Report indicates population growth in seven-county region

CEDAR RAPIDS - The first demographic report for a seven-county region that includes the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor shows population growth, educational attainment that tops state and national levels, and a wide variety of additional facts and figures.

The Corridor Business Alliance recently worked withe the University of Iowa Graduate College of Regional and Urban Planning to collect and report regional demographic data.  The report is considered a fundamental step in creating a regional economic development strategy.

“When this alliance was formed two years ago, it was our vision to create a vital regional economy, but we needed a starting place,” said Dee Baird, chairwoman of the Corridor Business Alliance and president of Priority One in Cedar Rapids.  “This gives the Corridor Business Alliance a common platform of information and an understanding of what changes are occurring on a regional scale.”

The report, released today, analyzed Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties in 13 statistical areas.

Among the major findings in the 2010 Regional Data Report:

• The seven counties that comprise the region were among only 30 in the state to gain population in the past 30 years. The region's population was an estimated 442,404 in 2009, up from 402,764 in 2000.
• The region's share of the state's population is on track to surpass 15 percent in the next few years. Census Bureau estimates put it at 14.7 percent in 2009.
• Educational attainment remains a strong Corridor economic indicator, remaining above the U.S. and State of Iowa educational attainment measures.
• The largest industry sectors in the region are health care, education, retail and manufacturing each with around 30,000 employees  in 2009.
• Comparative to the state, the Corridor boasts higher percentages of its work force in education, health care, social assistance, information, and transportation/warehousing industry sectors.

Joe Raso, president of the Iowa City Area Development Group, said the regional report will be an important tool for economic development.

“The data paints a clear picture of how our region rates in relation to the state and the nation,” Raso said.  “The breadth of data also is valuable as it covers broader, traditional economic development factors as well as specific, community-level data.”

Kim Johnson, vice president of continuing education and training services at Kirkwood Community College, said the report has important implications for work force development in the region.

“Having access to regional, relevant labor market, industry employment, and demographic data provides an understanding about the regional work force supply and demand, which impacts educational program development and graduate placements,” Johnson said. “Work force development is a critical element of our regional economic strategy.”

The report, which was underwritten by Kirkwood, is available at http://corridor2020.com/files/2010/11/Cedar-Rapids-Iowa-City-Regional-Report-Nov-2010.pdf

The report was released in advance of the Entrepreneurial Development Center's first networking event of 2011 on Tuesday evening, co-hosted by the Corridor Business Alliance and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District.

“Developing an Entrepreneur Eco-System” will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EDC's office, 230 Second St. SE, Suite 212, in the Granby Building.