Callanan appointed to Empower Rural Iowa Task Force

Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the appointees to the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. The Initiative is made up of three task forces which will focus on these topics:

Investing in Rural Iowa, Growing Rural Iowa, and Connecting Rural Iowa. They will identify needed legislative, regulatory and policy changes. Each of the three taskforces will make recommendations to the Governor.

 Hunter Callanan, communications and workforce specialist at the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp., has been appointed to the Investing in Rural Iowa Taskforce. The focus of the Investing in Rural Iowa Taskforce is improving access to quality housing in rural Iowa.

  “Hunter has been a strong asset and instrumental in the Corridor’s workforce strategies efforts for the past three years. I look forward to her representing North Iowa and the Corridor on the Investing Rural Iowa Taskforce” said North Iowa Corridor EDC Board Chair Paul Stevenson, Clear Lake Bank & Trust.

  “Idea summits” will be held in September as the three new Empower Rural Iowa task forces examine ways to elevate rural leaders, boost broadband access and make more housing available in rural Iowa. The Investing in Rural Iowa task force will meet in Earlham on Sept. 14.  Other North Iowans appointed to the Initiative are Emily Schmitt, of Clear Lake, and Josh Byrnes, of Osage.

  The North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation serves as the economic development organization for the Cities of Mason City and Clear Lake, and Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The Corridor is the primary contact for business retention and expansion in the region and provides location services for businesses looking to locate in the region. Funding is provided for these efforts by the cities and county as well as over 150 local business partners. The Corridor is governed by a 19-member board of directors.