Polk City, Iowa – Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) and its member electric and telephone systems honored Polk City Development Corporation with the Silver Shovel Award on May 24th at the development group’s annual meeting held at the Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City.  IADG is the business and community development leader for Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives, member municipal electric systems and the independent telephone companies across the state.

The Silver Shovel Award recognition was established to help commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Iowa Area Development Group and its economic development mission.  Polk City Development Corporation was nominated for the award by Midland Power Cooperative.

The Silver Shovel Award honors outstanding leadership, innovation and achievement in business and community development and collaboration with IADG and its utility partners.   In presenting the award Mr. Bruce Hansen, IADG Vice President, Marketing highlighted numerous accomplishments of the organization including regional and local leadership by Executive Director John Calhoun in economic development matters as well as other strategic investments, marketing initiatives, and accomplishments for businesses and communities in the Polk City region.

Bruce Hansen praised Calhoun and his board for their enthusiasm and dedication to growing and diversifying the economy of the community.  He noted Calhoun’s leadership roles and involvement in many accomplishments including the Big Creek Technology Campus, the professional office building, and various business recruitment efforts for the community.

The Silver Shovel Award also brought with it a $1,000 contribution from the Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation.  The financial award will allow Polk City Development Corporation to advance economic development through contributions to local 501c3 organizations.   The IADG Community Foundation was established to facilitate community based philanthropy throughout rural Iowa, promote entrepreneurship and advance economic development.

Iowa Area Development Group was established in 1985 to help its utility sponsors and their communities promote and foster economic development.   The organization and its utility sponsors have been instrumental in facilitating over 1,600 projects, $5.6 billion in investment and creating over 40,000 jobs for Iowa.

Left to Right- Bruce Hansen, Iowa AreaDevelopment Group, Mayor Gary Heuertz, Executive Director John Calhoun, NormFandel, Midland Power

Small Business Loan 2010

Here are some updated pictures of the Big Creek Technology Park.

View of road in the business park.

Ariel image of the Big Creek Technology park.

PCPB groundbreaking

Check out these new pictures of the Polk City Professional Building groundbreaking ceremony.  This is the future site of  the building that will house  Dr. Ryan Hussong & Dr. George Kappos.

http://www.fourseasonsfestival.com/

For an aerial view of the Big Creek Technology Campus sites please click the link below.

Big Creek Aerial

• 32 acres of land for business development
• $45,000 per acre
• Contact: Jeff Saddoris, Knapp Properties, 515-222-5235
• For further information regarding the business park please click the links below.

Exhibit D Big Creek Tech Park

Big Creek Tech Campus Zoning

Big Creek Technology Campus Plat

The Polk City Development Corporation (PCDC) held a Ground Breaking for the Big Creek Technology Campus in Polk City on October 7th.  The campus is located at the intersection of Vista Lake Drive.  The Big Creek Technology Campus is the result of a unique partnership between Polk City, Knapp Properties and the Polk City Development Corporation.  Polk City has agreed to share the infrastructure costs with Knapp Properties. The City will pay 75% of the cost and Knapp Properties will pay 25%.  Knapp Properties will maintain ownership of the land and agrees to sell the land for $45,000 an acre.  The Polk City Development Corporation will market the development of the park.  The Technology Campus contains 32 acres of land that will be used for business development.  An additional 32 acres of land is proposed for a recreational complex.  In all the Technology Campus will open up a total of 140 acres of land for development.
The Polk City Development Corporation was formed to promote new business and retain existing businesses in Polk City.  The mission of PCDC is to encourage a proactive business environment that results in a diversified and balanced smart growth of Polk City’s  economic base and improves the quality of life.

Participants in the GROUNDBREAKING included:

Senator Larry Nobel, Jeff Saddoris-Knapp Properties,John Calhoun-PCDC Director, Polk County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith, Bill Knapp II-Knapp Properties, JoAnn Brunsvold-Polk City Chamber President, Mayor Gary Heuertz, Councilman Tim Rhoades, Paul Baillon-PCDC President, and Councilman Dan Lane

Here is an ariel view of the Technology park.

Click Here to Take Survey

It’s Festival Time!  Please come celebrate with us July 24th and 25th.  You will have a blast.  Guaranteed!  Below is the festival brochure.  Please click on it to find out all the amazing things that the Polk City Festival has to offer for you and your family.

Four Seasons Festival Brochure 2009

Accidentally left off the brochure is a: Sing Along @ the Big Creek Historical Bldg.  This is on Saturday afternoon from 3:00-4:00

There will also be a Disc Golf Tournament.  The following link is a flyer with information regarding tournament specifics: Four Seasons Festival Disc Golf. For more information on playing disc golf please visit the following website: www.discgolfdesmoines.org.

The parade route has been finalized.  Please click here to view the staging area and parade route so you can get the best seats:  Parade Route 2009

Here is a listing of our 2009 Four Seasons Festival Sponsors.  None of this would be possible without their hard work and donations.  Thank you so much to each of them.

Platinum Sponsors
City of Polk City
Polk City Chamber of Commerce
Polk City Development Corporation
Polk County Bank
Knapp Properties
Tournament Club of Iowa

Emerald Sponsors
Luana Savings Bank
McClure Engineering
Snyder & Associates

Ruby Sponsors
PaPa’s Pizzeria
Sons of the American Legion

Sapphire Sponsors
Big Creek Pharmacy
Harrison Sports
Tender Years Daycare

Event Sponsors

Parade
Rosewood Homes

Bike Night
Dotties LandMark
Tim Tracy Auto Sales LLC
Van Wall Motor Sports

Boat Show
Brightwells Boats
Saylorville Marina

Classic Car Show
Prairie Trail

Childrens Crafts
Kiwanis Club of Polk City
Lake Country Catering
Reising Sun Cafe

Dog Show
John D Lindahl CPA
Polk City Veterinary Hospital

Horseshoe Tournament
American Legion

Queen Contest
Big Creek  Family Chiropractic
Edward Jones Investments

Softball Tournament
Lakeside Storage

Standing Hampton
Polk County Heating & Cooling

Tony Valdez
Cupp Ins.
Provident Consulting
Rock Valley Physical Therapy

Volleyball Tournament
All Seasons Fitness

Water fights
Polk City Fire Department Association

We look forward to seeing you at the Festival!

The Polk City Development Corporation (PCDC) has received a 2009 Polk County Betterment Grant of $5,000 from Polk County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith.  PCDC has developed a marketing strategy to assist in the recruitment and maintenance of businesses in Polk City.  With the help of the Polk County Betterment Grants, PCDC has:

1.Developed an inter-active web site that promotes Polk City as a prime location to initiate a new business in addition to providing on-going information & assistance to existing businesses.

2.Maintained the Location One Information System (LOIS)

3.Developed Marketing tools for business recruitment

The 2009 Polk County Development Grant award will help initiate the next phase of the marketing plan.  The next phase is to create additional marketing tools to assist with the task of marketing Polk City and update the existing material.  This would include the printing of professionally developed brochures in addition to updating and managing the website.

The Polk City Development Corporation was formed to promote new business and retain existing businesses in Polk City.  The mission of PCDC is to encourage a proactive business environment that results in a diversified and balanced smart growth of Polk Citys economic base and improves the quality of life.

The picture shows Tom Hockensmith giving the check to PCDC Director John Calhoun and Polk City Mayor Gary Heuertz.