LCEDG brings in officials for county update

Exciting plans

I’m so excited to hear about the progress, especially in our smaller towns who are planning and growing. I think that's so exciting.”

Emily Benjamin, LCDEG President and CEO

MONTROSE – The Lee County Economic Development Group brought a large group of stakeholders together early Thursday evening for a collaborative update on happenings in and around Lee County.
LCEDG President and CEO Emily Benjamin welcomed the group and gave officials each a few minutes to update the group on what’s going on within their respective organizations.
Attendees included representatives from Lee County, the cities of Fort Madison, Montrose, and Donnellson, Keokuk, Fort Madison, Central Lee and Holy Trinity Catholic school systems, Lee County Health Department, Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce, and Southeast Iowa Regional & Economic Port Authority. Other entities, including the cities of Keokuk, West Point, St. Paul, and Houghton, Keokuk Chamber and Main Street organizations, were also invited to the event.
Benjamin said the group meetings are a good way for people to get a feel for what is happening around the county and connect with each other socially following the event. LCEDG sponsored a social hour after the event.
“It’s just really important to get people in the same room hearing the same message,” Benjamin said.
“I am just so excited about what I’ve heard tonight. I know it gets to be a really long meeting, but I think it's also pretty rare that we all come to the same room and hear about the great things that are happening around the community. I’m so excited to hear about the progress, especially in our smaller towns who are planning and growing. I think that's so exciting.”
One of the bigger announcements was from the City of Donnellson’s Rebecca Schau who told the group the city was recently awarded the Public Innovation and Efficiency Award by the State Auditor’s Office, which recognizes cities for cost-saving ideas and a commitment to save taxpayer dollars.
“Donnellson was the best performing city for its size in the state,” she said.
She said the city is also in the final stages of purchasing 17 acres on the west side of town for a subdivision that could include up to 42 lots near the city’s Westview Park. The park also has a finished ½ mile trail and just received a grant to extend the trail to a mile around the park.
Darcie Uhlmeyer, who sits on Montrose City Council, said they are looking for grants to overhaul the sewer treatment plant at a cost of $2 million to $6 million.
Dr. Andy Crozier, Dr. Erin Slater and Dr. Kathy Dinger, and Craig Huebner updated the group on school plans and performances. Slater announced that former FMHS instructor Mike Wolter had been hired as the district’s next superintendent, and she was going to discuss with him the importance of events like the forum.
Lee County Supervisor Garry Seyb updated the group on the projects the county is working on, including the Meller Family Health Center, and broadband expansion currently taking place to the tune of about $40 million in outside investment.
LCEDG Director of Economic Development Tim Gobble said the county is currently working on several potential future projects that could bring substantial investment and jobs to the county. One announcement he said could be coming this summer.
Benjamin said the next update would take place in October.