Introducing some unsung economic dev. heroes in Jones County

Jones County Economic Development is a public-private partnership, meaning that it works with both private businesses and public entities like city and county governments. These partnerships allow us to bring more stakeholders and resources to the table but also help us be more comprehensive in our work to grow and develop Jones County.

 However, both for us and the community as a whole, it can be easy to forget that there are other stakeholders that play a part in making Jones County the ideal place to live, work and play.

In my time in Jones County, I have been very lucky to work with some highly dedicated professionals, especially in the non-profit realm. All of them bring years of experience to their roles, a local knowledge base to their work, and they are willing to be cooperative and collaborative with their peers in the region. Having worked all over the state in various economic development roles, I can categorically say that this is not the case everywhere. The fact that everyone does work so hard and so well together should be celebrated by the communities.

Even though the individuals I am about to name are not looking for glory, they should be given the recognition that comes with jobs well done. They have all tremendously improved their communities and Jones County as a whole, and we should make sure that we celebrate those achievements and them. These professionals are tireless in their promotion of local businesses, attractions, and talent. They are dedicated to the future and success of our communities. They are cheerleaders of our potential and they will continue to be the standard bearers of change as we move forward.

The next time you see these people, please thank them for the work they do and let them know that their work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Please join with me in recognizing the individuals who work day-in and day-out to improve Jones County:

• Kaileen Weaver, Jones County Tourism.

• Board of Directors, Monticello Chamber of Commerce.

• Blair Lawton, Anamosa Chamber of Commerce.

• Caroline Poole, Cascade Chamber of Commerce.

• Brian Wolken, Monticello Main Street.

Always remember that Jones County Economic Development is here as a resource to your business and that we always try to help our businesses and communities grow and prosper. Anytime you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting me at director@jonescounty

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