On the job for just a month, Joe Taylor has been busy.
The new executive director for the WeLead Economic Development organization in West Liberty, Taylor is not only meeting his city council members, has been busy informing business owners of the city’s new Urban Development Plan programs and is setting up relationships with state and regional officials in promoting the community for future growth.
That’s basically what Taylor told the city council Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, in providing a report on his first four weeks at the position including providing profit and loss statements on the organization that included raising funding from over a dozen businesses supporting the work of the organization, hoping to match a $20,000 Melick Foundation grant that the group wants to secure.
Taylor said the organization has a healthy fund balance, especially after the council awarded the organization more than $50,000 last month as part of their annual “dues” toward WeLead. The group has collected over $11,000 toward their annual budget from individuals, businesses and public support, the report disclosed. He also said the Board of Supervisors of Muscatine County has also approved a $10,000 commitment toward WeLead for 2021.
“We’re in a very good position going into the new year,” Taylor said, pointing out he’s trying to put West Liberty’s best foot forward, not only taking care of clerical items in his office in downtown West Liberty, but promoting Liberty Park, housing developments and more. He reported having some new interest in business and industrial development for Liberty Park south of the community.
Taylor said he’s setting up an important meeting with three leaders of the Iowa Economic Development Association for mid-January to visit the community so they can learn more about what West Liberty has to offer.
He said they will tour the community in the meeting, learn about West Liberty’s need for housing developments, visit Liberty Park and said the meeting hopes to form “good partnerships and collaboration” that will put West Liberty at the forefront of economic development when opportunities in the state become available. Although new at the helm, Taylor said he’s not aware of any history in bringing top state economic leaders to West Liberty in many years.
He said the visit comes at a time when the state will be recovering economically from the COVID-19 pandemic and said there’s likely going to be a major push toward revitalization moving forward as the virus gets tamed through vaccine immunizations.
Taylor said he’s also been busy talking with business owners about the city’s new Urban Renewal Plan projects that includes up to $25,000 to help revitalize business fronts and help businesses grow. Although the program is limited to $100,000 this fiscal year, Taylor says he’s got five or six businesses interested in making application and more are anticipated. “We have quite a bit of interest in the program,” he said, noting he’s “excited” about what that could do for the heart of the business district along the Third Street corridor.
He promised to continue to focus as well on housing projects and will provide weekly summaries to the council as well as his board of directors that is led by Dr. Dana Nelson. WeLead is in the heart of their fundraising campaign for 2021, asking for support from businesses, organizations and individuals.