When we consider economic/community development, what are some of the hot button areas that we prioritize? The Marshalltown Regional Partnership (MRP) Strategic Plan shows that education, housing and quality of life are priority topics that we focus on … and for good reason.

Our MRP Strategic areas of focus were recently put to the test and passed with flying colors when we had an opportunity to lunch with and give a community tour to a management prospect for one of our local companies. During lunch, when we asked our management prospect what his priorities were for he and his family to consider moving here from Texas to accept the job opportunity; his answer was plain and simple … education, housing and quality of life.

As some of you have heard me say countless times, it all begins with a good strong education system. Moms and dads, employers and employees are all looking for a community with a good strong education system. Plain and simple … education is the foundation for all else. Here in Marshalltown we are fortunate to have an education system that is pushing the envelope to provide cutting edge opportunities for children at all levels, and from every background. Take our STEM programming, PLTW programming, ST Math and Junior Achievement as a few examples.

If we want to capture the full economic impact of good quality jobs in our community, then we have to have good strong housing options for employees and their families to consider; at all different levels. If we just have the jobs, but not the housing, then every two weeks we have employees taking their paychecks and its economic power down the road to be spent and circulated in another community. That’s not an optimal economic development recipe for any community. Housing is a key facet of economic/community development; and our second completed housing study in the past four years shows that we are on the right track and definitely making positive progress in this arena.

And finally, all work and no play makes Johnny and Janie dull people and potentially unhappy employees. Thus the importance of quality of life to economic/community development. We are blessed with many, varied, quality of life assets in Marshalltown and Marshall County. One of the most notable assets, happens to be an inter-county asset — the development of the Iowa River Trail (IRT). Along with the IRT, we have a number of other trails that traverse throughout Marshall County, along with about 29 county parks, which includes the beautiful Grimes Farm and Conservation Center. So, quality of life? Yes, we have quality of life assets in Marshalltown and Marshall County, and those assets are both improving and becoming more numerous, all the time.

So back to the top; how did we do on our test with our management prospect from Texas? Well, I was just recently told that we passed the test … he has accepted the job in Marshalltown. #MarshalltownVibe #MarshalltownPride

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David Barajas Jr. is CEO of the Marshalltown Regional Partnership.