2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

• Develop strategic partnerships to increase needed housing stock. • Work with the public sector on the local, state, and federal level to assure decision makers are aware of critical transportation and communications infrastructure needing public investment. • Strengthen and develop discussion forums and networking opportunities that reach across the four-county area to share best practices, strengthen business-to-business interaction and sales, and workforce, entrepreneurial, and business/job growth goals. 3) Business Development - Create an environment for business development and job growth by emphasizing existing and high value business, communication, issue action, and marketing. Goals: • Grow existing four county businesses by addressing issues impeding growth. • Attract high-value employers and industry to the four-county region. 4) Entrepreneurship - Enhancing entrepreneurial activity and new business starts by emphasizing youth/next generation entrepreneurs, mentoring, networking and learning, coaching, counseling, market research and data, and access to capital. Goals: • Continue and enhance youth/next generation entrepreneurial training and recruitment. • Build on existing coaching and counseling services for entrepreneurs. As an organization, Iowa Lakes Corridor Corporation values honesty, respect, integrity, trustworthiness, openness and reliability. By using the strengths and opportunities of all counties in the region, they can build collective and beneficial opportunities for everyone. SPENCER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS & OPPORTUNITIES Opportunities exist for new and expanding industry, along with new jobs in Spencer. If the community wants to look to grow and prosper in the future, there are several local, regional, and state opportunities for financial incentive programs to new prospective and existing expanding businesses. Incentives that may be available to qualifying and prospective new or expanding businesses include: 1. Spencer Area Jobs Trust – A local incentive program that provides zero and low interest loans or forgivable loans for existing and prospective companies that create new jobs in Spencer. 2. StartupCity Spencer – StartupCity Spencer is an entrepreneurial hub for northwest Iowa. StartupCity Spencer is a collaborative workspace and startup incubator for new businesses in the community. StartupCity Spencer provides a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs. 3. The Rose Retail Revolving Loan Fund – Named in honor of “Mr. Spencer” Bob Rose, the Rose Retail Revolving Loan Fund will provide a no interest bridge financing, up to $15,000, for start-up businesses in Spencer. 4. Spencer Housing Initiative Program – The Spencer Housing Initiative program was started in 2011 to spur local development of new housing units in the community. The City, Clay County, Spencer Municipal Utilities, and five (5) participating financial institutions have all pledged financial assistance to the program which is administered by the Spencer Area Jobs Trust. The Housing Initiative Program will grant a base amount of $12,500 toward construction of any new

86 | P a g e

NW Iowa Planning & Development