Economy

Tax Increment Financing: A double edged sword for Le Mars? (10/02/08)
Editor's note: This is the first story in a series looking into how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is working in Le Mars. Taxes on more than 60 percent of Le Mars commercial properties aren't going into the city's general fund. That money is being set aside to be used for economic development...

Financial world rolls, northwest Iowa steady (09/24/08)
In Washington D.C., the federal government is hashing out details on a $700 billion assist to the financial system. In Le Mars, it's business as usual. People are buying groceries, selling shoes, checking out homes to buy, clocking in at work. The question is at the same time distant and pressing: should we be worried?...

Group pushes forward to bring development to six counties (09/19/08)
Regional economic development leaders from six counties in northwest Iowa have teamed up to bring new businesses to the region by advertising and selling its assets in the business world. The six-counties included in the region are Plymouth, Sioux, Osceola, O'Brien, Lyon and Cherokee...

Loess Hills' recreation opportunities to be studied (08/06/08)
A $60,000 grant will help pay for a Loess Hills Recreation Plan Study that could be used to develop new recreation activities like biking and hiking trails, boating, golfing and fishing, wetlands and wildlife watching in that area. The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) will provide the grant throughout two years toward the study, which is expected to start later this year and be completed by the end of 2009...

Fairgoers rate economy first in election (07/31/08)
Presidential candidates better know more about money than how to spend it, according to a survey conducted at the Plymouth County Fair. In a questionaire given to 500 voting-age fairgoers at the Plymouth County Republicans' booth, responders solidly placed "The Economy" as the leading issue that would influence their vote...

LBIC gets city land project reimbursement (06/06/08)
The City of Le Mars is reimbursing the LBIC for costs of two economic opportunity activities the corporation said "do not fit" under the current development agreement between the LBIC and the city. Both projects, Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation's (LBIC) Neal Adler said, took place with prior knowledge of the city. ...

Delivery pains: Trucking industry crunch hits home (06/05/08)
High fuel prices are taking semis off the road. With diesel surpassing $4 a gallon, trucking operations as small as one person and as large as 1,000 drivers are closing down and parking their semis. "In the first quarter of 2008, more than 1,000 companies declared bankruptcy," said Steve Schuster, the president of trucking company Schuster Co. in Le Mars...

Six county residents on the ballot June 3 (05/30/08)
Voters will go to the polls for the primary election Tuesday, June 3, to pick candidates from their party to face off in the November general election. Six Plymouth County residents are running for county offices. On the Republican side, Mark Loutsch and incumbent John Schneider are competing for the District 2 seat on the county board of supervisors. ...

Feenstra says focus on results would drive his work as senator (05/29/08)
Randy Feenstra traces his path to politics back to selling candy. Feenstra, of Hull, is running unopposed in the June 3 primary for the Republican nomination to the Iowa Senate seat vacated by Dave Mulder. The Dordt College graduate, now the Sioux County Treasurer, worked seven years as the head of sales at the Foreign Candy Company...

Plymouth County's strengths surprising in uncertain national economy (04/25/08)
Plymouth County is ahead of the game when it comes to economic development, despite an unstable national economy. The county's economy is in good shape because of its low unemployment and property tax rates, high wages and property tax valuations and continued business and residential growth, according to Gary Tucker, Plymouth County's economic director...