AngelouEconomics was hired by the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation, and the Palo Alto County Board of Supervisors to develop a strategic plan aimed at guiding Palo Alto County’s economic development efforts going forward.  The study was made up of four specific phases 1) Stakeholder engagement 2) Economic and SWOT analysis 3) Target Industry Analysis 4) Action Strategy/Implementation

The Target Industry Analysis identified five key industries that Palo Alto County should focus its economic development efforts on.  These five target industries are Advanced Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, Healthcare & Education, and Regional Tourism. The Action Strategy and Final Recommendations included short and intermediate term goals, strategies and action items, and an implementation matrix to identify responsible organizations and timelines for action item implementation.  Recommendations included in the final report are organized around six goal areas which address key components of successful economic development.

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