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.
of Lee County Schools participate in STEM Scale-Ups
Potential Regional Labor Force
Manufacturing Jobs
A cohesive strategy that bridges our communities and industries, empowering us to address shared challenged and leverage new opportunities
Connect Lee County is a collaborative effort spearheaded and facilitated by Lee County EDG
Under the People pillar, we’re focused on building a skilled workforce, attracting talent, and supporting entrepreneurs. Grow Lee leads this effort with programs from elementary STEM to adult upskilling through the Industrial Technology Center. A Talent Hub will connect employers to training, while the Community Concierge helps new residents settle in. We’re relaunching DreamBuilder and creating a startup fund by 2027. The Career Advantage Center will link education and industry. By 2026, we’ll have a talent strategy in place and aim to engage 80% of students annually in workforce programs.
The Business pillar focuses on supporting local companies, attracting new industries, and eliminating barriers to growth. We will continue conducting business retention and expansion visits, aiming for 40 per year and 100 touchpoints annually, to better understand and respond to business needs. Our advocacy efforts will include annual state and federal events to push for policies that support a strong business environment. We will also target emerging industries, host two headquarters visits per year, and launch an annual business survey in 2025 to help guide strategy and measure impact.
Quality of Life efforts aim to make Lee County a more vibrant, welcoming place to live. We are completing a county-wide housing study and will form a taskforce to implement its recommendations. Community development efforts will build on momentum from recent visioning work in Keokuk and Fort Madison, expanding across the county to enhance amenities, public spaces, and overall livability.
Connect Lee County is more than a strategy—it’s a unified vision for long-term success that aligns our people, businesses, and communities to create a stronger future for everyone in Lee County.
Virnig Manufacturing is investing $11 million to open a new facility in Fort Madison, bringing 35 new jobs and new life to the former Independent Can building. A big win for local growth and our manufacturing future!
... Even before they kicked off their public Connect Lee County Campaign, the Lee County Economic Development Group announced it is past 60% of its goal.
The news came as an affirmation of the work being done in the sphere of county economic development by LCEDG at Thursday morning's investors' breakfast at the organization's office in Montrose.
IEDC's annual Excellence Awards honor the economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the profession
...Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that Lee County Economic Development Group has attained a measure of excellence, assuring that their trust is well-placed and their business is in good hands.
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