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City of Waterloo Council Work Session - Monday, June 15, 2026
Published: Jun 15, 2026
Grow Cedar Valley Reports on Robust Business Attraction and Expansion Efforts
Lisa Scoo, Vice President of Economic Development for Grow Cedar Valley, presented an update on business attraction efforts. She highlighted the importance of relationship building, supporting existing employers, and positioning Waterloo for future investment. Over the past six months, Grow Cedar Valley has contacted over 2,000 companies in targeted industries identified by the 'Count Me In' study, including advanced manufacturing, food processing, ag biotech, software development, and emerging technologies. These efforts resulted in seven virtual meetings with companies evaluating expansion opportunities. The organization also participates in events like the Site Selection Guild conference to connect with consultants who advise companies on global locations. Grow Cedar Valley is currently managing approximately 57 active projects, representing 3,400 potential jobs. In the current reporting period, 12 new projects entered the pipeline, bringing $224 million in potential investment and 745 potential jobs. Notably, Salgenis, a bio-analysis facility, announced its first US location in Cedar Valley, and another international project is pending announcement. The organization hosted six prospect site visits in the current fiscal year, with two projects returning for expanded evaluations. Additionally, planning is underway for the second annual Cedar Valley Business Summit in November, aiming to be a premier small business and startup conference.
Grow Cedar Valley Highlights International Investment, Business Support, and Advocacy Successes
Adrien Miller, Director of Business Services and Advocacy at Grow Cedar Valley, provided an update on international investment, business services, and advocacy efforts. Miller attended the Select USA Investment Summit, a US Department of Commerce event with over 5,500 attendees from 100 countries, focused on attracting foreign businesses to the US. Grow Cedar Valley partnered with the Iowa Economic Development Authority at the summit, holding eight pre-scheduled meetings with companies interested in Northeast Iowa, highlighting the region's logistics and workforce. Miller also discussed business services and expansion retention (BER) visits, which involve meeting with local businesses to ensure they have necessary resources for workforce, incentives, and problem-solving. Since November, 18 BER visits were completed in Waterloo, totaling 29 for the fiscal year, impacting over 4,200 employees. Currently, six Waterloo companies are working on expansion projects. Key issues businesses face include adapting to changing tariffs and seeking greater community exposure. Miller also reported on advocacy efforts, including participation in the Cedar Valley Coalition's Washington D.C. trip to meet with federal representatives and agencies. The frequency and attendance at advocacy events, such as Friday Forums and legislative receptions, have significantly increased, indicating greater community engagement.
Grow Cedar Valley Provides Comprehensive Update on Economic Development and Community Initiatives
Katie Susong, President of Grow Cedar Valley, provided an update on the organization's activities. Grow Cedar Valley functions as both a regional economic development organization and a chamber of commerce. Their primary roles include recruiting new businesses to the Cedar Valley, supporting existing businesses by connecting them to resources and advocating for their needs, and addressing talent and workforce development through various initiatives. A significant undertaking highlighted was the 'Count Me In' study, launched in January, aimed at understanding and addressing the declining population in the Cedar Valley. The organization also offers member services and programming like 'Good Morning Cedar Valley' and 'Business After Hours' to foster local business support. The presentation emphasized that their broader business support services are available to any business in the community, not just members. The team is preparing to present their work from the past six months and their strategic plan moving forward, driven by the 'Count Me In' study.
Grow Cedar Valley Advances Talent Development and Community Engagement Through Multiple Initiatives
Stephanie Deweiler, Director of Talent and Workforce for Grow Cedar Valley, presented on initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining talent. She highlighted the 'Count Me In' study, which revealed key strategies and over 90 action items for community growth, with Grow Cedar Valley taking the lead on certain strategies and incorporating them into their strategic and fiscal year plans. The 'Intern Connect' program, entering its third year, aims to connect young people to the Cedar Valley, with 100% of participants in the previous year reporting feeling more connected. The Cedar Valley Leadership Institute (CVLI), a 40-year-old program, aims to connect community leaders with organizations, reporting 91% participant satisfaction. A 'Welcome to the Valley' event for newcomers had over 60 attendees and 10 supporting organizations, with a 96% satisfaction rating, leading to plans for a second event. The Cedar Valley podcast has 12 episodes and nearly 1,400 streams since March. The 'Live the Valley' marketing platform has seen significant growth, with over 12,000 website views in the last 30 days (a 3,000% increase since relaunch) and social media content reaching hundreds of thousands. The newsletter reaches over 3,100 subscribers. Overall, Live the Valley marketing efforts have reached over 230,000 people and generated over 47,000 website visits. Grow Cedar Valley also supports businesses with workforce and talent needs, conducting 14 visits in the last year (seven in Waterloo) and partnering with Iowa Workforce Development on their rapid response team. Kelsey Funkle, Talent and Workforce Development Manager, discussed Cedar Valley Young Professionals (CBYP), an initiative with 112 members and 210 participants across monthly events, with 100% of surveyed members feeling more connected. She also leads the Cedar Valley Manufacturers Association (CVMA), a sector board focused on addressing shared challenges, developing the future workforce, and advancing manufacturing. The CVMA relaunch in February had 76 attendees from 16 companies, with 92% likely to participate in future initiatives. CVMA's focus areas now include innovation, collaboration, advocacy, and the image of manufacturing, strengthening partnerships with educational institutions. Additionally, Funkle focuses on strengthening connections between education and industry, holding 54 meetings with education partners in the last year and serving on the Waterloo Career Center advisory board. A recent career-connected learning opportunity involved a gamified manufacturing learning experience for 50 middle schoolers.
City Council to Vote on Ordinance Amendment to Address Public Urination
Chief Duncan addressed the council regarding a proposed amendment to the city ordinance concerning public urination. He explained that the change involves adding the word 'urinate' to the existing ordinance to align with language used in other municipalities across the state. This is a response to incidents that have occurred in specific areas such as the downtown area, bike trails, city parks, and next to city buildings, and it is confirmed that these incidents are not related to dogs. The chief noted that the city is 'way behind the ball' on this change. The amendment, which is a one-word change, will be presented for a vote at the next council meeting.
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The Waterloo News archive
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City of Waterloo City Council Meeting Regular Session - Monday, June 15, 2026
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Waterloo Schools Board Meeting 6/8/2026
City of Waterloo Council Work Session - Monday, June 1, 2026
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