Why Iowa 09 Updated

Leisa Fox

Why

My Perspective

• The Iowa Association of Business and Industry

• Founded in 1903 as Iowa Manufacturer’s Association

• 1300 Members – very diverse• As Membership Director, I speak

to executives from several hundred companies a year

• Leadership Iowa and Business Horizons

I’ll talk about

• Iowa’s Resources

• Iowa’s Business Climate

• Iowa’s People

• Iowa’s Products

• Lucky to be here

Resources

HORACE GREELEY

“Go West, Young Man, Go West”

Natural Resources

• Coal• Lead • Timber• Lime• Cattle• Poultry• Hogs

• Soybeans• Corn• Clay• Water• Land• Energy

Renewable Energy

• #1 in ethanol production, #2 in biodiesel, #3 in wind energy

• In 2006, over 30 percent of U.S. ethanol and 25 percent of U.S. biodiesel

• Over 1,000 wind turbines creating almost 1,000 megawatts of energy: enough power to service 250,000 homes.

• 2nd in Ethanol Consumption

Transportation Resources

• Five major air cargo carriers

• 19 railroad companies

• 69 barge terminals on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

• Trucks move an average of 133 million tons of inbound freight and 163 million tons of outbound freight annually over Iowa's highways

Education Resources

• Community Colleges

• Private Colleges & Universities

• Regents Colleges

• Lifelong Learning Opportunities

– Associations

– Consultants

– Businesses

Education Statistics

• 3rd highest graduation rate in the U.S. (Morgan Quitno, 2007) ..."

• 1st for highest scores on the SAT college entrance exam in 2007. (College Board)

• 9th smartest state (Morgan Quitno's Education State Rankings 2006-2007 Publication)

More Education Statistics

• Top 100 Public Universities for value by quality 2006 – Kiplinger

• US News & World Report Rank Regents Tier 1 Year after Year

• Drake is ranked as a “best value” in higher education by both U.S.News and World Report and Barron’s 300 Best Buys in College Education.

Quality of Life

• 7th-best state to raise a child.Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2007

• 9th in the nation for number of state parks, recreational areas and natural areas.Morgan Quitno, 2007

• Eight metros in Iowa are ranked among the best places in America to start a business or career.Forbes, 2006

• 8th in safest neighborhoods in the U.S.Morgan Quitno, 2007

• Happiness Index: Iowa 2nd Happiest State in the Nation »Mainstreet.com | April 8, 2009

Quality of Life

• Consistently ranked as one of the most-livable states in the nation. (Morgan Quitno)

• More nine-hole golf courses per capita than any other state.

• Des Moines' quality of life ranks 10th in the Midwest. Only two communities ranked higher: Madison and Ann Arbor

• Iowa ranks #50 among states in credit card debt

• 'Least Depressed' Top Five

Quality of Life

• 7th-shortest average commute time (18.4 minutes) among the 50 states US Census Bureau, 2006

• 9th-lowest housing costsUS Census Bureau, 2006

• Lowest combined average auto insurance premiums of any state in the nationsNational Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2005

• 44th in number of hate crimes per capita.Washington DC is first, Alabama is last.

• Iowa ranks fifth in voter turnout

Quality of Life

• 5th-most livable state based on 43 factors ranging from median household income to crime rate and from sunny days to infant mortality rateCQ Press, 2008

• Iowa's capital city, Des Moines, was listed as one of the best cities for families with kids.Kiplinger 2007

• Over 1000 miles of trail for hiking and biking within Iowa's state parks and recreation areasIowa Department of Transportation

• 1st in the nation for social health based on 16 social indicatorsFordham Institute, 2003

Business Climate

• 1913 – Employers Choice of Medical Care• 1947 – Right to Work• 1996 – Machinery and Equipment Tax

Exemption• 1998 – Employee Drug Testing• 2000 – Research and Development Tax

Credit• 2002 – Corporation S Income Tax Reform• 2004 – Workers’ Compensation

Apportionment

Business Climate

• 49th in Cost of Doing Business

• 6th Most Livable State

• 3rd Lowest Natural Gas Costs

• 3rd Lowest Electric Power Cost

People

Andi Coziahr –

Plan B Consulting in Council Bluffs

People

Lori Schaefer

Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield, IA

People

Fred Buie

President & Owner, Keystone Electrical,

Des Moines

People

Bob Wersen

President, Interpower Corp.,

Oskaloosa

People

Eva Shine

Shine Brothers, Spencer, IA

People

Paul Gregoire

Emerson/Fisher Marshalltown, IA

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where were my blades made?

Where were my fuel nozzles made?

Products

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was my aluminum made?

Products

Where was I made?

Products

Where was I processed?

Lucky to be an Iowan

Are you lucky?

If luck is where opportunity and preparedness meet, you are here!

Iowa’s resources, business climate, people and products have prepared you. Opportunity surrounds you!

You are LUCKY!!! Now do something with it!

Thank youLeisa Fox

Vice President of Membership

Iowa Association of Business & Industry

904 Walnut, Ste. 100

Des Moines, IA 50309

515-235-0575

lfox@iowaabi.org