Greater Des Moines Partnership and University of Northern Iowa's Advance Iowa Bring Economic Gardening to Central Iowa
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is collaborating with the University of Northern Iowa's Advance Iowa team to bring the state's only certified Economic Gardening program to Greater Des Moines (DSM). Economic Gardening is a proven economic growth strategy that focuses on providing information and tools to help existing businesses get to the next stage. Often referred to as a "grow your own" strategy, the program partners economic development organizations, skilled researchers and regional businesses prime for growth.
“A big part if economic development is growing existing businesses and creating jobs,” said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Second-stage businesses represent a little over ten percent of the U.S. marketplace, but generate more than a third of the jobs. Not only are these businesses significant job creators, they often have national and global markets, which bring significant new dollars into the regional economy.”
Economic Gardening is designed for companies that employ between 10 - 100 people. While employee numbers and revenue ranges vary by industry, the population of firms with 10-100 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in receipts includes the vast majority of second-stage companies that stand to benefit from the program’s resources. These resources include but are not limited to: Market Research/Competitive Intelligence, Internet & Social Media Strategy/Search Engine Optimization, Geographical Information Systems, Core Strategy Review, and referrals. The Advance Iowa team works directly with the business along with the economic development organization to gather customized actionable data and develop a plan to implement the strategies developed.
“It just makes sense to grow from within and support those who are already supporting your economy both locally and statewide,” said Dan Beenken, program manager, Advance Iowa, UNI Business & Community Services. “Advance Iowa works with second-stage businesses to provide e-commerce and new media strategies, innovative thinking and prospect development. We focus on how to create the products or programs that will take the business to the next stage.”
In the past year, more than 30 companies across Iowa have participated in the Economic Gardening program offered by Advance Iowa. Advance Iowa is a program of Business & Community Services (BCS) at the University of Northern Iowa. To learn more about Advance Iowa, visit advanceiowa.com.
For more information about the Economic Gardening program contact Meg Fitz, Senior Vice President of Regional Business Development at the Partnership, (515) 286-4950 or mfitz@DSMpartnership.com.
Media calls should be directed to Susan Ramsey, (515) 286-4954 or sramsey@DSMpartnership.com.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 330 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.