www.cassatlanticdevelopment.com

Spring 2012

Update

Cass/Atlantic Development Corp.

14 West 6th Street

Atlantic, IA 50022

CADCO

CADCO

Southwest Iowa CoalitionSouthwest Iowa Coalition Standing up for rural issuesStanding up for rural issues

CADCO14 W. 6th St.

Atlantic, IA 50022

Ph: 712-243-2022

Fax: 712-243-2752

cadco1@metc.net www.cassatlanticdevelopment.com

Executive Director Russ Joyce Executive Assistant Jennifer McEntaffer

Cass/Atlantic Development Corporation • 14 West 6th Street • Atlantic, IA 50022 • 712.243.2022

CADCOVolume 7, Issue 2, Spring 2012

The Southwest Iowa Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(6). It is a volunteer-based, grassroots organization. Members work through standing committees which are mobi-lized as needed to address timely and relevant issues. Between 1991 and 1996, SWICO was completely operated and managed by volun-teers. SWICO now has one membership and communication coordinator through an em-ployee partnership agreement with Iowa State University Extension to Community Economic Development. SWICO relies on modest dues from memberships to fund its operations and activi-ties. Members are responsible for encouraging others within their local communities/counties to join for a broad-based membership that can keep dues low and affordable for eve-ryone. Members are asked to make an ef-fort to share infor-mation from meetings with local organiza-tions, businesses, local government officials and leadership to fur-ther promote participation. Commonality of SWICO members lie with their shared rural challenges in the areas of business development, regional infrastruc-ture and demographics of out-migration and low income levels. Together, founders be-lieved they could better influence policy and secure resources critical to the economic well-being of the region as a whole. Today, the Coalition remains a region-al force for advocacy with representation from cities, county boards of supervisors, business-es, industry, agricultural groups, nonprofits and concerned citizens throughout 16 south-

west Iowa counties. It is recognized on a state and federal level by legislators as an advocacy organization with a grassroots “voice for south-west Iowa” and one that has been visionary with its projects and activities. Members work at meetings to share information about concerns and challenges they have in common which can be jointly ad-dressed. Local communities with active mem-bers can bring specific items of concern to the appropriate committee and work with that committee to coordinate regional advocacy support. Just a few examples of some of the advocacy done for specific projects include:

TIME 21: Advocacy continued for the trans-

portation fund. Mem-

bers were kept updat-

ed throughout the

year on correspond-

ing legislative activity.

HWY 34 Bridge:

Members of SWICO

have actively advo-

cated at a State and

Federal level to se-

cure funding for this infrastructure that is

critical to the economic growth of the region

for more than a decade.

Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points

(HACCP) System: SWICO members as-

sisted with an email campaign against insti-

tuting new, cost-prohibitive rules for rural,

local lockers to implement. Had the new

regulation for testing been implemented, the

region would have lost many of its local

meat lockers.

Little more than a year ago, Cass County Memorial Hospital cut the ribbon for a major construction and renovation project esti-mated to take thirty months to complete. Re-cently, I was given the opportunity to tour the project not quite half done. Like a handful of people, I was skeptical at first wondering why. After all, I can remember when Allied Con-struction built it. My wife gave birth to our three

sons there, a couple tonsillectomies and an appendicitis opera-tion later, it all seemed good to me. After seeing up close the changes to the floor plans, the new arrangement to patient rooms to the various services provided, I was quite impressed with the high level of efficiency both for the patient and the staff. There have been changes in patient care, from less use of patient beds to outpatient ser-vices have been on the rise. Modern technology allows for less invasive techniques and allows folks to have a procedure done and back home the same day.

Locations of roomy, well equipped surgeries are close to the outpatient rooms and emergency room areas are an easy access. It is something you don’t think about until you need to get to where you need to be fast! If there is a need to

stay, the rooms are one patient per room with each bed having a window view of the outdoors. Visitors will have a chair and a half fold out to rest on if you feel the need to spend the night with a loved one. I’ve spent more than one night twisting and turning on a less than comfy chair.

On a slightly different note regarding the tour is the obvious need for the people who can build these kinds of facili-ties. It’s one thing to design and engineer a building like this, but there is a need for folks that have the variety of skills to put it all together; concrete, flooring, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, paint and cabinet, not to mention electrical and communication, with all the wiring for the tech side of the operation. When you look up at the uncovered ceiling you see a maze of wires, pipes, and ductwork. The skill level to do this has to be at the top to make this work. After hearing that a high percentage of our high school kids are at least thinking about a four year de-gree, I think about the college loan debt nearly equaling the national debt and think that working with your brain and hands may not be a bad deal considering these folks are well paid and in demand. This is high end stuff and we need to expose the younger generation to the world of hands on skills. Not only has medicine changed over the last forty four years, but so has the way we build hospitals.

How Long Ago?How Long Ago? By Russ JoyceBy Russ Joyce

Custom processed and cut meats is what the Atlantic Locker is all about. Historically, farm families would bring live-stock to the local locker for processing and take home to feed their families. Today, there are far less farmers and far more consumers that are looking for high quality and specialty food products. Particularly the kind that is raised locally. “All our livestock is purchased from local farmers.” Dale and Shirley Haupert own and operate the busi-ness with their son Kurt, who joined the business full time three years ago. Opening on Chestnut Street in 1989, and now at 310 West 2

nd Street in Atlantic, the business simply out

grew the old location. Dale stated, “We’ve been here six years now. The move has been nothing but positive. More parking, retail space and room to grow.” The expansion of space allows for at least forty head of beef to be stored when the need aris-es. That need comes more often all the time. Customers who want a “private label” for their beef, pork or lamb for resale is becoming more of a market. As long as the process is State inspected the product can be resold in Iowa. “We have an inspector here everyday.” “The Locker” has specialty products that have been developed over the years. The Hauperts have won a variety of awards for dried beef, bologna, jerky, ring bologna, and rul-lepolse. Those are local favorites. “Our smokehouse is in use daily. We have people that come to visit friends and relatives stop by and fill up coolers to take home because either they can’t get a product or the prod-

ucts lack quality where they live.” Hunters stop by in the fall to shop Also, people want to buy halves, quarters, or the whole animal cut and made into what they want, exactly how they want it. “We are very con-sciences about our product; we have never had any problems that you read about with a huge facility. We see our customers face to face every day and understand that they want a “cut” above. In addition to the “The Atlantic Locker” are “The Anita Locker” and “Henningsen Locker” operating in Cass County. All with their own specialties, meeting the demands of locally produced. A number of cuts can be found in a variety of local restaurants produced in these operations. So, to answer the question “Where’s the beef?” It’s right here in Cass County.

CADCO Update www.cassatlanticdevelopment.com

Where’s the beef?Where’s the beef? Locally grown, locally processedLocally grown, locally processed

Just over one year after announcing a $65 mil-lion grant from Siemens PLM Software, Iowa West-ern’s Design Technology Program has used dona-tions from several area busi-nesses and individuals to help them purchase a 3D Printer. Professor Joe Vanstrom explains that stu-dents began working with the new 3D Printer

just a few weeks ago. “Our students are actually working on a project where they are reverse engi-neering a radio controlled car and designing it complete-ly virtually, part by part. I had them redesign the wheel rims for it and we just printed off our first wheel rim so it’s actually pretty exciting right now. We are finally getting up and running and we are going from that slow jog up to a sprint right now so everything is going incredibly fast.” The printer allows students to get a real life model of the things they are digitally design-ing. They are in the talking stage with local manufacturers about printing prototype prod-ucts. An object can be 10”x10”x12”. More than one product can be printed at the same time, as long as they fit in the printer compartment. “Basically if you take your typical inkjet printer and you were to print thousands and thousands of sheets and stack them on top of

them you would have a square block. Now if you were to take a 3D object slice that thing up 1,000 times and then print each one of those slices and stack them on top of each other, that’s what that 3D printer is. Each layer is just .007-.0012 of an inch.” Even parts with moving components can be printed such as ball bearings or small gear boxes. Professor Vanstrom is excited to see the impact that these students will make on the industry. “They will be able to find a job, but I want to make sure that they are fully prepared.

I’m not just going to push them through for two years, I want to make sure that my students are prepared and that the employers that hire them are going to be well satisfied with the set of skills

that these employees will have.” Enrollment numbers for the upcoming academic year will be finalized by next month. Professor Vanstrom says the program has re-ceived a lot of interest from

students both locally and nationally. Potential students having hands on par-ticipation has really sparked interest. Interested students should be preparing for the program in high school. A significant amount of mathemat-ics is necessary to achieve success in the pro-gram. Older non-traditional students with the right background can boost their career by en-tering the two year program. “Industry is telling us that they want our graduates as soon as possible.”

IWCC’s 3D PrinterIWCC’s 3D Printer Newest addition of the Design Technology courseNewest addition of the Design Technology course

Iowa is leading the nation with the miles of trails that we can walk and bike on. We’ve seen businesses pop up to support those endeavors. Mostly the growth is in the more populated areas, but here in Atlantic we have our full service and sales “Bicycle Store” owned and operated Frank Mitchell. Frank and his wife Sue moved to Atlantic in 1977. Frank had been working for the Western Auto Corp. in Kansas City and had the opportunity to open a Western Auto store in Atlantic. Back in our memories you can recall the Western Fly-er bike line that was distributed through the Western Auto chain. When the Mitchell’s opened the hardware store here they noticed the other stores were not selling bikes and decid-ed to promote the Western Flyer line to differentiate them from the crowd.

When Western Auto ceased to exist Frank and Sue decided to specialize in bicycles due to the increase in trails and biking inter-est. “Every time there’s a trail addition we feel it here. Folks come in from Council Bluffs to Carroll.”

Like everything, the bicycle business changes with time. The old Western Flyer, one speed with a coaster brake, was replaced by lighter weight ten speeds, then the twenty-one speed road bike with the down un-der handle bars and less than comfortable seat for most of us. Later the “mountain bike” with slightly more upright seating and shock absorbers for off road riding. Frank has seen an increase in sales the last three years for what is called a “comfort bike” This is a bike with a more upright seating position with a more comfortable saddle and even has shock absorbers. Frank has three wheeled bikes and one line that is specially designed for folks that have hip and knee problems. Get-ting the best fitting bike for an individual’s stature is one of the most important parts of a bike purchase. “If it doesn’t fit you just right the fun will go out in a hurry.”

Gone BikingGone Biking Increase in trail popularity comes to Main StreetIncrease in trail popularity comes to Main Street

Real life model Sent to print

Pictured left to right: Shirley Haupert, Dale Haupert and Kurt Haupert

Virtually designed

“If you were to take a 3D

object, slice that thing up

1,000 times and then print

each one of those slices

and stack them on top of

each other, that’s what that

3D printer is. Each layer is

just .007-.0012 of an

inch,” states Professor Joe

Vanstrom. “A skill in demand”