Build on Your Farmers Market
Northeast Iowa RC&D sponsored the Farmers Market Summit at NICC-Calmar on Thursday, February 9. Approximately 70 people attended. A number of break-out sessions were offered for economic developers, tourism directors, farmer’s market managers, and producers.
Farmers Markets are hosted in Harpers Ferry (Friday evening), Lansing (Saturday morning), New Albin (Friday evening), and Waukon (Monday evening).
Farmers markets are growing in popularity and have added live music, onsite chef and recipe ideas. Farmers markets are using social media to spread the word.
Luster Heights
Due to a large budgetary short fall in the state of Iowa, Luster Heights (minimum security prison) was closed in Allamakee County. At this time, the Luster Heights employees have been offered positions at the Anamosa facility.
A Dose of Reality
Veteran’s Memorial Hospital will host Reality 101 at Waukon High School on Wednesday, March 22. Participating high school seniors will receive their packet with career, income and life situation. The students will open a checking account, pay taxes and move through the event by paying monthly bills and dealing with a few twists and turns along the way.
RAGBRAI & ACED
ACED will be assisting with porta potty/shower/handwashing station coordination throughout the county. Additionally, ACED will assist with the broadsheet - sales, information gathering, mapping, and distribution. The broadsheet will spotlight the pass through sites, overnight town, and tire dip site details. The broadsheet will be distributed in Cresco and east. ACED has a RAGBRAI website up and running. Each community will have a page to post information on.
Housing Study Update
ACED submitted a grant application to Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) for $9,500 to assist with the Countywide Housing Study. Once ACCF announces their decision, more grant applications will be submitted by ACED. Meanwhile, Sarah Neuzil at UERPC is standing by and ready to get started.
Local Careers Close Up
Finding a rewarding and well-paying career in life starts with a plan and having opportunities to learn about different occupations firsthand from individuals who work in the field.
This was the motivation for the third annual Career Workshop event at Waukon High School on Feb. 10, which was developed in partnership between Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) and Waukon High School.
Approximately 160 students from Waukon High School, Kee High School and Postville High School attended. The students selected two of six different sessions that represented these career areas and speakers:
Business/Finance/Marketing/Management:
Denise Beyer – Allamakee County auditor
Travis Gage – assistant manager, Waukon Fareway
Education/Human Services:
Dave Herold – Allamakee Community School District superintendent
Pat Heiderscheit – Keystone Area Education Agency administrator
Health Sciences:
Tara McMullen –physical therapist, RehabVisions
Linda Carstens – dentist, Waukon Dental
STEM/Manufacturing/Construction:
Mitch Dunklee – software engineer, Systems Equipment
Jennifer Peak – Pattison Sand human resources
Information Technology:
Cameron Berges – Northeast Iowa Community College Computer Information Services
Karen Cota; medical transcriptionist; Kathy Lloyd, Registered Health Information Technologist
(RHIT); and Tammy Jostand, health information supervisor, all from Veterans Memorial Hospital
Ag/Food/Natural Resources:
Rylan Retallick – Department of Natural Resources
Dr. Larry Moore – veterinarian, Postville Vet Clinic
Amy Wasson, a Waukon High School guidance counselor, knows that students will benefit from learning more about meaningful, local careers. The goal of the Career Workshop is to inform our students about opportunities right here in northeast Iowa. We hope students find a career path that they will enjoy and fulfill a need for our local employers," Wasson said.
The Career Workshop event also provides a forum for local professionals to share what their jobs are like on a daily basis and to network with students – the future workforce.
"As an economic developer I know there is need to provide opportunities for businesses and students to interact. This workshop offers students the opportunity to learn firsthand job descriptions, training requirements, benefit packages, salary ranges, special projects and a typical day on the job," said Valerie Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development. "On the other hand, it gives employers an opportunity to reach out and share valuable information about the business and job opportunities in the area."
As a partner that helped to coordinate the Career Workshop, NICC knows that successful careers after graduation require a little homework and discussion with the experts.
“The goal of the career workshop is to get our high school juniors and seniors to start thinking about career interests and highlight the great businesses we have in Allamakee County. Students connected with local employers, asked questions and learned about high demand jobs,” explained Erica Nosbisch, NICC Waukon Center director.
A Closer Look at Unemployment Numbers
Crunching the Numbers in New Albin
Jeremy Jostand, Northeast Iowa Community Action, provided helpful budgeting tools during a budgeting class on February 13. Tools included a daily expense tracking report, monthly expenses worksheet, net monthly income worksheet, an action plan, monthly spending plan worksheet, goal setting worksheet, money control worksheet, and a monthly payment schedule. Additionally, the 4 – Cs of Credit which includes capacity, character, collateral, and capital were discussed.
This is a great class to offer in your community or within your organization. Call Jeremy at NEICAC to schedule.
