55Th Annual April 20-23, 2009
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October 19, 2011 Bev’s on the River Sioux City, Iowa 55th Annual April 20-23, 2009 Governor Terry Branstad Governor Dennis Daugaard Governor Dave Heineman TABLE OF CONTENTS Agenda ................................................................................... 1 Conference History ................................................................ 2 2011 Position Papers Flood Recovery and Restoration ............................................ 6 Transportation Infrastructure – A Sound Investment .............. 9 Hyperion Energy Center ......................................................... 12 The Siouxland Agribusiness and Food Enterprise Technology Cluster (SAFE-Tech) .......................................... 14 AGENDA October 19, 2011 Master of Ceremonies Jim Jensen, Chair, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Welcome Mike Hobart, Mayor, City of Sioux City Introduction of Governors Chris McGowan, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Doug Garwood, South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce Darrell Jesse, Dakota Valley Business Council Tri-State Issues Presentation Flood Recovery & Restoration Tom Everett, City of Sioux City Transportation Infrastructure Irving Jensen III, Jebro Inc. Hyperion Energy Center Preston Phillips, Hyperion Refining Regional Economic Development Jim Jensen, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Craig Letch, Beef Products, Inc. Response from the Governors Gift Presentation 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Press Conference with Governors 1 12th Tri-State Governors’ Conference History of the Tri-State Governors’ Conference 1988-2011 Until 1987, the Sioux City metro area in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota was served by a number of economic development agencies which cooperated at times but, for the most part, each carried out its own work program without a common mission. During this period, it became apparent that the Sioux Honey Association headquartered in Sioux City might relocate to another metro area in South Dakota or North Dakota. A number of the development groups responded to this situation and reached a consensus that the plant should be retained in Sioux City; but, if that was not possible, it was in everyone’s best interest to structure a deal which kept the firm in the adjacent portions of Nebraska or South Dakota, rather than have it relocate from the area altogether. While the company remained in Sioux City, thus not necessitating a local relocation; the development groups, primarily with the coordination of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce whose membership was located throughout the metro area, began holding discussions to identify areas of common ground. A principal area of cooperation surfaced regarding the recruitment to the area of outside firms. It was concluded that marketing the area as a single location with three distinct business climates (Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota) was a reasonable approach. Once a prospect was interested in the Sioux City metro area, each jurisdiction was free to structure its best deal based upon the particular needs of the prospect. To facilitate the interaction of the various development groups, an informal entity was established. It became known as the Siouxland Regional Marketing Council and included representatives from the following 14 members: · City of Sioux City, Iowa · City of South Sioux City, Nebraska · City of North Sioux City, South Dakota · Woodbury County, Iowa · Midwest Energy Company · Nebraska Public Power District · Greater Siouxland, Inc. · Sioux City Chamber of Commerce · South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce · Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) · Southern Union County Development Corporation · Dakota Industrial Development, Inc. (DID) · Siouxland Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) In late 1987, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad suggested a joint Tri-State Governors’ Conference on February 16, 1988. The Siouxland Regional Marketing Council hosted this Conference and the two which followed. The high point of the first Conference was execution by the Governors of the Economic Development Cooperation Agreement of 1988 which committed the States to a recognition of the area as a single economic entity, that its (L-R) Governors George Mickelson, Kay Orr and prosperity is a goal common to each state as well Terry Branstad at the 1st Tri-State Governors’ as local residents, and that local and state/local Conference. partnerships must be fostered in support of the 2 12th Tri-State Governors’ Conference common goal (copy of the Agreement attached). We were challenged to bring substance and form to what was then primarily a wish for the future. Our goal was the establishment of a positive, cooperative spirit where geographic boundaries give way to a like-minded desire to maximize the quality of life for all of Siouxland’s residents. Maintenance of that spirit continues to motivate us even today. At the second Conference held in South Sioux City during August of 1989, we demonstrated our response, in both word and deed, to the challenge placed before us by laying out a comprehensive, carefully-crafted plan which was The Siouxland Initiative, aimed at creating 2,000 jobs over a four- year period. We also shared what was then Midwest Energy Company’s visionary view of Siouxland’s future. The bold and imaginative design planned for Dakota Dunes changed our perspective of what is possible. The Conference also featured participation by trade representatives of the Republic of South Korea and W. Edwards Deming, Ph.D. Dr. Deming, master statistician, philosopher, educator, and Sioux City native, was honored in a post-conference dedication in his name of the Sioux City Chamber Foundation’s recently completed small business incubator. The third Conference returned to Sioux City in August of 1991, and we benefited from the participation of Governor Ben Nelson in his first event. With 3 ½ years having passed since the initial Conference, this edition afforded us the opportunity to review progress on previous issues as well as consider additional emerging concerns. Such a review was made more appropriate by the 1990 selection of Sioux City as an All-America City, and provided the opportunity to celebrate the selection based, in part, on progress in addressing issues raised at previous Conferences. At this point we initiated the “Siouxland Report Card” measuring progress on issues including Convention/Tourism Development, Riverfront Development, Dakota Dunes, and the Tri-State Graduate Study Center of Siouxland, among others. A number of human services concerns impacting the quality of life in Siouxland were also addressed, many for the first time in such a forum. In these, as well as the more traditional topics, we rededicated ourselves to “Looking beyond the political boundaries that divide us, to the common principles that unite us.” With the completion of meeting facilities at Dakota Dunes, Governor Mickelson hosted the fourth Conference during October of 1992. New to the Conference was presentation of a regional economic review by Dr. Ralph Brown of the University of South Dakota. Relying upon various economic measurements, within the context of the broader national and Midwest economies, his remarks were well received. Also for the first time, the Siouxland Report Card was supplemented by concurrent breakout sessions addressing three issues of high local interest. Providing the opportunity for interaction among key state and local officials, the sessions included in- depth discussions of affordable housing, health care, and Missouri River issues. Coordinated with the Annual Meeting of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, Conference participants were afforded the opportunity to attend the Chamber meeting, featuring the humor of Art Buchwald. The Fifth Tri-State Governors’ Conference was held in South Sioux City in August of 1994. Continuing the report card/breakout format established in 1992, housing (L-R) Governors George Mickelson, Terry Branstad and Ben Nelson at the 4th Tri- and its significance in recruitment of needed workers State Governors’ Conference during a period of low unemployment was a primary focus of the Conference. A highlight of the luncheon was a video tribute to Governor George Mickelson, killed along with several state economic development officials in a tragic plane crash. The Governor was an active participant in each of the previous Conferences and a strong supporter of Siouxland development. Governor Bill Janklow was welcomed to his first Tri-State Governors’ Conference, the sixth in the series, in June of 1996. The agenda reflected the continuing issues facing the area economy 3 12th Tri-State Governors’ Conference including a report by the Siouxland Housing Task Force and a panel presentation concerning workforce development. Other community issues, including inter-jurisdictional police authority among area law enforcement agencies, were discussed with the Governors. The Conference also featured a well-received report on the State of the Siouxland Economy presented by Iowa State Economist Harvey Siegelman and closed with a walking tour of Historic Fourth Street in Sioux City. “Celebrating a Decade of Progress - 1987 to 1997”, the Seventh Tri-State Governors’ Conference, was held at Dakota Valley High School in September of 1997. While noting, by means of the Siouxland Report Card, the considerable progress achieved over the nearly ten years since the initial Conference, the focus remained on current challenges and future opportunities where tri-state cooperation is advantageous. Coordination among the states in transportation