Affiliates

Ag Ventures Alliance: http://www.agventuresalliance.com/

Ag Ventures Alliance is an agricultural value-added business development cooperative and angel investment network with over 1,100 members with headquarters in Mason City, Iowa. In 2003, Ag Ventures Alliance organized Rural Development Partners which is a Community Development Entity that receives New Market Tax Credit allocations from the U.S. Treasury to assist with gap financing for larger entrepreneurial projects across rural America.

Ag Ventures Alliance
2023 South Federal
Mason City, Iowa 50401

Executive Director: Terry Carpenter
Phone: 641/494-2368


Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission: http://uerpc.org/

The Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission represents a coalition of Northeast Iowa Economic Development Organizations from seven counties: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek. This multi-county network is supporting and conducting a wide range of entrepreneurial activities in the region, including:

Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative: http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/
Northeast Iowa Biz Network: http://www.neiabiz.com/

Designated Business Coach:

Rachelle Howe, Project Manager, Upper Explorerland
Email: rhowe@uerpc.org

Johnice Cross, Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition
Email: johnicecross@gmail.com

325 Washington Street, Suite A
Decorah, IA 52101
Executive Director: Aaron Burkes
563-382-6171



Region XII Council of Governments: http://www.region12cog.org

Region XII Council of Governments represents a coalition of West Central Iowa Economic Development Organizations from eight counties: Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Ida, and Sac Counties. The organizations are involved in multi-community collaboration, initiatives, and development of entrepreneurial resources in the region.

Western Iowa Advantage: http://www.westerniowaadvantage.com/

Designated Business Coach:

Rita Frahm, Ida County Economic Development Corp
Email: ritafrahm@heritageiowa.com

Region XII Council of Governments
1009 East Anthony Street
P.O. Box 768
Carroll, IA 51401
Executive Director: Rick Hunsaker
Phone: 712-792-9914



MyEntrenet: http://www.myentre.net

MyEntre.Net is an interactive, statewide, online community serving all small business owners with live, interactive education, webinars, peer learning and other business services catering to the unique needs of Iowa’s 100,000+ small business owners.

Designated Business Coaches:

Richard Petersen, SBDC Waterloo/Cedar Falls
Email: peterric62@yahoo.com

Courtney Schwitzer, MyEntrenet
Email: Courtney.Schwitzer@uni.edu

MyEntrenet
University of Northern Iowa Campus
Business & Community Services Bldg
8120 Jennings Drive, Suite 13
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
Director: Maureen Collins-Williams
Phone: 319-273-4333



ISED Ventures: http://www.isediowa.org

Iowans for Social and Economic Development (ISED Ventures) partners with community members, agencies, organizations and businesses across Iowa to provide comprehensive asset-building services to Iowans. With a specialization in assisting microentrepreneurs, ISED Ventures can provide personal and business readiness workshops, business planning workshops, and technical assistance.

Designated Business Coach:

Toni Lampley, Program Manager, Microenterprise Trainer
Email: tlampley@isediowa.org

ISED Ventures
United Way Human Service Bldg.
1111 9th Street, Suite 380
Des Moines, IA 50314
Interim President & Chief Financial Officer: Linda Firkins
Phone: 515-283-0940



Iowa Asian Alliance: http://www.iowaasianalliance.com

The Iowa Asian Alliance (IAA) represents several Asian and Asian-American heritage and ethnic groups for the purpose of fostering leadership, economic growth, entrepreneurship, and community development within the state of Iowa.

Designated Business Coach:

Monica Dolezal, BIZSTARTS, LLC
Email: mldolezal@msn.com

Iowa Asian Alliance
525 SW 5th Street, Suite A
Des Moines IA 50309
Chair, Board of Directors: Christopher McDonald
Phone: 515-282-8192



Preservation Iowa: http://www.preservationiowa.org/

Preservation Iowa is committed to building partnerships that enhance our economic and cultural future through the preservation of Iowa's historic resources. It is a collaborator with Iowa’s Main Street Communities in building entrepreneurial capacity and entrepreneurial businesses for Iowa’s Main Street Districts.

Designated Business Coach:

Jim Thompson, Main Street Iowa
Email: Jim.Thompson2@iowa.gov

Preservation Iowa
PO Box 814
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
President, Board of Directors: Naura Heiman Godar
Email: info@preservationiowa.org