County development group seeks new executive director
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Jodie Geist, executive director of the Ringgold County Development Corporation, plans to step into a part-time role with the organization upon the hiring of a new full-time director.
Changes are in store at the top of the Ringgold County Development Corporation (RCDC) as executive director Jodie Geist has announced her intention to step back from her full-time role as director.
Geist will remain with RCDC on a part-time basis to help not only with the transition to a new executive director but also to continue writing grants, serving on various regional and state boards, and following through on economic development initiatives currently in progress.
Geist has served as RCDC’s first full-time executive director since June 1, 2020.
“Since 1960, when [RCDC] was first incorporated,” she said, “it had been all volunteer or part time office help … the board saw the need for a full-time position to lead economic development due to declining population. [They] wanted to take that step to reverse the decline, to grow business and grow the county.”
In her four years at the RCDC helm, Geist has been a driving force behind a number of development initiatives, but two stand out as having the most impact on the county.
“One of the biggest was bringing in broadband, especially to the rural areas with Lockridge Networks,” she said.
The other major accomplishment for Geist has been the raising of the county’s profile with state-wide economic development organizations such as the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Finance Authority, and the Iowa Rural Development Council.
Geist currently sits on the board of the Southern Iowa Council of Governments and on the regional and state boards of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
“People are aware of Ringgold County and what’s going on in Ringgold County,” she said. “All those contacts have been made over the four years.”
Most recently, RCDC has partnered with the UNI Institute of Decision-Making to formulate a five-year strategic plan for economic development in the county.
From that plan, RCDC has formed action committees devoted to housing, property, marketing and engagement, and business retention and expansion.
“I think the biggest initiative that’s going on right now is our housing committee and the town of Mount Ayr working on how we can partner and how we can move forward with housing,” Geist said.
A major step in that direction comes with the forming of a new entity: RCDC Partnership, Inc., a 501c6 organization.
While still a non-profit, the ‘c6’ designation opens the door to provide additional economic development opportunities.
Set to begin operation in January, the new organization’s initial focus will be on housing.
Beyond her work on the state, regional, and local levels, Geist sees her office as a “central point of coordination.”
“It’s funny,” she said, “in addition to the economic development/business calls, you get random calls, which usually start, ‘I wonder if you can help me?’ I’m here to help answer questions and/or direct them to the right people.”
One challenge Geist has faced over the years is the confidential nature of her position.
“I think that is one of the biggest things that people don’t understand,” she said, “because people always say, ‘What do you do?’ So much of the work that I do is confidential until it becomes public. So, they don’t see what you’re doing, but you can’t share. Sure, you know if a business reaches out wanting to come into our community, or you know they’re wanting to find out about a building, but really don’t want their name out there … or somebody that’s wanting to start a business that maybe lives in our community, and they come in for a little guidance. You can’t share that information because they’re still decision making [whether] they want to do it or not.”
Applications to fill the RCDC executive director position are being accepted through November 15 or until the position is filled.
“There are a lot of things in motion at RCDC right now,” Geist concluded, “and I am excited that I have been given the opportunity to continue to work part time at Ringgold County Development alongside the new Executive Director.”
The full job description and qualifications for the executive director position as well as RCDC’s mission, purpose and resources are available on its website ringgolddevelopment.org.
