Making Connections, Building Community

2012Annual Report

A Year of Growth & Accomplishment

Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau• Reached 734 Chamber of Commerce members, an all-time high• Implemented a member retention program that included visits to 77% of members including personal phone calls, notes honoring continued membership, personal visits to the member business, one-on-one surveys and the use of social media to promote the member business• Provided support and assistance to the City of Burlington in recruiting the new city manager. Partnership team members provided input during the interview process, educated candidates about the city during community tours, and provided community information and gift baskets • Promoted buying local during the holiday season through social media, newspaper and radio• Greater Burlington Leadership continued with 12 participants for the 2012-2013 series and 10 graduates of the 2011-2012 program• Greater Burlington Young Professionals membership reached 210 and programs included five Lunch and Learns, three tours of local businesses and the community, 10 social events, a Relay for Life team and a scholarship awarded to a West Burlington Senior who is now enrolled at SCC

• Reached $118 million in tourism expenditures for Des Moines County - a growth of more than 14% over the previous year

• Launched the Greater Burlington Connector Program producing 42 leads for future meetings and convention business

• Developed the Greater Burlington Sports Commission and submitted an application to become a Regional Sports Authority District

• Successfully welcomed and coordinated tours for more than 2,400 visitors to the community with the return of the American Queen and the Queen of the Mississippi

• Increased traffic to the Port of Burlington Welcome Center by 20 percent

• Attracted and serviced 15 new groups consisting of meetings and conferences, motor coaches, and reunions

Staying Connected

Facebook and Other Social NetworkingThe Greater Burlington Partnership

continues to embrace technology and remain relevant to Chamber

of Commerce members, investors, community leaders and volunteers.

In addition to regularly updating the website, the Partnership is also

engaged in social media networking sites including Facebook, LinkedIn,

Twitter and YouTube.

1 Vision, 4 MissionsA growing regional center of commerce, industry, education, health care, entertainment

and culture which provides a great place to live and work.

• Assisted in the restoration of the Capitol Theater with a $1 million I-Jobs grant

• Welcomed 19 business starts, relocations and expansions

• Saw the completion of 11 new apartments through a multi-family housing grant

• Sold two of the Bookend Buildings for redevelopment and obtained a $175,000 I-Jobs grant for their rehabilitation

• Launched the Burlington Lightscape Project to illuminate key downtown steeples, towers, and features

• Worked with the City to receive a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for façade rehabilitations

• Presented 46 retail and special events to bring people downtown

• Recorded more than 3600 volunteer hours

Economic DevelopmentDowntown Partners• Developed enhanced site plans for three lots within Flint Ridge Business Park for use in marketing proposals

• Successfully executed 10 outbound marketing missions throughout the United States to develop leads and prospects in targeted industries

• Hired a professional economic developer to lead the efforts of the division

• Launched new workforce development programs including the career exploration days and an internship program designed to welcome college students to the community

• Sold the fourth shell building to a locally-owned company poised for growth

• Formulated a new housing committee to share information, enhance tax credit programs, and ensure adequate housing stock exists

• Worked with Winegard Company, Alfagomma America and other existing companies on expansion opportunities

• Encouraged five new companies with the 5th Annual Des Moines County Business Plan Competition

Facebook Fan PagesGreater Burlington Partnership

Greater Burlington Iowa Convention & Visitors BureauDowntown Burlington Iowa

LinkedinGreater Burlington Partnership

TwitterGreater Burlington Partnership

You TubeGreater Burlington Partnership

Downtown Partners

Stay Connected

1 Vision, 4 MissionsA growing regional center of commerce, industry, education, health care, entertainment

and culture which provides a great place to live and work.

Mike Dick, CPA Associates2012 Chairman of the Board

Continued Momemtum

I want to thank everyone involved with all of the entities that comprise the Greater Burlington Partnership. It has truly been an honor to serve as the chair of the organization over the last year. The staff made running the various board meetings easy, and the astounding number of members and volunteers serving on all of the committees really helped get things accomplished.

It has been a year of transition for the organization. Dennis Hinkle retired and Jason Hutcheson has taken over as President and CEO. I had two major goals for the year. The first was to ensure a smooth transition between Dennis and Jason, and it happened seamlessly. One of Jason’s first priorities was to hire a professional to lead the Economic Development division. In July, Rob Harrington came aboard, and Jason and Rob are poised to lead the organization to new heights. My other goal was to see the Chamber of Commerce membership exceed 700 members for the first time in history. As reported at the latest board meeting, our current membership level is 731. Congratulations to the staff and volunteers for helping to achieve this goal!

Several positive developments have materialized in the region during 2012. Probably the two biggest announcements were the Iowa Fertilizer Company in Wever and the Winegard Company expansion project in Fareway Center. Iowa Fertilizer Company promises several thousand construction jobs over the next few years, and 165 permanent jobs in the plant when fully operational. The number of permanent ancillary jobs that will be created is currently unknown but is estimated in the hundreds. This is great news for southeast Iowa. The Winegard Company expansion will allow the company to consolidate some of its operations from various places throughout Burlington, while also renovating a current eyesore into a nice park-like setting with commercial and retail space. Furthermore, Case New Holland continues to add manufacturing and assembly jobs. While not the employment level Case enjoyed in the 60’s and 70’s, several hundred new jobs are very welcome and a sign of a strengthening economy.

New jobs in the area require additional housing. Downtown Partners, Inc. has been instrumental in spurring the renovation of upper story apartments in the downtown area – many are currently occupied and several more are in various stages of completion. The Frantz-Hobart apartment renovation project will bring additional apartments to the downtown area and will rehabilitate two existing buildings. And finally, the Capitol Theater reopened in June to rave reviews. It’s really nice to see all of this activity returning to downtown Burlington after several decades of decay.

The local economy is really starting to hum, and I’m excited for the future of the Greater Burlington area and the Greater Burlington Partnership. There is always more to be accomplished, but the staff and membership of the Partnership are always up to the challenge. Our future looks bright!

Here’s to a prosperous 2013 and beyond!

Mike Dick, Past ChairCPA Associates

This community is undergoing significant change. I have little doubt Greater Burlington will emerge from the national economic uncertainty with stronger companies, leaner governments, and optimism for the future. For sure, our conversations have changed. Whether it is parking, housing, building inventory, or highway development, managing and accommodating growth are now the topics of most meetings. It has been quite some time since those were the major issues facing southeast Iowa.

While challenges will always exist, this organization is charged with providing leadership and implementing solutions to a variety of topics. The 4 boards of directors set the strategic vision for the Partnership and work to ensure the programming is relevant and the goals are innovative. Our investors continue to set high performance standards and our members continually encourage us to do more. Membership in the chamber of commerce is at an all-time high and perhaps this high level of accountability has played a role in that membership growth.

I am proud of our volunteer leadership, staff members, partner organizations, and member companies. The spirit of collaboration is quite encouraging. Together, we will all continue to improve this place we call Greater Burlington.

Jason Hutcheson, President & CEO