Publication Date: February 2012

Citation: Roelofse, E., (2012). Tama County Magazine, Tama County Economic Development Commission, Archive reissued by Institute for Quantum Innovation and Impact, Qii Moment of Truth Series (Qii MOT No. 30-38, published in 2012).

License: Open access under
CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0

Available at: 
https://theqii.org/portfolio/tama-2012/

Editor’s Farewell Note

Just like Tama County Economic Development’s first economic developer dedicated about five years to Tama County, I have also committed half decade in service to you. We stood together through challenges, natural and man made disasters. Together we have survived floods, winter storms, straight-line wind storms, through manufacturing plant closings, a national recession. And in spite of all this we triumphed.

We increased our average county wage to a record high, started a record high number of our own home grown new companies, opened and expanded manufacturing plants, increased taxable sales double
digits, have one of the lowest unemployment in the US. I am especially proud of all the new partnerships that has been built for the foundation of more future successes that many could not even imagine as possibilities five years ago. As we sit here today we have over $812 million seriously vested major capital investment projects in various stages of development. At least $111 million got a green light to start over the next 12 months. All this plus over a million dollars in directly facilitated investments through grants, and fundraising in exchange for local investment of a few hundred thousand.

I hope you share in the pride that our last five years together produced a tremendous return on investment, and that you continue the momentum moving forward with your next Executive Director.

No matter where life’s journey take me in this world, I will forever feel vested, rooting for Tama County, Iowa’s increasing prosperity on what we have laid the foundation for together.

Your friend,

Lindi Roelofse
Executive Director, (2007-2012)
Tama County Economic Development Commission