Louisa Development Group Column
Angie Sanders, Executive Director
Week of July 22, 2007

By now, you may have heard that Louisa Development Group (LDG) has hired a new Executive Director to replace Jason Hutcheson who moved on to work in Burlington.

That new director would be me, Angie Sanders. Rather than bore you with personal details in this column, I will attempt to offer news about and insight into Louisa County economic development. Hopefully, it’s informative and interesting. And if you ever have ideas about column topics, by all means, call me!

But since I have little news and insight to offer about LDG since being here just one week, I will offer my insights as to my first impressions of Louisa County and LDG.

One would think coming from rural Illinois that I wouldn’t be easily impressed with a small county in Iowa, but I already am! To be honest, my first impressions crossing into Louisa County have been mostly based upon the landscape – very diverse for such a small county. It’s beautiful in such different ways – the valleys, flora and fauna that follow the water, the farmland that so typifies Iowa and the small towns that dot these landscapes with their own personalities.

And so I found a place in Cotter.

Well, I wanted something “rural.” The place I’m renting is perfect for me – ¾ of an acre (can’t mess it up too much, but can still play around), enough room for all my “storage” of mementos of travels around the country and the world and a landlord who has fixed everything he said he would (except we’re still working on the oven so I can bake cookies).

That falls in with my introduction to the people of Louisa County. When I first met the board of LDG at my interview, I knew that if half the population was anything like them – friendly, funny, helpful – Louisa County would have more assets for me to get excited about. As I meet more people here, I become more delighted with my new job and new home!

And as far as prospects for economic development here, I heard about Shop Louisa even before I applied for the position at LDG. How impressive! I hope, as your economic developer, that I will be able to help sustain and build upon that program – but I will only be able to do it with your help.

Other opportunities and potential in the economic development realm – and the related business and tourism worlds – abound here. I see many wonderful things already happening and hope to be a part of much more.

Please get in touch with me at 319-527-5182 or ldg@louisacomm.net if you have any questions or comments about Louisa County economic development or LDG. I’ll also have office hours at the Louisa County Complex in Wapello on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm, and at the Civic Center in Columbus Junction on Wednesdays from 1-3pm. Stop by and introduce yourself. Have a good Fair week!