on for advice and connections to programs designed to help businesses grow and ensure community sustainability.

As the first employee and the Executive Director of SCEDD, it’s been my privilege to steward the growth of this organization for twelve years, starting in a home office by myself to a current staff of eight, providing business consulting and loans, nuisance abatement, grant writing and administration, planning services, and our newest - new home construction.

I love working with our businesses and communities; having raised four kids, I equate it to raising teenagers. We hold the hands of community leaders and business owners, provide information and tools to assist them in taking the next right step, and encourage them when we can see things from our vantage point that aren’t obvious from the trenches. The challenge comes when we want something for them more than they want it for themselves. Women are gifted at facilitating and hand-holding, but because we are very passionate about our work – letting go is hard. However, women are remarkable at holding the door open, so when that teenager – I mean community leader or business owner – returns for assistance, we are eager to continue walking them down the path of their “next right step.”

Working in economic development provides an adventure every day, as seldom are two projects the same. The collaboration and partnerships necessary to be successful push you to be your best, increase your emotional intelligence, and grow your leadership skills. Economic development is not for those seeking repetition and routine, but it’s an absolute thrill for those seeking to creatively serve communities and businesses in a wide range of capacities for the success of a region.