Good food. Good jobs. Great idea.

I've been working to help develop the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen in Mineral Point since it was a construction site.  They've now been open for 3 years.

The kitchen creates many great opportunities for food and farm entrepreneurs.

Each opportunity represents a chance to make good jobs for people with disabilities.  Each new opportunity opens new markets for our regional farms.  All of these events help bring great food to customers in our region. 

Last week the opportunity was Sugar Snap Peas.

My co-workers with disabilities prepped the peas.  Even friends in difficult wheel chair situations could participate.  Once ready, the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen team blanched the peas lightly, then quickly froze and packaged them.

This batch of Sugar snaps was grown on a local farm that we love.  We make other great products for their wonderful farm store and for sale at their weekly farm market stands and CSA boxes.

The buyer of these peas is an organization in the Chicago area that distributes good local foods to restaurants and consumers in that market.

Extending the good food movement to include good jobs for people with disabilities a great idea that works for all involved.

If you would like to have products made at the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen or buy delicious products made there, let me know.

Thanks to Annette Pierce, Food Service Director at the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen (and Mistress of the Universe) and all my friends and co-workers there!

A positive TV editorial about our economic development work.

Thanks to Madison (WI) WISC TV's Editorial Director Neil Heinan for a positive editorial about our economic development work in the Iowa County area.

"Positive attitudes, willing support and assistance, and an obvious desire to help people succeed, which Terrien exemplifies."

Thanks Neil Heinan and WISC TV.


Link to video on WISC site

ICAEDC celebrates four and a half years of promoting Iowa County

Thanks to the The Dodgeville Chronicle.  They just publishing a positive new article about our economic development work in Iowa County, WI in their 4th of July edition.

I'm grateful for the article's focus on entrepreneurship and job creation in our recent business development report for the area.

"ICAEDC celebrates four and a half years of promoting Iowa County" 

"The Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC) proved last week that it has a lot to be proud of as it released a report on the organization's successes over the past four and a half years." 

"The organization's executive director, Rick Terrien, has played an influential role at the ICAEDC and many of their successes can be traced back to his committed work."

"'Positive momentum is a powerful force',  Terrien said. 'There are many great new entrepreneurship and business opportunities for our area...'"

 

###

Thanks to the Dodgeville Chronicle for the article and recognition!

Link to the ICAEDC business development reports

Link to the Dodgeville Chronicle article.  July 4, 2013

Full Iowa County economic development progress report now available

We've just released our new economic development progress report.

Our Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp. has been a completely new kind of startup for me.

This report documents some of the positive outcomes from our first 4 1/2 years of hard work.

The organization is a 501(c)6 nonprofit corporation.  I joined as its founding Director.

Our economic development plan focused on three primary outcomes:   (1) Help existing businesses, (2) Help create new businesses and new entrepreneurs, and (3) Promote Iowa County entrepreneurship and business climate.

I'm very proud of our results. 

This report features a collection of 22 local small business success stories.  Food entrepreneurship figures prominently in more than half of these.

The others focus on a wide cross-section of leading manufacturers, bankers, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, educators, small business owners, new businesses, local officials, and organizations from around the region and country.

From the link below you can quickly scan contents, read a 1 page summary, and also read the full report.

Thanks to all involved.  What a wonderful place.  What a startup! 


Link to our economic development report.  Summer 2013

Timeline worn proudly on my 35 year old thermos

The older Stanley thermos in the photo is my traveling companion of 35 years.  It's been with me through decades of business travel across the country and never let me down.

When my wife and I got married 35 years ago, we registered at the Ace Hardware store in Streator, IL.

I didn't know anything about registering for wedding gifts.   Mary told me to pick out something I could really use.  I fell in love with a beautiful Stanley thermos.  Mary and I and that thermos have been together ever since.

When I look at the photo, all that wear and tear feels like an entrepreneurship timeline to me.

I carried that thermos everywhere for a couple of decades while we built and grew Banner Graphics.

I carried it everywhere for a decade as we developed our inventions, launched and grew SmartSkim.

I've carried it with me for 5+ years through the startup of Business Diligence and now our Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp. and the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen.

In the photo of my old thermos, I think I can still feel all those dents and scrapes, hard won from entrepreneurship efforts across different decades and industries.

I salute the great Stanley thermos.  The motto stamped into the base of my old thermos says 'It will not break'.

Great products and great stories can say that.

The Stanley Thermos

Thanks to daughter Anne for my new Stanley thermos for Father's Day!  The 100 Year Anniversary edition of my old friend.  I've used my first thermos for more than a third of the 100 year history of this great product.

"Yours is considered a model approach to building a food system, which is the foundation for a vibrant rural economy."

Telling great stories and developing great partners is at the heart of successful business development.

This is another story in our ongoing economic development report from Iowa County, WI.

The USDA has been supportive of our story from the beginning.

USDA Rural Development in Wisconsin provided low interest loans to the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen for their walk-in freezer and cooler.

We hosted a great visit by the State Directors of USDA Rural Development from Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

I also work with friends at USDA Food and Nutrition Service.  

Alan Shannon runs a valuable monthly gathering of food-focused organizations in the Midwest with the goal of developing regional collaboration.  I've enjoyed participating in GoodGreens and also grateful to be asked to make a presentation recently.

I'm especially thankful to Alan for his emphasis on the value of a great story.

Great stories create action steps.  The Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen story a call to action.

Thank you Alan Shannon, USDA, FNS:

"I want to let you know that as facilitator of GoodGreens, a Midwest collaboration of

nearly 300 organizations, businesses and farmers seeking to establish a sustainable local food system I’m very appreciative of the work that you and Innovation Kitchen do.

Two weeks ago I was in Appalachian Ohio and even there they had heard of the important work that you are doing.

In fact, I hear your name and Innovation Kitchen mentioned frequently during my travels and conversations around the Midwest.

Yours is considered a model approach to building a food system, which is the foundation for a vibrant rural economy.

Thanks for the work that you do and congratulations on your successes to-date. We’re excited to see your model as it continues to grow."

Alan Shannon, Director
Public Affairs, Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest Region
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Thank you Alan.   And thanks to all our other great partners in the region and friends world wide!

Iowa County Area Economic Development

"Our business is up and running thanks to Rick and the ICAEDC!!!"

This is from a new report I'm working on about our economic development work in Iowa County, Wisconsin (ICAEDC) 
  
I love family run small businesses.  Terry Olson is a great example of how a new family business can help energize a downtown.  Go Terry and family!

Terry opened her smart new business, Time and Again Vintage, on the main Street of Dodgeville,  in Iowa County, WI.

People are now coming from all over the region to shop at Terry's new business.  I'm proud to have helped. 

Time and Again Vintage.

“This area is blessed to have Rick and the ICAEDC!!! 

Starting up a business is overwhelming. 

Rick walked us through links on the EDC site and coached us on each step throughout the process.  LLC, EIN, State Tax Number, WHAT???  Rick told us which step to start with from start to finish… from naming our business to applying for a State Tax Number.   He was always just a phone call away.

Rick has such a positive attitude!  He makes you feel like anything is possible.

He definitely cares about the local communities and small business start-ups!!  He has a very caring heart! 

We are deeply grateful to Rick for the many questions he willingly answered and steps he walked us through. 

Our business is up and running thanks to Rick and the ICAEDC!!!”

Terry Olson, Owner

Time and AgainVintage, Dodgeville, WI


Iowa County Area Economic Development

Iowa County, WI. Entrepreneurship options help create 28 new jobs. Bob's 'Bad Word' BBQ. New restaurant brings buzz to downtown Dodgeville. Good food = Good economic development.

Jobs and economic development news from the Iowa County, WI area...

Bob's Bitchin' BBQ.

Bob Page is the entrepreneur behind this great food story - Bob's Bitchin' BBQ.  Annette Pierce (Food Service Director at the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen, and Mistress of the Universe) and I helped bring Bob's amazing BBQ sauces to market.

The WI Innovation Kitchen (WINK) was able to prepare Bob's recipes in smaller, affordable batches under certified commercial kitchen standards. 

Bob started with his Original flavor first.  When he expanded online and through farmer's markets he added new flavors.

It was really fun to help all this develop.  I'm proud that I drove and unloaded the delivery truck when needed.

So... next thing you know Bob leaves his job and opens a very cool new BBQ restaurant in downtown Dodgeville.  Right across the street from our historic courthouse.

What a fun journey.

Our focus on entrepreneurship helped bring this very cool food entrepreneur and his wonderful products to market.  We helped Bob grow from concept to execution to growth.  The results include good local jobs and a new vibrancy in downtown Dodgeville.

I often bring out of town entrepreneurs to Bob's Bitchin' BBQ for lunch.  Nice way to tell our regional economic development story and eat like BBQ royalty all at once.

Thank you Bob's Bitchin' BBQ:

“Iowa County Area Economic Development has been key to helping me start my new business in Iowa County. 

 

This support has led to my being able to open a new restaurant in downtown Dodgeville, now employing 28 people.

The options Rick Terrien helped provide my new business were instrumental in this process.  Dodgeville and Iowa County are now benefiting from the results of those efforts.” 

Bob Page, Owner

Bob’s Bitchin’ BBQ.  Dodgeville, WI 

Bob's Bitchin' BBQ 

Iowa County Area EDC site.   Our rotating news feed includes more stories like Bob's Bitchin' BBQ.

 

Iowa County Wisconsin. Entrepreneurship focus generates 60 new jobs developed, and 28 new jobs attracted. Many valuable startups launched. New businesses downtown. Entrepreneurship at work in economic development.

When I applied for the job of starting up an economic development program in rural Wisconsin I was as green as could be in this world. My first day on the job, the Great Recession was declared and the Dow dropped about 700 points.  There was economic carnage everywhere.  

My kind of startup.

Our brand new Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC) set out to find new opportunities in this difficult environment and we did it.  

What worked was our focus on entrepreneurship and helping existing businesses grow. 

A new report I'm now circulating to our ICAEDC Board identifies at least 60 new jobs our group is being credited with helping develop.  We are also credited with supporting the development of Barneveld's amazing new business park which has just attracted a planned 28 good new jobs to Iowa County.  

Photo is from the groundbreaking last week of Bio-Vet's new facility in the new Barneveld Business Park.  Bio-Vet is a globally relevant, life sciences research and technology company we are thrilled to welcome to Iowa County.

Here is what past Barneveld Village President Mike Peterson had to say about our ICAEDC support for Barneveld:

"Rick Terrien and the Iowa County EDC have been a valuable resource in helping the Village of Barneveld develop our new Business Park.  As Village President, I often called Rick for continuing updates and information about economic development news and opportunities.  This was a great value to me and the Village of Barneveld." 

Thank you Mike, and thank you Barneveld.  My focus has always been entrepreneurship.  Barneveld is so strategically located it jumps off the page with possibilities for entrepreneurs to grow. 

I think economic development emerges from strategies and actions that make the whole place increasingly entrepreneurial.  Everyone should have opportunities.  Among those 88 jobs developed and attracted, we're counting 32 new jobs for people with disabilities, now working at the amazing Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen.

We've helped great new local businesses open in our downtowns.  We've helped our existing local businesses grow.  We've nurtured many new startups and helped launch some of the coolest new rural economic development stories in the country.  I'm very proud of these results.



Other Iowa County Area Economic Development success stories circulating on the news feed at our home page.
 
Original article about Bio-Vet in Dodgeville Chronicle

Bio-Vet

Pictured in photo (l to r) is Scott Leahy, Barneveld Village President, Bill Zimmer President of Bio-Vet, and Rick Terrien.  Photo credit for this shot goes to former Village of Barneveld President Mike Peterson.  Thanks Mike.  Beautiful Blue Mound State Park is in the background. One of 3 wonderful state parks in Iowa County, WI. 

2013 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship winners! With ingredient lists... Yum!

We had a wonderful day in Iowa County Wisconsin for the 2013 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championships.

Great turnout.  About 2,000 people.  I had a lovely chat with a group from London England.  They had read about the event in the Chicago Tribune while visiting there and drove up for the day.  How cool.  

Who says economic development can't be focused on food and fun!  I'm very proud that our Iowa County (WI) Area Economic Development Corp. hosted this amazing event.  

This was another great opportunity to prove how valuable food and agriculture can be to economic development.

Many thanks to my friend and former Board Chair of the Iowa County EDC, Dr. Lorin Toepper who created and organized this great event.  We are also grateful for the support from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and many other sponsors.
 
Here is a list of winners in each category, including ingredients:

Professional Best of Show (top photo)
Mason Grode, Neenah, WI
Category:  Classic Plus Extras
Ingredients:
Saxon's Greenfield
Red Barn 1-year Cheddar
Pleasant Ridge Reserve
Expresso Bellavitano
Micro Kale
Cured Olives 
Gooseberry Jelly
Hickory Nuts
on Hop sourdough 
 
Amateur Best of Show
Bryn Bowden, Platteville, WI
Category:  Classic Dessert Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
Maple Syrup 
Classic Italian Bread
Apple Jack Cheese
Chocolate Cheese

Professional Classic
Katherine Rehfeldt-Tonn
Gouda Girls, Milwaukee, WI
Ingredients:
Chipolte Ole-Beechwood
Moody Blue-Smoked Blue - Roth
Buffalo Jack-Star Dairy-Zito
Tuscan Bread
Butter

Amateur Classic
Mark Landgraf, Madison, WI
Ingredients:
Tomato Basil Cheese
Sour Dough Bread
Butter
Basil

Professional Classic Plus One
Evan Talbert
Best Western Inn Towner, Madison, WI
Ingredients:
Country Bread
Babcock Dairy Brick
Bacon
Jalapeno Jam

Amateur Classic Plus One
Lance Orr, Milwaukee, WI
Ingredients:
Cheddar Bacon
North Star Weyauwega Bacon - Haen Meat Market

Professional Classic Plus Extras
Mason Grode, Neenah, WI
Ingredients:  (above)

Amateur Classic Plus Extras
Katherine Cahill, Dodgeville, WI
Ingredients:
Maple Goat Cheese
Prosciutto
Organic egg Yolks
Seeded Bread "Breakfast"
Parmesan Lace Garnish

Professional Classic Dessert
Caitlin Way

Amateur Classic Dessert
Bryn Bowden , Platteville, WI
Ingredients:  (above)

Young Chef
Evie Lynch, Madison, WI
Ingredients:
Brioche
Nutella
Marscapone
Butter
Salt
Raspberry Sauce 

Congratulations to all the winners! Thanks to all competitors, volunteers and Lorin Toepper who made this all happen.  Many thanks to everyone who visited our Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship in beautiful Iowa County, Wisconsin.

Food and fun.  My kind of economic development!

Official web site of the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship

Iowa County Area Economic Development