Cedar Rapids council candidates say workforce, downtown revitalization key to city’s growth

CEDAR RAPIDS — Growing the workforce and transforming an office-heavy downtown post-pandemic with small businesses and new amenities will be key to Cedar Rapids’ success, said several candidates vying for seats on the Cedar Rapids City Council.

The city of Cedar Rapids has recently refreshed its strategic plan guiding economic development and is pursuing a separate update to a vision plan for downtown’s revitalization emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, Austin, Texas-based AngelouEconomics — which created Cedar Rapids’ first economic development strategic plan in 2014 — updated Cedar Rapids’ plan and reaffirmed its target industries include agriculture-based life sciences, logistics and distribution, financial services and real estate as well as manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Denver-based consultants with Progressive Urban Management Associates are nearing completion of an update to Cedar Rapids’ Downtown Vision Plan, which is in the works in partnership with local entities including but not limited to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

Recommendations shared so far include:

Here’s what candidates vying for seats on the nine-member council in Nov. 7 city and school elections had to say about these subjects affecting Cedar Rapids’ growth in a Gazette questionnaire.

At large

Pat Loeffler, retired carpenter and co-owner of Corner Store Apothecary & Wellness, said small businesses are key to the city’s economic growth and vitality, especially downtown. He said he supports efforts to recruit new businesses and expand existing ones.

“Cedar Rapids is a great place to raise a family, start a small business or retire after a long career,” Loeffler said. “We are constantly trying to attract businesses to all areas of the city. … Bringing in more family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to the heart of (Cedar Rapids) would be more of an attractant. People want to have more family opportunities.”

The downtown area needs more amenities that citizens are asking for, Loeffler said — restaurants, small businesses and family-friendly activities. As a small-business owner, he said he understands the challenges and commitment required to succeed.

“Finding the right opportunities is the key,” Loeffler said. “Listening to the people is the beginning of taking action.”

Ann Poe, program manager for The District: Czech Village and New Bohemia, said growth of the city’s property tax base is a top priority in the city’s economic development, particularly the retail tax base. She said the city hired a retail consultant to study options to expand the retail tax base.

Finding ways to boost sales tax funding is important, Poe said, because this revenue funds infrastructure work on streets and flood protection. (Cedar Rapids’ 1 percent local-option sales tax funds Paving for Progress street repairs and a state law allows Cedar Rapids and other communities keep some of their sales tax revenue growth to pay for flood protection.)

Having ample workers to support existing companies’ growth or attract new businesses is an area Poe identified as most at risk to economic development opportunities.

“I will continue to incorporate Kirkwood (Community College) for job training opportunities, add scholarships and support projects that use local contractors in the building trades, who recruit and provide training to students directly from high school,” Poe said.

While the Downtown Vision Plan still is in the works, Poe said she supports the consultants’ recommendations on activating May's Island, revamping Third Street SE and improving the trail connection to downtown.

Additionally, Poe said she has long advocated for a trolley making a loop that connects downtown to core districts.

“Having the easy connectivity would encourage residents and visitors to come downtown and support our local businesses while adding a fun factor,” Poe said.

David Maier, Transamerica finance and control manager, who’s challenging incumbents Poe and Loeffler for an at-large seat, said he supports the guidance of the city’s updated economic development strategic plan consultants on where the city’s growth potential lies.

The city’s regional “feeder” colleges and universities including Kirkwood and resources such as NewBoCo and the Economic Alliance also help cultivate economic growth, he said.

Maier said a key risk facing the city is the relevancy of the existing integrated supply chain for respective businesses. As an example, he pointed to Quaker Oats, which was founded in 1877. In its early days, Maier said Iowa farmers grew oats, so “it made sense from an integrated supply chain perspective to locate the mill in Cedar Rapids.”

“However, Iowa farmers now grow mostly corn and soybeans, and oats are now imported primarily from Canada, and therefore maintaining a mill in Cedar Rapids may no longer be prudent,” Maier said. “The age of the plant and its equipment and the inefficiency of a vertical manufacturing facility like the Quaker facility increase the risk of the operations not remaining in town.”

The city has successfully attracted new manufacturing operations including Sub-Zero, Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, Maier said, which he attributed to a skilled workforce and low cost of living. Companies may need to be reminded of these competitive advantages the city offers.

Maier said he also supports the Downtown Vision Plan recommendations shared so far. He applauded community involvement in the ConnectCR public-private partnership to revitalize Cedar Lake and create a pedestrian-bike bridge spanning the river, as well as the Greenway Parks Plan. That plan is being drafted in conjunction with flood control and will guide westside riverfront enhancements and recreational amenities.

“It's not clear to me if downtown will ever return to being an office hub for employers,” Maier said. “Many of the buildings are outdated and seem to lack appropriate ventilation, and the skywalks are downright depressing. However, I am not an urban planning expert. If the scope of Progressive Urban Management Associates’ vision does not include strategies to reactivate downtown as feasible location for growth for employers and employees, a separate study should be commissioned to assess it.”

District 4

Dan Bahan, a senior technician for Nordstrom who’s challenging incumbent Scott Olson for the District 4 seat representing parts of western Cedar Rapids, said for the city’s economic development, Cedar Rapids needs to prioritize building walkable neighborhoods and spaces where people don’t need cars to navigate.

“I want us to embrace more community spaces with corner stores and local businesses,” Bahan said. “If I am elected I will push to have a section of land put aside for another NewBo-style area on the southwest side near all of the new apartments that have gone up recently.”

He said smaller community-oriented spaces help boost revenue and prompt people to shop by giving them spaces to congregate.

“We need to bring back the walkable city center where people can shop with local businesses instead of big chains so the money stays in our communities,” Bahan said of his vision for downtown.

Scott Olson, a semiretired real estate broker, said by the city’s economic development staff teaming with other agencies such as the Economic Alliance, Cedar Rapids can continue to grow across sectors.

He identified a major issue facing the community to be filling available job openings as Cedar Rapids experiences growth in the industrial/business sectors and baby boomers retire.

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, Olson said it seems likely less people will work downtown and more people will live there in the future. He said more than 1,000 apartment units are coming online through renovations and new construction in the coming years in Cedar Rapids’ downtown core. Plus, there will be more evening and weekend amenities as the First and First West development makes progress.

“In my opinion, older areas of the core need improved maintenance so that people working, living and visiting downtown have a positive experience,” Olson said. “The city needs to provide resources to maintain public infrastructure teamed with the SSMID and downtown property owners to maintain our services and amenities.”

District 2

Scott Overland, vice president of investments for Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, who is uncontested in the race for District 2 representing parts of eastern Cedar Rapids, said the city’s growth depends on the workforce being ready and able to fill new and existing positions.

“Going forward it is vitally important that Cedar Rapids be a destination of choice for quality of life and educational opportunities to attract a ready workforce,” Overland said. “The challenge will be to further diversify the local economy by focusing on smaller developing firms to make certain that their success is our success as a community. Locally owned companies provide many indirect benefits to the community that may be more difficult when organizations are headquartered elsewhere.”

As for downtown, Overland said the heart of a city will always evolve and change, but the challenge for Cedar Rapids is to adapt to current trends to keep its downtown vital.

“Whether you frequent downtown or not, a healthy and vibrant downtown is essential,” Overland said. “ … Finding a balance of living options and office will be important going forward, especially as it comes to entertainment, dining and new retail opportunities.”

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