FORGING GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

posted on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Economic Development

Expansion of international companies is a fundamental part of diversifying local economies and happens to be part of Grow Cedar Valley’s 5-year Strategic Plan.

For the last eight years (minus a short hiatus due to the pandemic) Grow Cedar Valley has attended and participated in co-exhibiting at the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit - June 23rd through 26.

The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest-profile event in the United States, dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) and fostering direct connections with attending companies from around the world.

Every U.S. state has a presence at the Summit through an exhibition, including the State of Iowa. Over the last several years, Grow Cedar Valley has co-sponsored the State booth receiving a section of the booth to promote the Cedar Valley to expanding international companies.

This year is no exception. We continued to up our presence at the Summit and were able to schedule 7 one-on-one meetings with international companies that are either in the process of site selection or beginning their search. This is in addition to being invited for the second year to a reception hosted by Rabo Bank and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to network with Dutch companies interested in a future US location.

Last year’s Summit realized over 2,300 business investors from 83 international markets.

Whether we get a good prospect directly through this show or indirectly….the communities are setting the table for future Foreign Direct Investment in the Cedar Valley, joining companies like Zuidberg North America, Giant by Tobroco, LaForge Systems LLC, DLP (D. La Porte) to name a few.

Lisa Rivera Skubal, CEcD

Vice President of Economic Development

lisa@growcedarvalley.com