Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation

06/19/2026

Twenty-three years at Spencer Hospital. President and CEO Iowa Lakes Corridor board member. Brenda Tiefenthaler didn't build a career here by accident. She built it by choice and the region is better for it.

Spencer Hospital recently earned a spot among the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in the country, for the fourth time. That doesn't happen without the right people staying, leading and investing in a place.

This is what that looks like.

06/19/2026

That's a wrap-- Season 2 of Corridor Conversations is now streaming! 🎙️🎬

This season features seven thoughtful conversations with local and state leaders who share insights on economic development programs, partnerships, workforce initiatives, and the work being done to strengthen our communities and region.

Each episode is created with intention. From identifying topics and guests to preparing meaningful discussions, a great deal of thought goes into every conversation. Our goal is to pull back the curtain on economic development and give community members, business leaders, elected officials, and partners a better understanding of the work happening across the Iowa Lakes Corridor region.

We hope you enjoy watching these conversations as much as we enjoy creating them. Thank you to all of our guests for sharing their time, expertise, and perspectives throughout the season.

All seven episodes are now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook. Go check them out!
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06/18/2026

One of the benefits of our quarterly off-site board meetings is the opportunity to see the businesses that power our regional economy up close.

Yesterday, our board and staff visited Tyson Foods in Storm Lake for a tour of the turkey operation. While it is one of the nation's smaller turkey processing facilities in terms of space, it ranks as the sixth-largest turkey producer in output in the United States— a testament to the efficiency, innovation, and dedication of the team behind the operation.

Thank you to Walter DeBock, Corridor board member and Plant Manager of Tyson Foods, for hosting our group and providing a behind-the-scenes look at the process. We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about Tyson and its impact on the Corridor region.

06/18/2026

This fall the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat where 300 writers, editors, authors and storytellers from across the country, gathering at Lakeside Lab on the shores of Okoboji. Founded by Julie Gammack and now in its sixth year, this is the kind of event that puts a region on the map in ways no press release can. Early bird enrollment is open now through July 5.

Daily lifestyle show

06/18/2026

68 summers.
One stage.
The same families coming back week after week.

Okoboji Summer Theatre opens its 2026 season with Ring of Fire — Johnny Cash's story, told on a lake in Iowa. Culture is part of what keeps people here. It's also part of what draws them back. Get your tickets before the show opens on June 23!

06/17/2026

Do you have what it takes to bring home the trophy at the 3rd Annual Homegrown Talent Initiative Golf Tournament?

Gather your team and join us on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Lake Creek Golf Course in Storm Lake for a day of golf, networking, and friendly competition.

Register your team today for a shot at ultimate bragging rights and support a great cause along the way! ⛳
https://f.mtr.cool/wgiqegchhr

06/16/2026

The Corridor is asking the questions most people never think to ask about northwest Iowa.

What does economic development actually look like from the inside?

Check out our Youtube channel and hit SUBSCRIBE!

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06/16/2026

Earlier today, we joined the Spencer Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors in celebrating the grand opening of the Clay County Conservation Board Oneota Environmental Learning Center! 🌿🎉

This exciting new facility was created to inspire curiosity, connect people with nature, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for all ages. From school programs and summer camps to community events and conservation education, the center will be a place where people can explore, discover, and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world for generations to come.

Congratulations to everyone who helped bring this incredible community resource to life!

06/14/2026

Ruth Ann Burke has been coming to Okoboji every summer for 24 years with her family. Ruth doesn't have to be here every season - but she chooses to. As Executive Director of Okoboji Summer Theatre, she leads a professional company that brings Stephens College students and guest artists to the Iowa Great Lakes every season, running a 68-year-old institution that fills seats week after week.

This is the story of someone who found a community worth returning to, year after year.

The lakes aren't just her workplace. They're her summer home and she stays busy and has fun here too!