Staff Announcements for Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation

August 23, 2017 | News & Press Releases

IOWA CITY, IA, August 24, 2017–The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) jointly announce new roles for two staff members who will begin working on regional workforce and business attraction initiatives within the Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation. The development corporation is a joint venture between the Economic Alliance and ICAD, being led by President & CEO Jennifer Daly.

“Building a great team will be paramount to the future success of Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation,” said Daly. “I’m thrilled to be having two very talented professionals joining our organization.”

Brian Crowe has accepted new responsibilities as Director of Business Attraction. Crowe will focus on regional business attraction, working with Daly to develop and execute strategies to bring new jobs, new businesses and capital investment to the region. Crowe had been serving as economic development strategist at the Economic Alliance for the last four years.

“Over the last several quarters, new business interest in our region has gained strong momentum, and I look forward to conducting this important work on a regional basis,” said Crowe. “The collaborative effort has the opportunity to make us even more effective.”

“These two new roles, along with the hiring of Jennifer Daly, finally put in motion what many business leaders have been strategizing over for a long time,” said Doug Neumann, executive director of the Economic Alliance. “By marketing the assets and opportunities of a seven-county region, we’ll only broaden the opportunities available to new prospective businesses.”

DaLayne Williamson, PHR, GPHR, has accepted the role of Director of Workforce Solutions. Williamson will be responsible for regional workforce efforts by connecting employers with resources, assisting with retention and recruitment needs and recognizing and filling gaps in training. Williamson takes on these broader regional workforce responsibilities after 10 years as workforce business services director at ICAD.

“I am looking forward to hearing from employers throughout the Corridor as we enhance and develop strategies to address the workforce challenges they are experiencing,” said DaLayne Williamson, Director of Workforce Solutions, Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation.

“With the leadership of Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation in place, we look forward to supporting Jennifer, DaLayne and Brian to leverage our regional resources and continue to see positive economic growth in the Corridor,” said Mark Nolte, Executive Director, Iowa City Area Development Group.

Iowa’s Creative Corridor Development Corporation, an extension of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Iowa City Area Development Group, is dedicated to helping the seven-county region thrive through targeted business attraction and workforce development initiatives.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jennifer Daly                         Melissa McCarville                      Erin Pottebaum
Iowa’s Creative Corridor       Economic Alliance                      ICAD
Development Corporation     319.730.1415                             214.529.0062
309.339.1388                        mmccarville@cedarrapids.org    epottebaum@icadgroup.com
jdaly@creativecorridor.co m