Didier to lead regional collaboration

Special to the Daily News

Today, Kim Didier, executive director for the Newton Development Corporation (NDC), informed the NDC Board that she has accepted an offer to lead the implementation of the seven-County Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan. Bev Price, Newton Development Corporation chair, said in a prepared statement, “Although we hate to lose Kim in the specific role of leading the NDC organization, we are pleased that her new position brings to us new opportunities for the future as she continues to work for Newton and our region” The regional plan was developed with the support of a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant (RIGS) from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor. The RIGS grant program was created in response to requests for planning support as a result of the loss of Maytag in the region. The ETA announced the awarding of the “First in the Nation” Regional Innovation Grant in March of 2007 to Newton and the surrounding region. The 160-page plan document is the culmination of a seven-month planning process in which approximately 80 regional leaders analyzed assets and deliberated on strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of the seven-county area in light of global competition and market forces. The plan focuses on four specific transformational goals which include: • Analyzing worker pipeline supply and demand and creating a talent development system. • Creating partnerships to prepare a pipeline of skilled workers to meet workforce needs. • Fostering sustainable, livable communities with infrastructure and amenities. • Creating a culture of entrepreneurism. Didier begins the new role Jan. 5 and will be an employee of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry which has agreed to partner with the regional group to support the implementation of the plan. Rob Denson, President of DMACC and Co-Chair of the regional planning process, said, “from the beginning, all the leaders involved in the RIGS planning process understood that for our efforts to be successful we needed to be in full partnership with the business community and let the needs of the business community drive the plan. Therefore, we are delighted ABI is our partner in the implementation of our plan and in bringing Kim’s talents to our implementation efforts.”