News

Mid-America EDC Board Member Spotlight: Timothy Robinson

Monday, November 28, 2022

Meet Timothy Robinson, CEcD, EDFP, Michigan Director and Director of Operations, Lenawee Now Timothy Robinson has been a Member of Mid-America EDC for ten years, and on the board for five years. Tell us about yourself! What are your economic development specialties and main areas of focus? I have been an economic developer for 25 years and my entire career has been spent in my home state of Michigan working in countywide private/public economic development organizations. I earned the CEcD certification from IEDC in 2004 and the EDFP certification from NDC in 2014. I have had the good fortune to be an eco...

Mid-America EDC Board Member Spotlight: Jesse Fonkert

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Meet Jesse Fonkert, South Dakota Director and President & CEO, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board and a member? I’ve been on the Mid-America EDC board for a little over a year, and I've been a member for two years. My friend and colleague, Dean Dziedzic, encouraged me to join the organization and apply for a seat on the Board. I’ve been working in economic development for the vast majority of my professional career and got started in it thanks to an internship with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation an...

Shop Local on Small Business Saturday, and Beyond

Monday, November 14, 2022

With the holidays approaching, we’d like to remind everyone to support your local independent businesses this holiday season. Small Business Saturday is a great initiative, but we’d love to see that enthusiasm for small business extend well beyond the last Saturday in November. I dare you to imagine what your community would look like if all your small businesses ceased to exist. Now imagine trying to pitch that community to a site selector. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy but rarely get the attention or public financial support that their corporate counterparts receive. We may have little ability t...

Mid-America EDC Board Member Spotlight: Mark Seckman

Monday, October 24, 2022

Meet Mark Seckman, Iowa Director Tell us about yourself! How long have you been a member and on the board of Mid-America EDC? I have been involved in economic development for 30 years starting at the community/regional level before transitioning to Alliant Energy 6 years ago, where I am currently the Senior Economic Development Manager. I have been on the Mid-America EDC board since December 2020. Tell us about Alliant Energy and your position there. Alliant Energy provides regulated electric and natural gas service to approximately 985,000 electric and approximately 425,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Our purpose is to serve customer...

Mid-America EDC Hosts 2022 Competitiveness Conference in Chicago

Monday, October 24, 2022

Join us in Chicago November 30-December 2 for the 2022 Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference and learn from those who touch economic development projects! You will hear from experts, as well as your colleagues who are ready to share their successes and knowledge! How You'll Stay Competitive: Gain insights on unique perspectives covering many topics timely to the economic development profession. Learn about best practices to address workforce and talent shortages that we are all challenged with. Rural communities, we got you covered with beneficial and exciting resources that are specific to your communities! As today's economic development projects are becoming more complex, how abou...

MAEDC Board Member Spotlight: Horton Hobbs IV

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Meet Horton Hobbs IV, President Elect What have been some of the greatest advantages of being part of Mid-America EDC? The quality and caliber of Mid-America EDC's presentations have been incredibly beneficial to me, but the most valuable aspect for me of being part of Mid-America EDC is the peer-to-peer networking with fellow board members. Mid-America EDC speakers have been out in front of economic development issues before we even know what we didn't know. Thinking that far ahead, really made me more engaged and interested in these big-picture economic development issues. Mid-America EDC also provides a way to share best practices and challenge each other...

September is Better Breakfast Month!

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Did you know September is Better Breakfast Month? Mid-America contributes so much to the breakfast industry, including the production of breakfast staples like cereal, eggs, and bacon. In addition to just breakfast, Mid-America states are among the largest in overall agriculture output nationwide. Seven of the top ten agriculture-producing states are in Mid-America: Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, and Wisconsin. According to statistics from the USDA, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed $1.055 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, a 5-percent share, and in 2019 the U.S. food and beverage manufacturing sector employed 1.7 million people, jus...

American Artists and the Role of Public Art in Economic Development

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

This August, we’re celebrating Mid-American Artists as part of American Artist Appreciation Month. Many of America’s incredible artists come from Mid-America. Just a few of the notable artists from Mid-America include Georgia O'Keeffe, a painter from Wisconsin; Joan Mitchell, a painter and printmaker from Illinois; Maya Lin, a designer and sculptor from Ohio; and Grant Wood, a painter from Iowa. Art is an intentional expression of creativity and it has the power to affect our emotions. From Lin’s moving, historical memorials to Wood’s paintings of midwestern life in the early 1900s, each artwork tells a story and gives viewers a feelin...

MID-AMERICA BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Clarence Hulse

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Meet Clarence Hulse, Indiana Director Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board? One year plus as a board member but have been a member for a while – over 13+ years for sure – I see myself as a change agent and love to make improvements and push the envelope in my community where I have worked. Tell us about your organization, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, and your role. As a private nonprofit, the EDCMC is best able to serve the business community. We are dedicated to attracting new companies, helping existing businesses, spurring entrepreneurial efforts...

Mid America EDC Celebrates Independent Retailers Month

Monday, July 11, 2022

This July, we’re taking a look at the important role of independent retailers in economic development, and how we can support the retail stores in our communities and encourage people to shop local. Indie retailers create more sustainable towns, cities, and communities and are part of what makes a downtown thriving. Our Annual Best Practices Conference is in Springfield, Ohio this July 13-15, and is a perfect opportunity to celebrate unique retail shopping experiences. Springfield is the Antique Capital of the Midwest and has incredible shopping, including: Heart of Ohio Antique Center - With 116,000 square feet and 650 dealers, there’s no en...

Mid-America Board Member Spotlight: Tina Chitwood

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Meet Tina Chitwood, Wisconsin Director Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board? I’ve been on the Board of MAEDC for 1 ½ years. I’m a collaborator. I find the most joy in my life and work when I’m able to connect the dots to make the most complex economic development deals come to life, as well as when I’m able to manage the busy social and sports calendars of my three children, husband, dog and myself! Tell us about the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and your role as Senior Economic Development Director. WEDC is a nimble...

Mid America EDC Celebrates National Rivers Month

Monday, June 13, 2022

Mid America’s Rivers and Inland Ports Play a Significant Role in Supply Chain Management June is National Rivers Month, and all of us at Mid America EDC recognize the vital role our rivers play in our region’s prosperity. Mid America is home to several of the largest and most iconic American rivers including the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and St. Louis, just to name a few. These rivers make the swift and efficient distribution of goods all over the country possible. Inland ports are also an important contributor to the economic prosperity of Mid America. Mid America is home to two major inlan...