The Cedar Rapids metro area took a significant stride in bolstering regional growth by announcing the Collaborative Growth Initiative at a media event at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 24.

The cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha, and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance joined forces to introduce this forward-looking initiative. During the event, the partnering organizations announced they have engaged Development Counsellors International (DCI), a seasoned consultant with extensive experience in economic development and talent-attraction marketing, to spearhead the effort’s initial phase. The announcement follows Tuesday’s authorization of a contract between DCI and the City of Cedar Rapids, the effort’s lead partner. Partnering organizations approved a shared Memorandum of Understanding to begin a competitive consultant-selection process in May.

Officials from the partnering organizations used Thursday’s launch event to emphasize the shared regional commitment to collective growth and fostering a vibrant metro.

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell of Cedar Rapids said, “The Collaborative Growth Initiative represents a significant step forward for the entire metro area. Cedar Rapids has a strong track record of attracting new businesses and industries. Together with our neighboring communities, we saw a need to align efforts to attract even more families and workers to meet our communities’ growing needs.”

Vice Chair Anne Parmley of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Policy Board said, “The Economic Alliance looks forward to partnering with the mayors across the metro for this initiative. We are embarking on a challenging but attainable initiative and having this collaborative partnership will allow us to be both intentional and focused with our collective messaging efforts.”

Mayor Nick AbouAssaly of Marion said, “As one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, Marion is a proud partner in this effort. With our strong focus on quality of life and recent investments in community amenities and infrastructure, we play a key role in making this region the place where people want to be.”

Mayor Bill Bennett of Hiawatha said, “We are excited for the benefits our community will realize with a regional approach to addressing attraction and retention of a quality workforce. Each community has a uniqueness to offer. Joining forces with our neighbors in this endeavor just makes sense.”

The Collaborative Growth Initiative will unfold in a series of phases. The first phase includes identifying growth targets and strategic markets. A market assessment, expected to take around nine months, will delve into local and national workforce trends, highlight the metro's strengths for job seekers, identify target markets aligned with workforce needs, and lay the groundwork for a marketing strategy aimed at attracting new residents interested in the region's job opportunities.

From there, the initiative will move into an implementation phase geared toward growing the region's workforce and population. By aligning their efforts, the partnering organizations seek to create a vibrant, attractive environment that fosters economic prosperity and quality of life for all residents.