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. [...]
U.S. Highway 30 Update: At last! Leaders are starting to agree on long-term solutions for transportation in Iowa
The present two-lane portions of U.S. Highway 30 are the most dangerous of any two-lane segments in Iowa. For the past 5+ years the Iowa U.S. Highway 30 Coalition has been working with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Federal and State Legislators, Council of Governments and Local Government as well as industry and residents to pull together resources to improve this in [...]
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 [...]
Fun Update: Wheels are turning on the next Murder Mystery Dinner. Join us in Dysart, Jan 21.
The 1929 real world murder of Scott Rouse at Whiskey Bottom had never been solved. But last year over 120 people came together at Pilgrim Heights Camp & Retreat Center in rural Montour and assumed a unique character from the Tama County history books to piece together the originally scripted mystery with secrets to protect [...]
Storm Update: Lessons learned from a “once in a thousand years storm”
The insurance industry refers to the July 11, 2011 straight-line wind storm that hit Tama County, Iowa as a “once in a thousand years” storm. It challenged our insurance agents, farmers, business managers and owners, and residents to deal with damages on an unprecedented scale. So what did we learn from this extreme situation? At the [...]
Education Update: Gov. Terry Branstad to explain what “world-class education” should mean to Tama County, Nov 15
On Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:30 a.m. Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will be holding a town hall meeting at the Reinig Toledo Center to discuss a new Education Blueprint unveiled Oct 3, 2011. They will be seeking feedback on the plan before they present it to the legislature. You can review the full proposed [...]
Storm Update: Straight-line wind storm survivors share practical wisdom on insurance policies and rebuilding after a natural disaster, Oct 25
By the time President Obama signed the major disaster declaration for Tama County, Iowa (6 weeks after of the July 11, 2011 straight-line wind storm hit) insurance companies had already paid out a record $6+ million into our local economy. Now, three months later, many stakeholders continue to work on ways to rebuild better, stronger [...]


