Located in the heart of America in the southeastern portion of Iowa, Lee County not only embodies Midwestern charm, but is home to a multitude of Fortune 500 and international companies that are continuously growing. Located along the Mississippi River and centered between Interstates 80, 35, 55 and 70.
Manufacturing Jobs
Potential Regional Labor Force
Students Participate in Grow Lee Programs
of Lee County Schools participate in STEM Scale-Ups
A Workforce/Business Retention and Expansion project focused on growing and increasing the quality of Lee County’s workforce
Grow Lee is a collaborative effort spearheaded and facilitated by Lee County EDG
Goal: Ensure an adequate workforce that meets the current and future needs of our employers.
One-on-one Synchronist interviews were conducted with industries representing Lee County’s top 20 employers. These companies represent over 4,000 workers, or 94% of manufacturing employees in Lee County. Data from the Synchronist interviews determined workforce to be the No. 1 Business Retention and Expansion issue facing Lee County industries.
Lee County EDG has hosted 15 Talent for Today and Tomorrow over four years to solicit input from our investors and Lee County stakeholders. Information from these meetings, combined with data collected from our Synchronist interviews, to form a program of action called Grow Lee.
Initially, Grow Lee consisted of 10 workforce initiatives however through collaboration it has expanded beyond the original programs. The initiative was designed to develop a pipeline of workers for current and future careers. The programs included a Lego Robotics program for elementary school students, to an employabiltiy class for high school students called 12 Plus, and up-training our existing workforce through stackable certificates utilizing our community college's new Industrial Technology Center.
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Lee County EDG's President and CEO named as one of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers for 2019 by Consultant Connect.
...Employers, educators and service providers gathered at Cryotech Deicing Technology in Fort Madison to discuss what they are doing to be proactive in the national workforce shortage.
...Southeastern Community College held an open house for their new Health and Science labs on their Keokuk Campus Monday, September 9th..
The $800,000 makeover of Emeritus Hall and Bowles Hall includes updated science labs and patient simulation lab, and new classroom amenities. Attendees will also notice that Bowles Hall got a facelift of sorts. A service entrance was replaced with green space and parts of the exterior now feature a red metal cladding with a prominent SCC.
...New board members have been added and a new executive board has been elected.
"We have assembled a dynamic board of directors and a great team to lead Lee County EDG into the future. Both Dennis and Dana have been with our organization for six years and we've updated their titles to reflect their value and responsibilities they have within the organization" said Lee County EDG Chairman Jamie Baier.
Dennis Fraise has been named President and CEO and Dana Millard has been named Economic Development Project Director.
"I'm excited to be part of the team that will be leading economic development efforts in Lee County, stated Fraise. "Working together, we can accomplish great things and ensure a bright future for our young people and Lee County."
Lee County EDG will host an annual update on Thursday, August 22nd at Meyers Courtyard in Keokuk with Keynote speaker Governor Kim Reynolds.
Visit Lee County EDG’s website, www.LeeCountyEDG.com for additional information on Lee County EDG’s progress and results.
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