Supervisors urge coordinated economic-development strategy, consider county development lead
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Summary
Supervisors discussed creating or funding a county-level economic-development coordinator and coordinating smaller towns’ development corporations with state and regional partners to attract industry and retain residents.
At a meeting April 7, 2026, the Crawford County Board of Supervisors spent significant time on how to stimulate economic growth across the county, with several supervisors urging a more coordinated approach to development and tourism promotion.
A supervisor who led the discussion said the county should consider whether to fund or host a county-level development person to guide smaller communities and collaborate with state economic-development resources in Ames. The supervisor described conversations with a Story County official and said Ames’ model separates tourism (Discover Ames) from economic development while providing centralized expertise for smaller jurisdictions. The supervisor argued the county needs ‘‘show-ready’’ industrial sites and a dedicated person to shepherd projects, saying that without new growth the county risks further population decline and fiscal strain.
Other supervisors agreed and noted many small towns have their own development corporations that focus narrowly on tourism or local events. One board member suggested the county step back and consider a regional or multi-county strategy to pool resources; another highlighted Western Iowa Advantage and local rural electric cooperatives as potential partners for shared development work.
The board discussed practical constraints including staffing and budgets: county staff already cover multiple event and tourism responsibilities, and any new development lead would require funding and a plan to avoid overtaxing existing personnel. Some supervisors proposed training or mentoring a local hire, using existing county employees for outreach, or exploring joint positions funded by multiple jurisdictions.
The discussion closed with agreement to further explore options, invite CDC leadership and local development corporation representatives to future meetings, and consider a focused five-year plan that seeks community input before the board decides on a staffing or funding commitment.
