1. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting Meghan O’Brien October 22, 2010 Economic and Place Impacts of the Iowa Great Places Program

2. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting  ANALYZE THE PERFORMANCE OF IOWA GREAT PLACES  SOME PERFORMANCE IS QUALITATIVE NOT QUANTITATIVE  IMPACTS FAR REACHING, SOME INDICATORS ARE LAGGING Report Methodology

3. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting  DEMOGRAPHICS  POPULATION, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT  ECONOMIC STABILITY INDICATORS  EMPLOYMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, RETAIL  TOURISM IMPACTS  RETAIL CATEGORIES, HOTEL TAX REVENUE, TOURISM EXPENDITURES Report Methodology

4. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting  GREAT PLACES COMMUNITIES OUTPERFORMING PEER GROUP  IMMEDIATE RESULTS IN CERTAIN SECTORS  DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH Key Findings

5. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting  1,012 CONSTRUCTION JOBS CREATED  707 PERMANENT JOBS CREATED  COST OF JOB CREATION: $9,000 PER JOB  ROI OF 300 PERCENT Key Findings

6. Iowa State University Retail Trade Analysis Program O’Brien Economic Consulting  FIRST PERFORMANCE MEASURE REFLECTS PERFORMANCE SINCE DESIGNATION  SECOND MEASURE REFLECTS THE OVERALL TREND Summary Tables

7. Summary of Findings Great Place PopulationSchool EnrollmentEmployment ClintonAbove Average/Stable Above Average/Increasing Coon RapidsAverage/StableAbove Average/Stable Above Average/Increasing Sioux CityAverage/IncreasingAverage/Stable Adams County Below Average/DecliningAverage/Declining Above Average/Increasing DubuqueAverage/StableSuperior/IncreasingAverage/Increasing FairfieldAverage/Declining Below Average/DecliningAverage/Increasing GuttenbergAverage/Stable Average/Increasing Jackson CountyAverage/StableSuperior/IncreasingAverage/Stable Mason City Below Average/Declining

8. Summary of Findings Great Place Retail Pull Factor Potential SalesSales CapacityPer Capita SalesRetail Firms Clinton Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ IncreasingSuperior/Increasing Coon Rapids Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Sioux City Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Adams County Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing

9. Summary of Findings Dubuque Superior/ Increasing Superior/ Increasing Superior/ Increasing Superior/ Increasing Superior/ Increasing Fairfield Average/ StableAverage/Stable Above Average/Increasing Guttenberg Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ IncreasingAverage/Increasing Jackson County Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Average/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Mason City Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Great Place Retail Pull Factor Potential SalesSales CapacityPer Capita SalesRetail Firms

10. Summary of Findings Great Place Hotel Tax Revenue Specialty Retail Sales Tourism DollarsTourism Employment Clinton Superior/ IncreasingSuperior/Increasing Coon RapidsN/AAverage/Increasing Sioux City Superior/ IncreasingSuperior/Increasing Adams CountyN/AAverage/Increasing Average/Stable

11. Summary of Findings Dubuque Superior/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Stable/Declining Fairfield Average/ Declining Above Average/IncreasingStable/IncreasingAverage/Stable Guttenberg Superior/ IncreasingAverage/Increasing Average/Stable Jackson County Average/ IncreasingAverage/StableAverage/Increasing Mason City Superior/ Increasing Above Average/Increasing Great Place Hotel Tax Revenue Specialty Retail Sales Tourism DollarsTourism Employment

12. Summary of Findings  This program provided inertia for many other economic development efforts.  Great Places Program is model for economic development in a rapidly evolving macro economy.  Creates opportunities for synergies and partnerships, previously not exploited.

13. For More Information: The full report is available on the Iowa Great Places website. Meghan O’Brien O’Brien Economic Consulting 515-988-9176 obrieneconomicconsulting@gmail.com