New state economic development panel meets with Branstad

DES MOINES - Some of the state's best-known business leaders talked about tax credits, supply chains and agribusiness in the former Soviet Union with Gov. Terry Branstad on Thursday.

It was the first meeting of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress, a group created as part of Branstad's plan to revamp the way the state carries out its economic development function.

The revamp created a nonprofit board to work with the more traditional state agency board and the IPEP board to guide policy objectives overall.

“Your goal is to be our international market think tank,” Debi Durham, Branstad's top economic officer, told the group as the members met over coffee and pastries in a second-floor board room at the department's office building just outside of downtown Des Moines.

“Tell us what we can do to create a more pro-business, pro-economic development growth climate,” she said. “In years past, we've created legislation and said, ‘Look what we did for you today. Isn't that great?' We want you to tell us what you need.”

The initial meeting was more of a get-to-know-you session than anything else, with board members sharing some ideas of what they like and don't like in state programs and where they see their businesses growing.

“It's very vogue right now to talk about jobs of any type,” said Clay Jones, CEO of Rockwell Collins. “I think we need to talk about wealth creation.”

He encouraged Durham to continue the state Research and Development tax credit program because, he said, it doesn't cost the state anything up front, but gives an incentive to bring high-paying jobs to the state.

Paul Schickler, president of Pioneer Hi-Bred, said his bioengineering company is looking east to the former Soviet Union for new markets and sees many of the former Soviet republics as “the next great opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Toby Shine, president of Shine Brothers Corp., said his concerns are more domestic.

“I can find a great employee, but there is a housing problem,” he said. “I'm looking for a job for a spouse and affordable housing for the family.”

Branstad said the issues were exactly the type of information he hoped the board would be able to provide.

“We need the kind of guidance that the members of this board can give us,” he said. “You're the folks that are on the front lines doing exciting things and creating jobs in our state.”

BREAKOUT:

Business members of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress board are:

Bill Fehrman, president and CEO, MidAmerican Energy Co.

Paul Schickler III, president, Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business

Larry Zimpleman, CEO, Principal Financial Group

John Smith, chairman of the board, CRST International Inc.

Toby Shine, president, Shine Brothers Corp.

Mary Andringa, president and CEO, Vermeer Corp.

Marti Rodamaker, banker, First Citizens National Bank

Ken Lockard, chairman, Lockard Cos.

Tom Aller, president, Interstate Power and Light, Alliant Energy

Roger Underwood, co-founder, Becker-Underwood

Clay Jones, chairman, president and CEO, Rockwell Collins