Since arriving here the first time the winter of ’85 / ‘ 86, I’ve developed a fairly broad perspective on what constitutes good times and bad. We weren’t sure back in the mid 1980’s just when or where the low point would come, but it turned out to be about then, and in a few years, It was my privilege to be a part of the team effort here locally that resulted in the resurrection of the Central Steel Tube facilities into IPSCO Steel, the growth of the original Lord Baltimore 250,000 sq. ft. that became the International Paper plant into the world’s largest folding carton manufacturing facility at nearly one million sq. ft. and the attraction of service industry companies -- at first telemarketers and subsequently major contributors to our workforce such as The Swiss Colony and 7th Avenue operations and companies like Data Dimensions.

Throughout that period, support of the Development Corporation and leadership from the community was strong. As you know, I was gone for a few years in the first half of the 90’s, and Clinton continued to grow without Hugh LaMont, which certainly proves that none of us as individuals are indispensable.

I returned here in the winter of ’95 / ‘96 and am pleased to say that everything that was good about the Clinton area and the Development Corporation had only gotten better, and I’ve been proud to serve on the team we are all a part of here today and to look back on the last five years as a true period of growth and measurable prosperity.

Not only did our Camanche IPSCO operations remain after the opening of the mini mill in Montpelier, but they have since more than doubled their initial investment here. Just this past week, they announced a new $3.2 million project that will increase the thickness, strengths and quantities as well as their competitiveness in the energy market. They have been joined by many other expansions throughout this period by many of our other existing industries. Since Waldorf became Rock-Tenn, they have added a major new multi-million dollar press and nearly six dozen good jobs. Operations have grown and are stable at Blue Ridge Paper, and all enjoy top labor / management relationships.

The dance of economic development always involves sidesteps and back steps, and we acknowledge the closing of PCS Nitrogen and adjustments such as the one we’ve experienced recently at International Paper as parts of the reality as we now move into the 21st Century.

Continuing to grow and providing quality, new jobs, there have been several new manufacturers such as The Egging Company and Moulded Fibre Technology. There have been new locations in Fulton and Camanche, as well as Manufacturing Meadows, and in the past few years multi-million dollar expansions and investments utilizing the Iowa New Jobs – NJIP—Program have included IPSCO, Ralston Purina and, on the drawing boards, Hampshire Pet Products.

On an on-going basis, and as maybe one of the most important factors involving what we think it is important to do on a regular basis, are the communications we have with our existing business and industry. Long recognized as a benchmark by other economic development groups, we have a business and industry retention / expansion program that involves, on a rotating basis, on-site visitations to our key, corporate employers and industrial sites. This year, thanks to the on-going commitment of the Clinton Community College and the Eastern Iowa Community College system, Ilene Deckert has continued to schedule visitations for our team, which consists of leaders from local government, the Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, health care services, the Clinton Community College and Mount St. Clare College and our utility partners. In the year 2000, we were privileged to have our team visit on site with the management team at Lamson and Sessions, Cargill, IPSCO Tubular, Hawkeye Disposal, Baker Distributing, Collis, Inc., Skyline Center, Equistar, Sethness Products, and The Egging Company, and we will be concluding on December 14 this year’s program of work at National By-Products. These frank discussions involve a matrix of issues on and off the record dealing with the company’s ability to be competitive, profitable and, above all, have understanding that we as a community and these organizations as a team value most highly their contribution as corporate citizens to our economy.

During the last several years, we have been a strategic player in improving the commitment to multi-million dollar infrastructure improvements. The Mill Creek Parkway will become a driving reality to be completed after the snow melts this year, a year ahead of schedule and a million dollars under budget. This is a project conceived and talked about for the better part of the last century, but it’s gotten done in the past few years with a new wave of enthusiasm and progress that’s been sweeping our region literally as the 1990’s ran out.

You drove in today on the first half of an award-winning 21st Century version of the Lincoln Highway, a visible factor in the commitment of the Development Corporation and other strategic organizations including local and state government, the Chamber of Commerce, our utilities and others have committed to that will, in just the next few years, include a four-lane [not a Super + Two]highway from Ames and Des Moines to the river and a critical hook up across Whiteside County to I-88 and Chicagoland renewing that mode of surface transportation to a credible and useful stature as our efforts to recruit and expand will be strategically increased.

David Burrell has mentioned today our ongoing plans and commitment to primary economic development building blocks related to human resources and market-ready, market-priced industrial real estate. These take advantage of our world-class river, rail and roadway assets, pipelines, industrial strength utilities and a receptivity for business and industry that now spans two centuries.

We recognize that strategic new investment by many of our industrial support industries have contributed to our growing economy and prosperous business climate. These include B & E Machine Company, Metal-Tech, Stampede Products, and Gateway Marble as well as sometimes hard to believe our eyes major new retail and commercial ventures making the Clinton area an ever increasing and frequent destination of choice. [Both to work and shop!]

I believe I am correct that every school district surrounding and including Clinton and on both sides of the river and private and public has approved and committed to a new building program for facilities and curriculum. Coupling that with the promise of increased endeavor between industry and education, such as those programs involving school-to-work, we have reason to hope for sustaining and increasing our educational output that has been dominant for many generations in our region’s success. Our two and four-year post secondary educational partners are outstanding in their relationship with, not only the Development Corporation, but also business and industry in general. Together we share a commitment to quality and productivity that will allow for the continued expansion and attraction of major new investment and quality jobs, both from a replacement of retiring workers and 21st century job classifications and requirements.

As we continue our Mayor’s initiatives and economic development trips to our state and national capitols, as we utilize the tools and programs we now have at our disposal, as we continue to increase the commitment of private / public partnership, and as we increase the openness and accessibility to share in the marketing of the Clinton area with our strategic relationships and partnerships, we will continue to successfully diversify our economy and improve our business climate. The accumulation and protection and promotion of strategic industrial property have been a responsibility, goal and commitment of the Clinton Area Development Corporation since its inception in 1953. It represents an opportunity that does not befall every generation to renew and increase our worldly competitiveness and attract the “big deal.”

The times have never been more right, the stars, if you will, no better aligned or, on a down to earth basis, we have never been given a greater opportunity to put together the right mix of people, property and promotion to make this first decade of the new century and this new millennium one which our children and grandchildren can be proud of us for. With your continued support and leadership, this board of directors and this executive director plan to make the next few years ones we won’t forget in terms of growth and investment that will stand the test of time in a responsible and sound manner.Straight ahead.

^Back to Top^