Conquer the Corridor

New Events Posted!!!!

addy — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:45:36 +0000

Take a gander at the new events posted for the Iowa Hawkeyes!

Events include: Men’s gymnastics, and Men & Women’s Swimming and Diving.

Check out the calendar for new Hawkeye events!

addy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:06:58 +0000

Take a gander at the new events posted for the Iowa Hawkeyes!

Events include: men and women’s basketball, as well as women’s gymnastics.

New events posted!!!

addy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:07:12 +0000

Don’t forget to check out the calendar for upcoming events!

Top 10 List!

Kari — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:09:15 +0000

Looking for something to do in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area? Look no further! Here is a list of upcoming events that Kari and Quinn are excited about and we think you should be too!

Want to learn more? Join us at the Armstrong Center on Wed, October 12th 8AM! Hope to see you there!

Pinnochio – Oct 1-Oct 15th
Downtown Iowa City Gallery Walk – October 14th
All aBoard – October 17th
Stronger Together – November 1st
ICCAs Celebration of the Arts – November 15th
Fire & Ice Festival – December 3rd
Corridor Welcome Reception – October 18th
Wapsi Wilderness Wipeout – October 16th
Bloomsbury Farm – Sept-Oct
Flyball Tournament – Oct 15-16

Help Spread the Word!

Kari — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:51:28 +0000

Please help spread the word! There is another Conquer the Corridor Community event coming up! Please encourage your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers to attend this free, informational breakfast that is all about the Corridor and how to get involved and yes, CONQUER!!!! Please see details below.

Also, if you haven’t checked out the new ConquertheCorridor website, check it out now (www.conquerthecorridor.com)!
Post your own community events or find out what is going on! We’ve heard feedback from all of you that a community calendar would be helpful on this website – now help us spread the word!

Conquer the Corridor Event Details:
October 12, 2011
8-9AM
Armstrong Center Food Court
210 3rd St SE
Event is FREE and a light breakfast is provided!

Please RSVP to Kari Lammer, klammer@cedarrapids.org or 319 730 1427.

Thanks for your help in spreading the word about Conquer and our great community!

Priority One E-Newsletter

Kari — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:26:18 +0000

In This Issue

Stronger Together: A Unified Message

AirCover Considers Cedar Rapids for Expansion

Business Development Sales Trips

MyTernNow Sponsoring STEM Event

Fiscal Year 2011 Project Achievements

Activity Update

Project Pipeline

Stronger Together: A Unified Message

As announced last week, the boards of directors for the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Priority One and the Downtown District have approved and signed a letter of intent to unite under one new organization. A nine-member “Unification Council” has been appointed with equal representation from each board to begin formalizing the new organization, including name, bylaws and mission. Per the letter of intent, Dee Baird, president of Priority One and president/CEO of the Chamber, is expected to serve as the CEO of the new combined organization. Doug Neumann, president/CEO of the Downtown District, is expected to serve as executive vice president.

A series of business input sessions have been scheduled to share ideas, take questions and gather input from investors, members, partners and other stakeholders from each organization. For more information and to register for one of the sessions, please visit the Chamber’s calendar of events.

AirCover Considers Cedar Rapids for Expansion

California-based AirCover Integrated Solutionshas applied for funds to assist with establishing operations in Cedar Rapids. The company is looking to lease space in the Cherry Building, located downtown at 329 10th Ave SE, to manufacture, assemble, test, and sell their QuadRotor unmanned surveillance systems.

The project represents $5 million in capital investment and will create 15 to 25 jobs over the next three years.

“We are very excited to establish operations in Cedar Rapids” said James Hill, president of AirCover Integrated Solutions. “The talented and technically skilled workforce, network of like-technology companies, and access to the University of Iowa made Cedar Rapids a natural fit for our company. We appreciate the efforts of Priority One, the EDC, and the city in helping us find a location that meets our needs.”

Click here to read the complete story.

Business Development Sales Trips

This week, representatives from Priority One and the Iowa City Area Development Group are attending AFCOM’s Data Center World, the leading conference for the data center industry. Priority One and ICAD have identified potential growth opportunities in this industry for the Corridor, and feel our area has much to offer. Our region has low latency and high speed access direct to the interconnection center in Chicago, low risk factors for natural disasters, and a technically skilled workforce capable of serving the data center industry. IBM, Microsoft and Google have all located data centers in Iowa in the last three years, demonstrating the growth potential for this industry and the natural fit for our community.

Earlier this week, Priority One attended the American Wind Energy Association’s Wind Power Supply Chain Workshop in Des Moines. The conference provided strategies and best practices for communities to enter, advance, and thrive in the wind energy industry supply chain.

MyTernNow Sponsoring STEM Event

MyTernNow is proud to be a sponsor of iExploreSTEM, a hands-on, science, technology, engineering and math festival for Iowa’s kids and families this Sunday, September 18, from 1pm to 5pm at the State Hygienic Laboratory in the University of Iowa’s Research Park. iExploreSTEM is a collaboration between the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) and the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) to bring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life for elementary and middle school students. A team of experienced scientists, engineers, teachers, and education experts will offer over 40 free and fun activities. For more information about the event, visit iExploreSTEM.org.

Fiscal Year 2011 Project Achievements

August 31st marked the end of Priority One’s fiscal year. Successful projects included locating two new companies to the area, AgSugar International and mCube, and assisting 15 existing businesses with expansions, including Diamond V, Raining Rose, Intermec, Rockwell Collins and Genencor. In total, Priority One facilitated the creation of 714 new jobs in our area, and over $218 million in capital investment.

Activity Update

Fiscal Year 2012 Completed ProjectsBusiness Jobs Capital Investment

AirCover Integrated Solutions 15 $5,000,000

TOTAL 15 $5,000,000

Project Pipeline

The following is a list of projects Priority One is currently working on with location decisions expected to be made within the next six months:

Jobs Avg Wage Capital Investment

New Prospects:

BioProcessing (3) 205 $20.85 $190,000,000

Adv. Manufacturing (7) 418 $21.17 $28,500,000

Professional Office (4) 192 $15.56 $2,000,000

New Business Total 815 $20.54 $220,500,000

Existing Businesses:

Engineering (1) 0 N/A $10,000,000

BioProcessing (1) 22 $29.32 $24,745,000

Adv. Manufacturing (6) 126 $13.79 $21,220,000

Food Processing (2) 43 $14.44 $11,300,000

Assembly (1) 15 $14.00 $2,500,000

Professional Office (3) 90 $20.07 $2,800,000

Existing Business Total 296 $17.14 $72,565,000

GRAND TOTAL 1,111 $18.60 $293,065,000

Priority OneEconomic Development Division

Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

424 First Ave NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

319-398-5317

www.priority1.com

Cedar Rapids Downtown District E-Newsletter

Kari — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:23:40 +0000

Final Downtown Farmers’
Market of 2011
This Saturday
7:30 a.m. – Noon

Join the Cedar Rapids Downtown District for the last Downtown Farmers’ Market of the 2011 season this Saturday, September 17 from 7:30 a.m. – noon. Presenting sponsor is Quaker Oats who has partnered with Valor and EnAble to raise funds for Paws & Effect, an organization providing canine training to aid and assist veterans.

Stroll by Greene Square Park to visit with the Cedar Rapids Police and Fire Department for Safe Kids Day! They will provide activities, informational resources and will fit and give away bike helmets to the first 200 children that stop by their activity station. Mediacom will host the main stage entertainment with performances by Jeffery Capps, Kennedy Drama Club, Theatre Cedar Rapids and Saints Dixieland Band and more. Cooking demonstration will be hosted by Denise Bushnell from Back to the Table.

With more than 200 vendors at our Downtown Farmers’ Market, our venue is one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest! Find us on 3rd and 4th Avenues SE, looping through 2nd and 3rd Street SE and Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids. We hope you join us for the final Downtown Farmers’ Market of the season!

For full market details including parking information, please click here.

Conquer the Corridor
Register today!
October 12, 8-9 a.m.
Armstrong Centre Food Court

Our community is filled with things to do and ways to get involved, but where can you go to navigate through it all? Join Kari Lammer (Priority One) and Quinn Pettifer (Cedar Rapids Downtown District) on October 12, from 8-9 a.m. as they share their stories of resource triumph! Discover the where and how of culture, nightlife, the downtown scene, volunteer opportunities and more! This FREE interactive presentation is open to the public.

Conquer the Corridor will be at the Armstrong Centre Food Court (210 3rd Avenue SE). A light complimentary breakfast will be provided along with a Corridor Resource Packet. RSVP to Kari Lammer at klammer@cedarrapids.org or 319.730.1427. For further details, visit www.conquerthecorridor.com.

Save the Date: ImpactCR’s
All aBoard
Leadership Through Committees,
Boards & Commissions
Register Today!

Save the date for ImpactCR’s annual professional development event All aBoard: Leadership through Committees, Boards & Commissions, happening on October 17 at Mount Mercy University (1330 Elmhurst Dr.) from 5:30-8 p.m.

All aBoard is a high-value, low-cost opportunity to advance the leadership skills of the next generation of community leaders in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor. Dedicated to educating individuals with a desire to serve the community through leadership, All aBoard offers folks a chance to learn about everything from basic board functions to the enhancement of current roles served. This evening workshop offers direction from the Corridor’s leading service and civic professionals.

Want to attend? Register online by clicking here.

Education Volunteer Call to Action: Volunteers Needed

According to the United Way of East Central Iowa, low income students in our community continue to fall behind in school. Research shows that when caring adults work with youth as tutors and mentors, they help improve academic achievement. United Way of East Central Iowa is recruiting volunteers to tutor, mentor and read in schools and non profit organizations.

Learn more by attending the “Call to Action Breakfast” hosted by United Way of East Central Iowa on September 16. This FREE breakfast is from 7:30-8:30 at the Human Services Campus (317 7th Avenue SE). You will hear about current volunteer needs in our community and gain tips from an instructional specialist on how to be successful when volunteering with children. Click here to RSVP.

Quinn’s & Kari’s Top 5

Kari — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:42:05 +0000

Looking for things to do in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor? Here are some ideas:

New Bo Fest
Sept 2-4
New Bo District

Harvest Fest
Sept 2-4
Cedar Ridge Vineyards

Downtown Farmers Market
Sept 3
Downtown CR

Orchrestra Iowa
Sept 10
Brucemore

IA VS ISU Football Viewing Party
Sept 10
Chrome Horse Saloon

Mayors Bike Ride
Sept 5
Ellis Park

West Music Steinway Extravagenza
Sept 23-25
Coralville Performing Arts Center

Indian Summer Distance Classic
Sept 24
Lake MacBride

Pinocchio
Oct 1 – 15
Old Creamery Theatre

Find all of these events on the Conquer the Corridor Calendar.

Kari’s Top 5 Events

Kari — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:30:09 +0000

Linn County Mayors Bike Ride
Cedar Rapids
September 5
9/10AM

Rundtour Duathlon
Amana Colonies
August 28
7AM

Festival of Iowa Beers
Amana Colonies/Millstream
September 4
1-5PM

LandLocked Film Festival
Downtown Iowa City
August 25-28

Taste of Iowa City
Downtown Iowa City
August 24
4-8PM

Quinn’s Top 5 Events

Kari — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:29:01 +0000

Downtown Farmers Market
Cedar Rapids
August 20
7:30-Noon

Concert/Fundraiser for Outdoor Amphitheatre
Greensquare Park, Cedar Rapids
August 20
10AM-9PM

Back from Rehab
Legion Arts @ CSPS, Cedar Rapids
August 26 September
7PM

Kids Against Hunger 5k/10k
Greensquare Park
Cedar Rapids
August 27

Hawkeye Football
Iowa City
September 3
11:10AM