Southern Iowa Council of Governments FINAL 2017 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Adoption Date: March 29, 2017 Southern Iowa Council of Governments 101 East Montgomery Creston, IA 50801-2406 Phone 641.782.8491 Fax 641.782.8492 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.sicog.com Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – Program Year 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary of 2017 CEDS .................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1 – Introduction to the CEDS .............................................................................................. 9 Purpose of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy ............................................................................ 9 The SICOG Organization .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Mission Statement of Southern Iowa Council of Governments ....................................................................... 9 SICOG Staff ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Geographic Location of Southern Iowa Council of Governments ................................................................ 10 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Southern Iowa Development Group ......................................................................................................................... 11 SICOG EDD Service Area ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Executive Board and CEDS Strategy Committee ............................................................................................................. 13 Board of Directors Roster .............................................................................................................................................. 13 CEDS Strategy Committee Roster .............................................................................................................................. 15 EDD Board Membership Roster .................................................................................................................................. 16 Community and Private Sector Participation ....................................................................................................... 18 Draft CEDS Review Period ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter 2 – Summary Background ................................................................................................ 20 Environment and Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................... 20 Climate ................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Wetlands and Riparian Areas ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Threatened or Endangered Species .......................................................................................................................... 21 Historic and Archeological Resources ..................................................................................................................... 21 Parks, Trails, Forests, and Wildlife Refuges .......................................................................................................... 21 Hazardous Waste & Toxic Contamination ............................................................................................................. 21 Agricultural Lands ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 Transportation ............................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Population ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Rural Region ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Table 1: County Population Changes 1960 – 2010 ................................................................................. 24 Percent Population Change in Counties from 2010 to 2015 .......................................................................... 25 Population Projections 2020-2040 ........................................................................................................................... 26 Table 2: County Population Projections 2020-2040 ............................................................................. 26 Aging Population ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Table 3: Percent Persons 65 Years Old & Over ....................................................................................... 26 Income ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Continued Economic Discrepancy ............................................................................................................................. 26 Median Household Income ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Table 4: Median Household Income – 2011-2015 ................................................................................. 27 Unemployment .............................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Table 5: 2016 - Monthly Unemployment Rates (in percent) for SICOG Counties ..................... 29 Annual Average Unemployment Rates .................................................................................................................... 29 Table 6: 2007-2016 Unemployment Rates (SICOG Counties, Iowa & US) .................................... 29 Housing ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Table 7: Homeownership & Housing Census Data for Counties in SICOG Region .................... 30 Educational Resources ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 Southwestern Community College (SWCC) ........................................................................................................... 31 Buena Vista University ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Graceland University ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 3 –Analysis of Economic Conditions ............................................................................. 33 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT) Analysis ...................................................................... 33 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – Program Year 2016 Strengths ............................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Weaknesses ......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Opportunities ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Threats ................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 SWOT Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Natural Hazards ..................................................................................................................................................... 38 Environmental