Economic Development

ECIA Business Growth

ECIA is a focal point for economic development in the region because it was designated as a Regional Economic Development District in 1978 by the US Department of Commerce and the Governor of Iowa. ECIA assists local governments and development groups provide financial assistance to expanding businesses through E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc.

Prosperity Eastern Iowa

In 2005, the Iowa Department of Economic Development awarded ECIA a grant to help fund a collaborative marketing campaign and from that, Prosperity Eastern Iowa was born. The goal of Prosperity is to increase and expand the economic segments and share expertise, support services, experiences, and projects that will empower each individual entity with the strength of the partners as a whole.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

ECIA is the Economic Development District for the region, developing and updating the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is utilized in the region to monitor and evaluate long term economic goals and strategies and to coordinate the economic development activities in the region. It is the intent of the CEDS document and the process to be used as a tool for developing goals and strategies that will guide the economic growth of the region.