Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is the regional economic development agency for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties.

Contact us at 712.264.3474 or www.lakescorridor.com.

09/05/2026

Scenes from our road trip to Grand Rapids, MI for the Mid-America Economic Development Council (MAEDC) 2026 Economic Development Awards! 🚗🏆

In Emmet County, Lexie Ruter, Executive Director of Estherville Chamber of Commerce , works hand-in-hand with our team a...
09/05/2026

In Emmet County, Lexie Ruter, Executive Director of Estherville Chamber of Commerce , works hand-in-hand with our team at the Iowa Lakes Corridor to support local businesses and bring new opportunities to the community. It's local leaders like Lexie who make sure regional resources reach the businesses and entrepreneurs who need them most.

In Buena Vista County our team works closely with people like Lee Dutfield, Development Services Specialist for the City...
09/05/2026

In Buena Vista County our team works closely with people like Lee Dutfield, Development Services Specialist for the City of Storm Lake , who helps connect local businesses to the resources, data and support they need to grow. It's collaborations like these with local city, county and regional teams working as one, that keeps the entire Corridor moving forward.

Road trip! Curt, Trevor, Alyssa, and Jenny hit the road earlier this week for a trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to accep...
09/04/2026

Road trip! Curt, Trevor, Alyssa, and Jenny hit the road earlier this week for a trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to accept our Mid-America Economic Development Council Entrepreneurial Award recognizing the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute!

Of course, we had to make the most of the trip along the way. We were even able to catch a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago!

We’re incredibly proud to bring this award home and celebrate the people, partnerships and hard work behind OEI and behind all the work we do at the Corridor.

A great team, a great trip and a great reason to celebrate!

You might see the Corridor's name attached to projects across the region, but our role is often less "decision-maker" an...
09/03/2026

You might see the Corridor's name attached to projects across the region, but our role is often less "decision-maker" and more of a "connector." Take the Spencer Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) for example, which is made up of representatives from city administration and local business leaders. The SEDC drives its own local projects, while the Corridor serves in an advisory, non-voting role while helping share information, coordinating resources and working to keep regional partners aligned. Behind each headline they are a part of, is a network of people and organizations working together.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor has been named the Large Division winner in the Entrepreneurial category by the Mid-America Econ...
09/03/2026

The Iowa Lakes Corridor has been named the Large Division winner in the Entrepreneurial category by the Mid-America Economic Development Council (MAEDC) for the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute (OEI)!

MAEDC represents economic development professionals across 13 states throughout the Midwest, making this recognition especially meaningful for our region and the work we’re doing to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.

We’re incredibly proud of OEI and the impact this program has made over the past 20 years by connecting Iowa’s top college students with entrepreneurs, business leaders and opportunities to learn, grow and build their futures. This award is a reflection of the many people who make OEI possible year after year. Thank you. We’re grateful for your support and proud to celebrate this honor with all of you!

Join us in ONE MONTH for a Legislative Roundtable hosted by Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI). Community leaders, ch...
09/01/2026

Join us in ONE MONTH for a Legislative Roundtable hosted by Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI).

Community leaders, chambers, and elected officials are invited to join us October 1 at 10:30 am in Spencer at the Spencer Community School Administrative Offices for a legislative roundtable.

PDI Legislative Roundtables are a great opportunity to connect with legislators, economic developers, and community leaders from across Iowa. Together, we’ll discuss the critical economic tools and strategies that support local development and explore how tourism plays a role in driving growth across our state.

➡️ Get registered at https://f.mtr.cool/zx8s9oiy7b

The Clay County Fair & Events Center opens soon on September 12, and "The World's Greatest County Fair" earns that nickn...
08/28/2026

The Clay County Fair & Events Center opens soon on September 12, and "The World's Greatest County Fair" earns that nickname as it's the single biggest draw in the region, pulling visitors from all four Corridor counties and well beyond. Two of our own Corridor businesses will be there representing Northwest Iowa's food and ag scene: Century Farms Distillery, whose barrel program lets local farmers turn their own corn into whiskey, and Big Acai Bowls, serving up a fresher take on fair food. Both are proof that "fair food" doesn't have to mean the same thing it did twenty years ago.

It's also worth noting the Clay County Fair's roots run through the same entrepreneurial spirit as our own Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute — give Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute a follow if you haven't already, since a lot of the businesses you'll see on the fairgrounds got their start with the same kind of mentoring OEI provides today.

Yesterday’s Leadership Panel brought together a fantastic group of leaders for an engaging conversation about leadership...
08/27/2026

Yesterday’s Leadership Panel brought together a fantastic group of leaders for an engaging conversation about leadership, culture, and growth. Panelists shared honest perspectives and real-world experiences on building strong teams, creating positive organizational cultures, developing people, and leading with purpose. The discussion was full of tangible insights and practical takeaways that leaders can bring back to their own organizations.

A huge thank you to our panelists for sharing their experiences, perspectives, and leadership lessons, and to Spencer Community Theatre for hosting us! We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the conversation such a success.

Beck Engineering, Inc. Spencer Hospital Storm Lake Community School District Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative

Address

520 2nd Avenue E, Ste 2
Spencer, IA
51301

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+17122643474

Website

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