Southern Iowa Council of Governments Draft 2019 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Adoption Date: March 27, 2019 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 2019 ADOPTING RESOLUTION PLACEHOLDER Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – Program Year 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary of 2019 CEDS ................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 1 – Introduction to the CEDS ........................................................................................ 11 Purpose of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy ...................................................................... 11 The SICOG Organization..................................................................................................................................................... 11 Mission Statement of Southern Iowa Council of Governments ................................................................. 11 SICOG Staff ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Geographic Location of Southern Iowa Council of Governments ............................................................. 12 Goals anD Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Southern Iowa Development Group ................................................................................................................... 13 SICOG EDD Service Area ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Executive BoarD anD CEDS Strategy Committee ....................................................................................................... 15 BoarD of Directors Roster ...................................................................................................................................... 15 CEDS Strategy Committee Roster ........................................................................................................................ 17 EDD BoarD Membership Roster ........................................................................................................................... 18 Community anD Private Sector Participation .................................................................................................. 21 Draft CEDS Review PerioD ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2 – Summary Background ............................................................................................. 23 Environment anD Natural Resources ............................................................................................................................ 23 Climate .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 WetlanDs anD Riparian Areas ............................................................................................................................... 23 Air Quality.................................................................................................................................................................... 24 ThreateneD or EnDangereD Species .................................................................................................................... 24 Historic anD Archeological Resources ............................................................................................................... 24 Parks, Trails, Forests, anD WilDlife Refuges ..................................................................................................... 24 HazarDous Waste & Toxic Contamination ........................................................................................................ 24 Agricultural LanDs .................................................................................................................................................... 24 Transportation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Population .............................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Rural Region ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Table 1: County Population Changes 1960 – 2010 ............................................................................. 27 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Percent Population Change in Counties from 2010 to 2016 ...................................................................... 28 Population Projections 2020-2040 ..................................................................................................................... 29 Table 2: County Population Projections 2020-2040 ......................................................................... 29 Aging Population ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 Table 3: Percent Persons 65 Years OlD & Over ................................................................................... 29 Income ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 ContinueD Economic Discrepancy ....................................................................................................................... 29 MeDian HouseholD Income .................................................................................................................................... 29 Table 4: MeDian HouseholD Income – 2013-2017 ............................................................................. 30 Poverty Rate ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 Average Weekly Wage ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Unemployment/UnDer-Employment ............................................................................................................................ 31 Table 5: 2018 – Monthly Unemployment Rates (in percent) for SICOG Counties ................... 32 Annual Average Unemployment Rates .............................................................................................................. 32 Table 6: 2008-2017 Unemployment Rates (SICOG Counties, Iowa & US) .................................. 32 Housing .................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Table 7: Homeownership & Housing Census Data for Counties in SICOG Region ................... 33 Educational Resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Southwestern Community College (SWCC) ..................................................................................................... 34 Buena Vista University ............................................................................................................................................ 34 GracelanD University ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 3 –Analysis of Economic Conditions ........................................................................... 36 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – Program Year 2019 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT) Analysis .................................................................. 36 Strengths ...................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Weaknesses ................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Opportunities ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Threats.......................................................................................................................................................................... 41 SWOT Summary 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