MUSCATINE, Iowa–Though the Iowa Center for Economic Success has always operated out of Des Moines, its connection to Muscatine goes back many years. In the past, Richard Stanley served as one of its board members, and he and his wife, Mary Jo Stanley, supported the centers work since its early days.
When the Iowa Center for Economic Success started planning to open its first satellite office, Muscatine seemed like a natural place for them to expand their operations. “From the get-go, they made their intentions very clear; they wanted to work with the residents of Muscatine,” emphasized Muscatine Community College President Naomi DeWinter. “Because of the connection with Dick and MaryJo Stanley, they believed Muscatine would be the best place for them to have their first satellite office outside of Des Moines.”
Initially, the center’s president, Megan Milligan, reached out to community leaders in Muscatine and virtually met with De Winter, Muscatine Director of Community Development Jodi Royal-Goodwin, and Community Foundation Director Charla Schafer to see if their collaboration could help bring a satellite office to Muscatine. Impressed with what the center had to offer the community, the group started working right away to make the new office a reality. “I had met with Megan previously, and immediately felt that their culture of serving was one our community could easily align with and benefit from,” Schafer shared.
To raise the funds to help bring the Iowa Center for Economic Success satellite office to Muscatine, the city, the Community Foundation, and Muscatine Community College collaborated to write an application for a Ewing M. Kauffman grant. Together, they illustrated how Muscatine had benefited from partnerships with small businesses in the past, how organizations could share resources to benefit small businesses, and how adding more support for entrepreneurs in Muscatine could positively influence the local community. Thanks to their thorough work, they received the three-year, $295,000 grant to get the satellite office started.
Initially, local partners will help the center find a physical location in Muscatine and find local people to hire as staff members. Once the center opens and begins working with both experienced and new entrepreneurs, they will continue to receive help learning, “the landscape of entrepreneurs and existing businesses in Muscatine,” elaborated De Winter.
Once up and running, the Iowa Center for Economic Success will assist new and current business owners, especially women and people from diverse backgrounds, with starting and growing their businesses. Along with providing individual counseling, the center will partner with Muscatine Community College to provide a variety of classes and workshops to help entrepreneurs learn more and develop new and valuable skills.
As the Iowa Center for Economic Success begins the process of opening a satellite office in Muscatine, De Winter and Schafer look forward to the opportunities it will offer. “It is a very exciting partnership for us,” said De Winter, who noted that many Muscatine Community College graduates own small businesses in Muscatine and Muscatine County.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our community, added Schafer: “Business development is a cornerstone of our community’s success. This will allow guidance, education, and networked opportunities for a growing number of Muscatine County residents to pursue and expand their dreams.” Once the center gets better established in Muscatine, they will provide information on how people can contact them to access their services.
