The EDIES ”E.D.ies” stand for Economic Development awards, and are designed to celebrate and highlight innovation. These awards feature undertakings by businesses, nonprofits, property owners, workforce, educational institutions, and governments of Tama County who implemented innovative solutions to real world problems in 2011. The Tama County Economic Development Commission recognizes these progressive movements through its EDIE Awards. Last [...]
2011 EDIES Story 18 of 24: Tama County Puts a Priority on Celebrating its Diverse Cultures
Tama County is one of the most culturally diverse communities in the State of Iowa. 2010 Census data suggests that this diversity is getting even stronger. One of the challenges and opportunities a community like this faces is different cultures learning and respecting differences while celebrating and welcoming others on the common ground in which [...]
2011 EDIES Story 17 of 24: Taking Care of the Heart of Vining, Tama County’s Smallest Town
The smallest community in Tama County calls itself a family. Often to follow that up with a poverty joke on how the city’s income to manage city affairs is below that of the average American household. But it is a community with heart and a sense of humor. In 2011 they had a special “heart” [...]
2011 EDIES Story 16 of 24: Clutier Inspires Small Town Action on the Big Screen
The arts, history and storytelling serve an important purpose in telling us where we come from, the values we treasure, and how we want to move towards the future. One of the 21st century evolutions on campfire storytelling and community theatre is the community film, and Clutier, Iowa is a trail blazer in this respect. [...]
Tama County’s American Idols: which 2011 stories inspire you?
Share with us which of our 24 EDIE nominees’ stories from 2011 are your favorites. Every 2-3 days in January and February we unveil the details behind another one of the 2011 nominees. And now that we have reached the way mark the lines are open to start voting. Partners who are financially invested in Tama County [...]
Foundation Update: Up to $93K available in county grants. Grant writing workshop, Jan. 28. Grant deadline, March15
Over the past five years the Tama County Community Foundation has invested over half a million dollars into betterment of our community, and leveraged those dollars to bring in millions more. In 2012 our Foundation will once again invest between $86,532.88 and $92,619 into nonprofits, governments and schools serving Tama County with a plan of strengthening our [...]
Executive Director moves forward
Dear Tama County Stakeholders and friends: Just like Tama County Economic Development’s first economic developer dedicated about five years to Tama County, I have also committed half decade in service to you. We stood together through challenges, natural and man made disasters. Together we have survived floods, winter storms, straightline wind storms, through manufacturing plant closings, a national recession. [...]
Wellness Update: Tama County is taking on the 100 day challenge! Are you in?
One would think that living in a rural county in the land of milk and honey with the most fertile soil in the world should automatically translate into healthy lifestyles, right? After all, Tama County, Iowa has five farmers markets selling locally grown fresh fruits and veggies (most months of the year), award winning natural and organic meat producers, Mom [...]
Diversity Update: Tama County Cultural Diversity Festival planned for May 4 & 5, 2012
“In embracing the diversity of human beings, we will find a surer way to true happiness” Malcolm Gladwell, 2004 When it comes to economic productivity and community prosperity, we know that there is not one approach that is right for everyone. People are different. They enjoy different things. They even define success differently. And in understanding and optimizing [...]


