About GDCDA
Mission
Statement
The mission of the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance
(The Alliance) is to retain, stimulate and facilitate targeted
high-wage, high-growth business investments in the communities
served.
History
Dallas
County Development (DCD), Inc. formed their
structure in the spring of 1987 and received
their certification of incorporation as a
non-profit development group on November 30,
1987. DCD was formed to ensure clear and precise
communication between industrial prospects,
Dallas County Communities, local industries and
institutions within the State of Iowa. The
mission at that time was strictly industrial
development. For the next 10 years DCD worked on
a part-time basis to impact industrial
development and support existing industry.
In
the spring of 1998 a new focus was established
through a strategic planning session which
included all Dallas County communities.
Community leaders, governmental officials and
youth future leaders were involved in the
strategic planning process. Industrial
development will still remain a strong focal
point in DCD's efforts due to the increase of
the economic base and jobs provided. However, it
was decided to include tourism, housing,
community, workforce and industrial development
in the overall strategic plan for Dallas County.
A full-time executive director was hired and
part-time staff to implement the strategic plan
(with plans to grow staff to three full-time
positions within two years).
The
initial funds were derived through the public
sector and a few private contributions. The time
has come to broaden the public/private
partnership base. Both the public and private
sectors embrace economic development and support
new and existing business. This broad base
support also means that the DCD stands for
economic balance.
In
the summer of 2002 the Board of Directors
returned DCD to a traditional economic
development function - focusing on industrial
and commercial development in Dallas County.
Staff has grown to a full-time director and two
full-time staff with a third staff member
expected at the beginning of 2003. A pro-active
marketing initiative was implemented and the
name of the organization was changed to the
Greater Dallas County Development Alliance (The
Alliance) in December of 2002. A new logo and
tagline - Visions, Options, Growth
- was created for the organization.
The
continued support of the public sector and
private partners has made The Alliance a strong
organization working to better the quality of
life and business climate in the Greater Dallas
County area.
An
updated strategic plan was completed in the
summer of 2004. For information about the
current strategic plan, contact The Alliance
office.
Accomplishments
Since
DCD's inception several successes have taken
place.
During the past five years:
- 4602 jobs have been created
- 3644 jobs have been retained
- $778+ million of new capital investment
- 24 projects completed
- $15.135 million in total grant dollars
leveraged
- Transportation issues addressed:
- Widen both Highways 6 and 141.
- Participating in the Highway 44 Corridor
Partnership to study necessary improvements and land use.
- Work with the Cities of Waukee and West Des
Moines on new I-80 interchange.
- Support study of a regional airport in
Dallas County.
- Ordinances were established to take advantage of
various state economic development tools.
- Countywide labor studies were conducted.
- Zoning requirements were established to insure
that growth and development would be orderly and
in the best interests of both citizens and new
development.
- County wide-housing study is completed.
- Web page development
- 12 of 17 communities in Dallas County are
members to The Alliance
- 5 staff members in place.
Through our strategic plan, The Greater Dallas County Development
Alliance is dedicated to future success.
