ICAD & CRMEA Joint Venture President Announced

May 3, 2017 | News & Press Releases

IOWA CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT GROUP
AND
CEDAR RAPIDS ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE PRESIDENT

CEO of Greater Peoria Economic Development Council to Lead Workforce Initiatives & Business Recruitment Efforts for Iowa’s Creative Corridor

IOWA’S CREATIVE CORRIDOR – The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) jointly announce Jennifer Daly as President & CEO of a Joint Venture between the two groups. Daly, who has strong Iowa ties, returns to the state after her most recent leadership role as CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council in Peoria, Illinois.

Daly will be responsible for leading regional efforts in workforce development and business recruitment. She will work closely with regional and economic development and workforce organizations to facilitate and coordinate strategic objectives, while aligning and coordinating the goals of the regional marketing effort. She will lead, propose and implement programs and policies that advance regional workforce and economic development activities.

“I’m excited to return to my hometown region to help support, align, and scale the business and talent development efforts already well underway,” said Daly. “Iowa’s Creative Corridor is a very special place to me and my family. Working with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Iowa City Area Development Group, and organizations throughout the Corridor who are committed to building the region’s economy will be an honor and a privilege.”

Iowa City Area Development Group and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance formed the legal joint venture entity, a 501(c)(6) organization, otherwise known as Iowa’s Creative Corridor Economic Development Corporation, with a small governance board, on January 1, 2016. Daly will be the first President & CEO for the new organization.

Daly offers extensive experience in business development, workforce development, organizational leadership and partnerships as previous positions include, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Programs for the Iowa Children’s Museum, Executive Director of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce and Area Development Commission as well as CEO & Executive Director for the Morton Economic Development Council and Morton Chamber of Commerce in Morton, Illinois.

In her role as CEO at the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council she led a newly restructured, five-county regional economic development council, which brought three diverse economic development boards together to form a united, regional economic development organization. She also led a partnership with dozens of regional organizations to develop collective impact models around business development, workforce development, rural development, and poverty reduction.

“We look forward to benefiting from Jennifer’s experience as we feel it will enable us to springboard our efforts to attract and retain the critical workforce necessary for regional growth and prosperity,” said Lydia Brown, Co-Chair of the Joint Venture Board.

“We are thrilled to be able to relaunch and move strategic direction forward for the Joint Venture,” said Tom Geodken, Co-Chair of the Joint Venture Board. “A lot of hard work has gone into creating this entity, and we have now found the right person to lead it into its next successful phase.”

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The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance serves as the catalyst for economic diversity, growth and prosperity for our region.

The Iowa City Area Development Group creates, collaborates and leads regional economic development initiatives that contribute to the creation and growth of companies, wealth and quality jobs through a spirit of innovation and a culture of sharing that transforms knowledge into economic opportunity.

Media Contacts:

Iowa City Area Development Group
Erin Pottebaum
epottebaum@icadgroup.com
319-354-3939

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Melissa McCarville
Communications Manager
319-730-1415 (direct & cell)
mmccarville@cedarrapids.org