MidAmerica EDC News

Board Member Spotlight: James Caraway II, Board Member and Director, Nebraska, Mid-America EDC

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Your Name: James Caraway IIYour Organization: Omaha Public Power DistrictYour Title at Organization: Senior Economic DeveloperMid-America EDC Board Position: Nebraska DirectorHow long have you been a member of Mid-America EDC?I’ve been a member for about one year.Tell us about yourself!I’ve had a fulfilling economic development and sports journey over the past ten years! Before joining the utility, I worked for the Greater Omaha Chamber and Grow Sarpy Economic Development, where I honed my skills and contributed to significant community growth. Before that, I was involved in economic development in South Dakota (Vermillion Area Chamber) and Kansas (Greater Topeka Partnership), gaining...

Meet Brittany Ashby, Board Member and Mentoring/Scholarship Committee Co-Chair at the Mid-America EDC

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Meet Brittany Ashby, Board Member and Mentoring/Scholarship Committee Co-Chair at the Mid-America EDC. Your Organization: The Align Team with the Wyoming Economic Development Association and the Laramie County Economic Development Joint Powers Board. Your Title at Organization: Vice President MAEDC Board Position: Board Member and Mentoring/Scholarship Committee Co-Chair How long have you been a member of Mid-America EDC? 4 or 5 years. Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board? I have been a member of the Mid-America EDC board for just a couple...

Meeting Climate Goals: Midwest's Clean Energy Workforce Gains Momentum

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

As the world takes critical steps towards mitigating climate change, the Midwest is making strides in transitioning to clean energy. The energy efficiency sector has the largest share of the clean energy workforce in the Midwest, accounting for over 67 percent of the region's clean energy workforce. The Midwest region is actively preparing its workforce to meet the demands of emerging industries such as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. The clean energy sector in the Midwest has seen significant growth, with energy efficiency, EV manufacturing, and solar power leading the charge. According to the 2021 U.S. Energy Employment...

Meet Ian Vincent, Director of Business Development with the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Meet Ian Vincent, Director of Business Development with the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion and Mid-America’s EDC’s Minnesota Representative since 2022. How long have you been a member of Mid-America EDC? Almost ten years! Mid-America EDC has always held a special place in my heart. It was a very welcoming and inclusive group as I began my career. The first presentation I ever gave on a national stage was at the 2016 Best Practices Summit in Columbus, OH. The topic covered was digital place marketing and talent matching. I was wildly nervous and didn’t sleep the night before, but I knocked...

Revitalizing Rural Communities: Fostering Economic Growth through Entrepreneurial Support

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a remarkable surge in new business formations, with a significant portion of this entrepreneurial activity occurring in rural areas. Minnesota, for instance, experienced a notable 30% increase in unique business formations between 2020 and 2021, primarily in counties outside the Twin Cities metro area. Unleashing Entrepreneurial Potential: The Montrose Report Rural communities face unique economic challenges, such as job creation and population retention in today's knowledge-driven economy. Organizations like Mid America EDC are actively working to promote and support the growth of rural businesses. Entrepreneurs in rural areas often need more awareness...

Meet Tim Holvorson, Vice President of Economic Development & Entrepreneurship with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and MAEDC Board Member for Kansas Since 2011

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

How long have you been a member of MAEDC? 2011 Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board? I started on January 1, 2019. I’ve worked in chamber and economic development since 1995 in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and North Carolina. I got involved because I saw the difference economic development could make in improving lives and the quality of life in my hometown and surrounding areas that the farm economy had crushed in the mid-1980s. When I’m not working, I stay very busy as a single parent working on my house...

The Best Practices Conference: Bringing Together the Best in Economic Development

Monday, May 22, 2023

The Best Practices Conference, organized by Mid-America EDC, is an eagerly awaited annual event that gathers economic development professionals, business leaders, and experts from the Midwest region to share insights, discuss the latest trends, and explore strategies in economic development. The conference, which took place this year in Kansas City from May 10 to May 12, was an exceptional resource for attendees. Hosted at the magnificent Hotel Kansas City, in the heart of downtown, the conference welcomed participants from 22 states across the United States and international representation from Quebec. The agenda was carefully crafted to cover various topics,...

Meet Jennifer Klus, City Administrator North College Hill, Ohio Board Member & Chair of the Competitiveness Conference

Thursday, April 20, 2023

How long have you been a member of MAEDC? 3-4 years Tell us about yourself! I have over 25 years of economic development experience in a number of communities in southwest Ohio. Throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects including redevelopment, industrial, housing and workforce development. In fact, one of my recent workforce development initiatives won a MAEDC award last year. Tell us about your experience with MAEDC? My experience with MAEDC has been so wonderful for my professional development. I really enjoy my fellow board members and...

Celebrating economic developers - Economic Development Week and the Best Practices Conference!

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Economic development plays a vital role in creating jobs, fostering innovation, and improving the quality of life in communities nationwide. Economic development professionals work tirelessly to attract businesses, support existing ones, and encourage entrepreneurship, all of which contribute to a community's economic growth. Economic Development Week (EDW) is an annual celebration of economic development and its significant role in promoting growth and prosperity in communities across the United States. By highlighting the work of economic developers, EDW seeks to create awareness of their role in helping communities to thrive. This year, EDW will be observed from May 8th...

Board Member Spotlight: Corry Shevlin, Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Your Name: Corry Shevlin Your Organization: Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation Your Title at Organization: Chief Executive Officer Mid-America EDC Board Position: At Large Board Member How long have you been a member of Mid-America EDC? I have been a Mid-America EDC member since 2018 Tell us about yourself! How long have you been on the Mid-America EDC board? I am fairly new to the board, since September 2022 Tell us about the Jamestown/Stutsman County Development Corporation and your role there. I just transitioned into the CEO, previously I was responsible for business development, primarily with...

Board Member Spotlight: Karl F. Franzen, City of Rockford, Illinois Director of Community & Economic Development and Illinois Director

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Your Name: Karl F. Franzen Your Organization: City of Rockford, Illinois Your Title at Organization: Director of Community & Economic Development Mid-America EDC Board Position: Illinois Director How long have you been a member of Mid-America EDC? December 2019 Tell us about yourself! I came to Rockford in 2015 after a decade of work at various institutions in Wisconsin. I spent a year with the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the region’s EDC, before transitioning to work directly with the City on its economic development efforts. I became Director of Community & Economic Development in 2018 under Mayor...