CRMEA Report June/July 2018

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION • CZECH VILLAGE/
NEW BOHEMIA PLANS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE DISTRICT • 25 YEARS
OF DEVELOPMENT IN 5 YEARS: OPPORTUNITY OUT OF FLOOD
REPORT
JUNE/JULY 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR
TechBrew AM with Cammie Greif
Co-Founder of Tax Act
June 12, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
501 First St. SE
College & Intern Welcome Reception
June 14, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Coe College 1220 First Ave. NE
See all market dates at
crdowntownmarket.com!
June
12
15
16
12
14
For our full Calendar of Events including
member events, visit www.cedarrapids.org.
Membership 101
June 12, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
501 First St. SE
Culture Change to Improve
the Workplace
June 15, 8:30 a.m. - Noon
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Cedar Rapids Downtown
Farmers’ Market
June 16, 7:30 a.m. - Noon
Downtown Cedar Rapids
Leading with Emotional Intelligence
June 22, 8:30 a.m. - Noon
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
2 JUNE/JULY 2018
Greene
square
21
29
7
Social Media for Non Profits
July 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1810 Lowe Muscatine Road, Iowa City
BizMix: Plaid Swan
June 21, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
425 2nd St. SE, Ste. 300B
22
Food Truck Fridays
June 29 - Sept. 7, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Greene Square, 400 4th Ave. SE
JUly
Cedar Rapids Downtown
Farmers’ Market
July 7, 7:30 a.m. - Noon
Downtown Cedar Rapids
31

25 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT IN 5 YEARS:
Opportunity
OUT OF
Flood
Much has changed in 10 years. In June 2008, Iowa was hit by a devastating flood, and
the epicenter of economic damage was in downtown Cedar Rapids. The flood itself
was unimaginable. The damage, almost incalculable. The recovery has been nothing
short of incredible.
Melissa McCarville
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Ellen Bardsley
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Clarissa Koch
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST
Judith Cobb
CBJ ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Corridor Business Journal
PRINTING & CIRCULATION
WWW.CEDARRAPIDS.ORG
Doug Neumann,
Executive Director
As part of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District during the 2008 flood, I witnessed
first-hand the heart and strategic approach this community had to rebuild. I also
had a front-row seat to efforts in Iowa City, Coralville, Palo and other eastern Iowa
communities that were just as resilient. We collectively had an opportunity to really
transform the region, and we have. I often say we did 25 years of development in five
years! And now, 10 years past the disaster, the momentum has yet to wane.
In 2007, the Economic Alliance (then the Downtown District) along with other
community partners, commissioned the first “Vision Downtown Cedar Rapids” plan,
which provided a broad understanding of downtown’s purpose and helped to direct
the energy and resources of future downtown development opportunities.
We were grateful to have this Vision Downtown Cedar Rapids plan waiting to be used and implemented after
the Flood of 2008. That strategic plan, among many other collaborations and hard work, has paid off for what
our city is today. After five years, 32 of the 40 plan recommendations had been completed or were in the
process of being completed, opening the opportunity for the next phase of the vision plan to be conducted
again in 2012, and then more recently in 2017.
Other neighborhoods and districts showed similar resolve in executing on vision plans and sustaining progress
over this past decade. The community has truly has been a beacon of progress. So much so that it recently
caught the eye of the Wall Street Journal, which noted the almost 40% increase in gross domestic product over
the last eight years along with several other impressive economic growth statistics.
ON THE COVER
The Cedar Rapids Downtown
Farmers’ Market is one of
the largest open-air markets
in the Midwest, with an
average of 14,000 patrons
each market. The Economic
Alliance is proud to produce
the event that boasts nearly
200 local Iowa vendors. Check
out this season’s dates and
entertainment schedule at
www.crdowntownmarket.com!
Now, a decade after the flood and to commemorate our resiliency, KCRG-TV9 and The Gazette are teaming up
to host a community event open to the public on ‘crest-day’ June 13. The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
will take part in a Community Showcase starting at 4:30 p.m. that will feature live music and entertainment and
the opportunity for guests to learn more about achievements since 2008 and upcoming events and initiatives.
As all of the Economic Alliance’s legacy organizations played an integral role in revitalizing the region after
the 2008 flood, we’re honored to have the opportunity to be part of a 90 minute live program hosted by
KCRG anchors, Bruce Aune and Beth Malicki, featuring interview-style segments about the rebuild, system and
development milestones.
We have a lot to be proud of, and more opportunity than ever to keep growing!
Regards,
Doug Neumann
Executive Director
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
3

4 JUNE/JULY 2018
Facade Imp

ovement Grants
BRING FACELIFTS TO
CORE DISTRICTS
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
It’s no secret that the appearance of Downtown Cedar Rapids
and neighboring districts has changed over the last few years.
Take a drive through the Downtown core, Kingston Village
and the MedQuarter and you’ll notice many new or existing
businesses that have transformed their storefronts.
Both the Downtown and MedQ Self-Supported Municipal
Improvement Districts (SSMID) have established Facade
Improvement Matching Grant Programs in partnership with
the City of Cedar Rapids to encourage property and business
owners within the respective districts to renovate building
fronts and other exteriors plainly visible to the public. Both
programs match up to 50% or $10,000, whichever is the lesser
of the two, for grant awardees.
Between 2014 and 2017 the Downtown Facade Improvement
Grant Matching Program made 14 awards totaling $100,000
in support of projects representing nearly $1.9 million in
total façade improvements. These facade improvement
projects were part of projects totaling over $52 million in
capital improvements. Since the launch of the MedQuarter
Facade Improvement Grant Program in 2016, over $28,000
has been awarded for five facade improvement projects. For
more information on the Downtown Facade Improvement
Grant Matching Program, head to www.cedarrapids.org/
our-community/downtown and find more information on the
MedQuarter Façade Improvement Grant Program at www.
themedq.com/about-medq/economic-development.
Building facades are truly the face of districts like Downtown
Cedar Rapids and the MedQuarter. Creating opportunities
for businesses to beautify their storefronts is an important
component in achieving vibrant, thriving business districts.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
5

NEW
MEMBERS
CRS Small Business Services
2609 Iris Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA
Muscular Dystrophy Association
3925 Fountains Blvd. Ste. 100, Cedar Rapids, IA | www.mda.org
Pilot Flying J
5508 Lonas Drive, Knoxville, TN | https://pilotflyingj.com
Vast
9362 Deer Valley Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA | www.vastiowa.com
Coming up in 2018:
The Y. For a Better Us.
150 years of improving lives
in the Cedar Rapids community.
BECOME A
MEMBER TODAY!
June 8th-10th -
Camp Wapsie Alumni Reunion
June 9th -
Camp Wapsie Centennial Celebration
August 25th -
“Cranking for 150 More” Y Bike Ride
August 27th -
Golf Classic Fundraiser
November 3rd -
YMCA 150th and Camp Wapsie 100th
Anniversary Celebration Gala
Receive access to all five locations in the area plus
any YMCA in the country, a large variety of free
fitness classes daily, discounts on programs, financial
assistance, free child watch and much more!
YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area | www.crmetroymca.org
6 JUNE/JULY 2018

THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF EA BUSINESS
RETENTION AND
EXPANSION
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
It has been a little over a year since the Cedar Rapids Metro
Economic Alliance and Iowa City Area Development Group
(ICAD) dually announced Jennifer Daly as President & CEO of
ICR IOWA, a joint venture between the two organizations. Since
that time, Daly has been responsible for leading regional efforts
in workforce development and business recruitment.
While business attraction efforts are now regionally focused,
the Economic Alliance has continued with a renewed focus
specifically on retention and expansion of existing businesses.
Recently announced, former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett
is beginning his strategic role focused on regional economic
growth. In the role of Business Retention & Expansion Strategist,
Corbett is responsible for relationships with major businesses
in the Cedar Rapids metro area, particularly those with future
job growth and company expansion plans. Duties of the
role include working in cooperation with business leaders,
developers, commercial Realtors, city/county/state/federal
agencies and utilities to make sure businesses that want to
grow here succeed in doing so.
The significance of business expansion projects is larger than
many may realize. Between January and April 2018, the
Economic Alliance announced three successful existing business
expansion projects. Typically with those announcements, it is
communicated when construction is expected, how many jobs
are being added and the project’s capital investment. But there
is a wider ripple effect the project has on the community.
The three successful business expansion projects announced
as of April 2018 total around $27M in capital investment. Of
the 89 jobs created for the projects, further economic growth
is spurred through additional jobs created in the community,
sales output and compensation. With that ripple effect, 89 jobs
created from the expansion projects actually total 160 jobs,
over $50M in annual total sales/output, over $13M in annual
total compensation, for an annual total economic impact of
$64,231,739.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
7

CZECH VILLAGE/NEW BOHEMIA
PLANS FOR NEXT CHAPTER
OF THE DISTRICT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
A commission composed of property owners in the Czech
Village/New Bohemia District has begun focusing its efforts on
a few key priorities. Known by the acronym “SSMID” (for Self-
Supporting Municipal Improvement District), this commission is
charged with responsibly spending tax dollars generated from
within the district on district priorities. The Economic Alliance
recently began a partnership with the Czech Village/New
Bohemia SSMID as its fiscal and administrative agent.
At its May meeting, the commission determined that districtwide
communications and streetscape beautification were two
areas in which it could make the most difference immediately.
The commission continues discussions about a third focus area
that could potentially be more of a “game-changing” initiative.
The SSMID has been participating in City of Cedar Rapids-led
discussions about the role of various groups in the district. The
outcome of those meetings could further define the best role
for the SSMID to play, though it’s clear the commission wants to
be a strong leader in district development.
“As payers of the SSMID
tax, members of the
commission all have real
skin in the game. This is
a fast-growing and fastchanging
district, and we’re
all working to figure out
how to make it as successful
as it can possibly be. The
SSMID can and will play a
major role in that.”
-Craig Byers,
Commission Chair
8 JUNE/JULY 2018

San Francisco, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Denver, CO
Minneapolis, MN
Chicago, IL
Des Moines, IA
Louisville, KY
Boston,
MA
New York,
NY
Philadelphia,
PA
Washington
D.C.
Dayton, OH
Anaheim, CA
Memphis, TN
Dallas, TX
Miami, FL
ICR IOWA, the new regional workforce and business attraction organization
launched by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Iowa City
Area Development Group, is actively marketing the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids
metro nationally and internationally to attract new employers and families
who want the great quality of life our region can offer. Our strategy includes
16 marketing and sales trips to targeted trade shows, four trips to major US
markets to meet with site consultants, and a digital marketing campaign
that will begin this summer (see all our travel locations on the map above).
This work is critical to our local employers who need population growth to
support their workforce needs and business development to drive new sales.
THE STRATEGY
OF ATTRACTING
EMPLOYERS AND
HIGH-QUALITY
JOBS FOR THE
REGION
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ICR IOWA’s Choose ICR Coalition is a team of partners focused on the
business attraction component of our workforce and business attraction
strategy. The team includes representatives from the Iowa Economic
Development Authority, Iowa Area Development Group, Alliant Energy,
MidAmerican Energy, and several developers who are working on a
collective strategy that will generate more projects for ICR.
In addition to promoting the workforce, infrastructure, and supply chain
advantages in the ICR IOWA market, Choose ICR also showcases our shovelready,
certified sites, which are in high-demand for major projects. Our
1,300 acre mega site, Big Cedar, was in the top 11 sites for the latest
Toyota-Mazda project and continues to land ICR IOWA on the short list for
other large-scale searches.
The team is striving to capture 15 new interstate employers who generate
750 new high-quality jobs for the region by 2020, a 25% increase in
new attraction projects based on historical wins. In addition, Choose ICR
would like to secure a “unicorn” project, something that would be truly
transformational for our communities.
For more information about ICR IOWA and our Choose ICR strategy, contact
Brian Crowe at bcrowe@icriowa.org or go to www.ICRIOWA.org.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
9

PHOTO CREDIT: HACAP
LFS ADULT CLASS RAISES FUNDS TO
SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY
Leadership for Five Seasons (LFS), a premier community
leadership program produced by the Cedar Rapids Metro
Economic Alliance, selects 35 participants annually from
area businesses, public and private agencies, civic and other
organizations to develop leadership skills and encourage civic
engagement. The LFS Class of 2018 marks the 35th anniversary
of the program, which now includes: Adult, College & Intern,
Executive, and Youth programs.
to support early literacy in our community. This is the second
largest donation the Foundation has received in support of the
new Imagination Library program.
Last month, the LFS Class completed their project by visiting
nearly 800 preschool students, providing them with a free book
and information for the children and their parents to register
for the program.
Each year, members of the Adult Program gain a broad
understanding of their community’s strengths and challenges,
and work to make a lasting difference in addressing those
challenges by designing, fundraising, and completing a
community impact project as a class.
“The Board of Trustees and Library staff are grateful for the
dedication shown to the children of our city, and to the
commitment to ensuring the successful launch and funding of
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Cedar Rapids,” said Harriet
Kalinsky, Board President.
BUSINESS SUPPORT
With Kindergarten readiness scores hovering at around 50% in
Cedar Rapids, the LFS Class of 2018 focused their project on
early literacy and chose specifically to support the Cedar Rapids
Public Library Foundation’s initiative to bring Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library program to Cedar Rapids.
The LFS Class of 2018 is pleased to announce their contribution
of over $15,000 to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation,
“We’re pleased with the commitment and hard work of the
LFS Class of 2018,” said Jordan Atwater, Leadership and
Business Programs Specialist. “The Class of 2018 embodies the
characteristics and values of the Leadership for Five Seasons
Program to become our community’s next thoughtful and
knowledgeable leaders.”
10 JUNE/JULY 2018

ROOTING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
IN OUR REGION
BUSINESS SUPPORT
More than one in three working Americans, 35 percent to
be exact, are millennials, meaning they were between the
ages of 21 and 36 in 2017, according to a Pew Research
Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. New rankings and
data show Iowa as an attractive place for the generation,
with WalletHub naming us in the top five states for young
professionals. The study looked at traits we regularly tout about
why we love living in Iowa, like affordability, education, quality
of life and economic health, to name a few.
With Iowa’s low unemployment and such high numbers of
millennials in the workplace, we’re tasked with not only
attracting the young talent, but rooting them to the region
so that once here, they stay. Enter, ImpactCR. This Economic
Alliance program is dedicated to creating experiences to
connect young professionals to people and places in our
community.
ImpactCR’s programming ranges from simple networking happy
hours at a local bar or restaurant, to leadership development
events featuring some of our areas top leaders, to the annual
conference called Next Gen. Summit. This is the seventh
year ImpactCR and EPIC of the Iowa City Area Chamber
of Commerce have partnered to produce a high-energy,
interactive experience designed for young professionals,
by young professionals. Find more on ImpactCR at www.
cedarrapids.org/business-resources/programs-and-networking/
impactcr
BROUGHT TO YOU BY IMPACTCR & EPIC
Next Gen. Summit
For the first time, Next Gen. Summit will be offered as a track
at The Gazette’s Iowa Ideas conference September 20-21 in
BROUGHT TO YOU BY IMPACTCR & EPIC
downtown Cedar Rapids.
Iowa Ideas launched in 2017 as
a nonpartisan, statewide learning
experience designed to explore
the key questions and big ideas
that will shape the future of
Iowa. Who better to have at the
table when discussing the future
of Iowa than the next generation
of Iowa leaders?
Zachary
Mannheimer,
Des Moines
Social Club
Zachary Mannheimer will be the featured keynote at Next
Gen. Summit. After a road-trip from NYC to 22 cities around
America, Zachary Mannheimer chose Des Moines in 2007
and founded the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC). DMSC has
hosted over 5000 events and seen over 1,000,000 patrons. His
theatrical work and DMSC has been featured in The New York
Times, Time Magazine and Politico. In 2017, Zachary founded
the Creative Placemaking department at McClure Engineering
Company as their Principal Community Planner. His message for
Next Gen. Summit will include his personal journey along with
the perspective of life in Iowa and the benefits within.
Interested in attending Next Gen. Summit or sending young
professionals from your office? Find registration and a
conference schedule at www.iowaideas.com. Early bird ticket
prices end August 7.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
11

Corridor Business Journal
2345 Landon Road, Ste. 100
North Liberty, IA 52317
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
RUN CRANDIC MARATHON SPRINTS
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE
Runners from across the country trekked from one end of our
region to the other for the first-ever RUN CRANDIC Marathon
powered by University of Iowa Community Credit Union on
Sunday, April 29. In the early morning hours, full marathon
runners took off from NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids,
followed by half-marathon runners departing near the UICCU
in North Liberty and finally, 5K runners started the race at
Northwest Junior High in Coralville. All three races met up at
the finish line in Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The event raised
a total of $55,370 for Cedar Rapids and Iowa City schools.
Whether it’s the way we work or play, we live in a regional
economy. The Economic Alliance was proud to team up with
Think Iowa City and Corridor Running for this truly awe-inspiring
event.
3,100
Participants
3
Countries represented
31
States represented
500
Pounds of waste composted
80%
Percentage of waste kept from the landfill
$55,370
Money raised for Cedar Rapids & Iowa City
Community School Districts
GETCONNECTED…
2017
$2.00 I A LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS WEEKLY IN IOWA’S CREATIVE CORRIDOR I JULY 17 - 23, 2017
2017's Best of
the Corridor II
Sparks fly when we discuss who’s the best in the
Corridor. In the spirit of democracy, however, the
CBJ held a calm and orderly vote by readers back in
June, which we call our annual Best of the Corridor
competition. After profiling the first group of 25
winners in last week’s edition, we invite you turn the
page to see who cleaned up in Best Cleaning Service,
who locked down Best Security Company, and who
wrote the book on Best Printer, among others. >>
CBJ's Hall
of Fame
See the nex two
businesses to be
inducted into the
Corridor's most
exclusive club.
$2.00 I A LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS WEEKLY IN IOWA’S CREATIVE CORRIDOR I APRIL 16 - 22, 2018
Fireworks burst around the Tree of Five Seasons in downtown Cedar Rapids. PHOTO WILLIAM BUCKETS
HALL
OF
FAME
CULTIVATING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERSHIPS
DRIVING DOWNTOWN DWELLING DEMAND • EXISTING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
DOWNTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET NEWS • LFS CALLS FOR INTERNS
R E P O R T
MAY/JUNE 2018
When you promote your
business in the monthly Cedar
Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Report, you connect with a wide
audience of decision makers.
The CBJ has been proud to serve
business news to a targeted
audience of community leaders
and top professionals since 2004.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CONTACT:
Judith Cobb at (319) 665-6397, ext. 318 or judith@corridorbusiness.com
12 JUNE/JULY 2018
Corridor Business Journal
2345 Landon Road, Ste. 100
North Liberty, IA 52317
NEXT WEEK’S CBJ
The April 23rd edition of the CBJ wi l include a special senior
living section. The focus wi l be Going Up: Building Projects in the
Corridor and the CBJ List wi l be Architecture Firms.

PRIORITIES FROM LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The political “tea leaves” we saw prior to the 2018 legislative
session led us to prioritize three issues: tax reform, workforce
and economic development incentives. In all three areas, the
unified pro-growth, pro-business voice was able to overcome
some unusual political dynamics and score strong results, albeit
with more work to be done.
1) Iowa hasn’t had significant income tax reform in decades.
Yet that tall order seemed achievable this year, given that
Governor Reynolds declared it her top priority, that many
majority Republicans campaigned on the issue, and that federal
tax reform would trigger state tax increases for many taxpayers
if Iowa failed to act. Still, it wasn’t easy. House and Senate
Republicans had vastly different proposals. Many Democrats
agreed issues like federal deductibility and rankings like Iowa
having the highest corporate income tax rate in the nation
needed to be addressed. But their proposals also differed. It
took until the last day of an extended legislative session to
come to agreement, but ultimately, the Legislature approved
a package that simplifies the tax code by reducing brackets
and eliminating federal deductibility. Changes are phased in
over time, with some subject to triggers based on economic
growth. Over several years, there will be a simpler tax code and
lower tax rates for individuals, S-Corp and LLC businesses, and
C-Corp businesses. Making Iowa more competitive is always one
of our public policy focuses, and tax reform that gets us off of
those “highest tax rates in the nation” lists goes a long way to
achieving it.
in preserving these credits, at least for the time being. As a part
of the tax reform deal, legislators have called for a review of all
tax credits with recommendations for changes to be presented
as the next legislative session convenes in January.
While the session is over, our advocacy work continues. To see
how we fared on all our state public policy priorities at https://
www.cedarrapids.org/business-resources/public-policy/2018-
state-public-policy-agenda.
Federal Flood Funding Update
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) met privately with city officials and
business stakeholders, including the Economic Alliance on April
30 to discuss flood mitigation and provide an update on efforts
to secure federal funding. While details are still under wraps,
Ernst provided an update that indicates Cedar Rapids’ long fight
to receive federal dollars for flood protection may be nearing
a positive end. Congress has twice authorized the funding, but
no distribution of the funds has come to fruition. The Economic
Alliance has made, and will continue to make this our top
federal public policy priority, until the money is received.
PUBLIC POLICY
2) Workforce challenges continue to be the top concern
of our members. Both parties worked together this session
and unanimously passed Governor Reynolds’ Future Ready
Iowa Act. We have been supportive of the Future Ready Iowa
initiatives that aim to create opportunities for more Iowans
to have careers in high-demand fields and to reach the goal
of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training
beyond high school by the year 2025. This legislation provides
a framework and funding to accelerate work that’s being done
by the state, community colleges and organizations like the
Economic Alliance and ICR IOWA.
3) Without certain economic development incentives, our
Team would be at a disadvantage as we compete with other
regions to attract and retain businesses. Some lawmakers,
though, view those programs as a budget expense rather than
looking at the return on investment taxpayers get from jobs,
capital investment and being able to grow businesses that
are the foundation of our communities. The tax code debate
brought scrutiny to those programs, and we responded by
prioritizing the most important programs and telling success
stories to legislators. The programs most critical to growing
our local economy have been in three buckets: innovation,
workforce and redevelopment incentives. We were successful
Join area professionals for
complimentary hors
d’oeuvres and cocktails!
Thursday,
June 21
4 - 6 p.m.
Plaid Swan
425 2nd St. SE Ste. 300B
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
13

TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
The Economic Alliance is here as a resource to help your
business grow and succeed. There are local, state and
national resources available to assist in funding new projects
and ventures. The Brownfield/Grayfield tax credit program
in particular, provides tax credits based on a percentage of
eligible expenditures for redevelopment projects on qualifying
properties.
In 2017, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)
board approved 20 applications submitted for the Brownfield/
Grayfield Redevelopment Tax Credit Program. The Cedar
Rapids Metro Economic Alliance assisted 13 local projects by
preparing the applications, securing letters and submitting the
applications to IEDA. Seven local projects were approved for
funding for a total of $3.5 million, representing 32% of total
funding.
Applications for Brownfield/Grayfield assistance in fiscal year
2019 open July 1 and close September 1. This assistance
program operates on a point system and there is an advantage
in submitting an application as quickly as possible. It’s preferred
the construction date for project submission is at least one
year out. If an application was submitted last year, but not
approved, reapplication with any project updates is possible
again this year. We’re happy to assist with new applications and
re-applications.
One example of a recently awarded Brownfield/Grayfield
project is the $30 million ArtTech Village, located east of the
16th Avenue extension. Comprised of commercial (office),
retail and residential use, the project consists of two floors of
commercial and retail space totaling 60,824 square feet, three
floors of apartments and will include underground and surface
parking. The project’s residential housing will be unique and
total over 113,000 square feet and create 104 apartments
while focusing on entrepreneurial tenants, people who are
in start-up industries or work in the high tech industry of
insurance, electronics, software or manufacturing. A creative
and interesting component of the building is that the future
ConnectCR project trail will flow through the ground floor!
The project was awarded $800,000 awarded through the
Brownfield/Grayfield tax credit program.
14 JUNE/JULY 2018

CEDAR MEMORIAL:
DRIVING INDUSTRY
INNOVATION
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
MEMBERSHIP
Founder Carl K. Linge first opened Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery
in Cedar Rapids almost 90 years ago in 1929. He had a vision for a
new kind of cemetery called a “park plan” that would be a place of
beauty and feature enduring bronze memorials set flush with the
ground. Decades later, Cedar Memorial continues to leave a lasting,
positive impact on families of lost loved ones and the greater
community. Julie Freese, Senior Certified Celebrant, sat down to
share more on the three-generation family business.
How is Cedar Memorial a leader in the
death care industry?
Even though funerals are, of course, for the person that has passed
away, they’re really for those who go on without their loved one.
From day one, we’ve anticipated family’s needs to serve them in the
best way possible. Since our founding, we’ve driven innovation in
our industry.
We opened the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in 1965,
the first combination cemetery and funeral home in the state of
Iowa. As more people began to choose cremation, we opened the
Cedar Cremation Center in 1999. It is surrounded by the Garden
of Reflection, which offers eight cremation inurnment options in a
natural setting. The Cedar Cremation Center is also home to Iowa
Cremation, founded by current President & CEO C. John Linge in
2000, which offers simple, dignified and affordable cremation
across the state of Iowa.
Pets are truly part of the family, which is why we started
Companions for Life in 2010. We offer pet cremation services when
it’s time to say goodbye to a loving, furry friend.
How is Cedar Memorial involved in the
community?
Our founder Carl K. Linge once said, “If a cemetery is to be
successful permanently, it must build itself into the lives of the
people in the community.” We give back to the community in
many ways, within and outside of our industry. To name a couple
within our industry, we have an annual Hospite program that
is a respite for professional Hospice caregivers and we sponsor
the GriefLine, a 24-hour telephone grief counseling service by
trained, compassionate counselors. As a small business, we are
a major contributor to the United Way. Cedar Memorial funeral
home founder, David Linge, and his wife Audrey Linge, donated
the building that now houses Theatre Cedar Rapids. In fact, the
theatre’s lounge is named the Linge Lounge after the Linge family.
To learn more about Cedar Memorial on their website,
www.cedarmemorial.com.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
15

PRESENTED BY
SATURDAYS
7:30 - NOON
Brought to
you by
www.crdowntownmarket.com
MAY 26
JUNE 2
JUNE 16
JULY 7
JULY 21
AUGUST 4
AUGUST 18
SEPTEMBER 1
American Idol
Winner!
Maddie Poppe
performing
live!
10 of soul
performing
live!
for more information and schedule visit
www.cedarrapids.org/marketafterdark
august 25
6:30 - 11 p.m.
Dark Backgrounds
live music
local brews
market vendors
presenting sponsor