OTTUMWA —
A sense of pride in Ottumwa and a belief that it can progress is essential to success.
David Barajas Jr., executive director of the Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation, spoke to a gathering of local businesspeople and city officials Thursday about the OEDC’s plans for a regional effort toward economic development.
“I’m proud to be from Ottumwa and after being here for almost nine months, I do not allow others to define Ottumwa for me,” Barajas said. “It is my responsiblity, and our responsibility, to define and determine who and what we are, here in Ottumwa, and throughout our region. And that is not a responsibility that I will give up to anyone that doesn’t live here.”
The first step is to develop a comprehensive fiber-optic infrastructure plan, he said.
The OEDC will figure out where the current fiber exists and where there are gaps.
“If we were talking about a comprehensive fiber-optic infrastructure plan 25 to 30 years ago, we would be on the cutting edge in our thinking,” Barajas said. “I submit to you that today we need to be developing a plan like this just to have a chance to stay in the game today.”
The second initiative the OEDC will implement is the e-synchronist business retention and expansion program, which will examine what local businesses need for expansion.
The program is not a new concept, and Barajas said a local volunteer force of retired businesspeople will help the OEDC develop the program.
“Research tells us that about 80 to 85 percent of new jobs that come to a community come from the companies and employers that you currently have in your community,” he said.
He said it’s important to take care of the companies already located in town while at the same time looking for opportunities to bring in companies from outside of Ottumwa.
But it’s important to note that these changes will not be effective immediately. Economic development takes time.
“In Sterling, Ill., it took us five and a half years to land the 950,000-square-foot Walmart Mechanized Distribution Center from the first time I spoke with them to the time that they cut the ribbon,” he said.
To complement the e-synchronist program, the OEDC will implement CRTS — Convention, Retail, Tourism and Services, which is geared toward more Main Street-type businesses.
Barajas said he would like to see Main Street Ottumwa, the Ottumwa Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce work together to bring this to fruition.
In the coming months, the OEDC will also revamp its website and establish an Entrepreneur Development Program.
The EDP will benefit not only Ottumwa, but all of southeast Iowa, Barajas said. He said he would like to learn from recent entrepreneurial development in Appanoose County and Fairfield to further the initiative.
“In today’s world economy and with today’s regional economic development initiatives, what happens in Ottumwa doesn’t stay in Ottumwa,” he said. “What happens in each of our communities and each of our counties has a positive or negative spillover effect throughout the region.
“We must work closer together more than ever today to make sure that the spillover effects that we are receiving are, more often than not, positive.”
CNHI/SE Iowa
OEDC head stresses regionalism
Business community discusses new initiatives
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