Business Connection • 0623

business CONNECTION

Terry Christensen PUBLISHER tchristensen@messengernews.net

Bill Shea EDITOR bshea@messengernews.net

Leanne Darr MARKETING DIRECTOR ldarr@messengernews.net

Jody Kayser SALES MANAGER jkayser@messengernews.net

Nick Manwarren GRAPHIC DESIGNER nmanwarren@messengernews.net

Brittney Bensen SALES CONSULTANT bbensen@messengernews.net

ADDRESS: PHONE: 713 Central Ave. (515) 573-2141 Fort Dodge, IA 50501 FAX: (515) 571-4529

Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is published monthly by The Messenger in cooperation with The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2023. Reproduction in part or in whole without the expressed written permission of Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by return postage. Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, artwork or manuscripts. The opinions expressed in editorial material are not necessarily the opinions of Fort Dodge Business Connection.

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance News

The Greater Fort Dodge region has made great strides in providing qualityof-life amenities, but one of the biggest obstacles for potential residents is finding housing.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price is $388,800, and in Webster County the median home price is $134,239. Home prices in Webster County are 34% lower than the national home price. Compared to the rest of the country, Fort Dodge’s cost of living is 29.9% lower than the US average. The Greater Fort Dodge Area provides prospective buyers affordable homes and space to grow in today’s competitive real estate market and affordability crisis.

A lack of affordable housing impacts everyone in the community. There are concerted efforts to build new workforce housing to meet the demand. The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides a program for Workforce Housing Tax Credits to benefit developers to provide housing in Iowa communities. The $35 million tax credit will be split equally between urban areas and small cities.

Opportunities like this allow developers to build new homes, employers to recruit and retain, and communities to grow and thrive.

Local leadership is progressive and acknowledges the gaps that need to be filled, and are excited to meet with potential developers.

Dennis Plautz

WITH

Q&A LARAMAR BALLROOM

The Laramar Ballroom was originally the Fort Dodge Armory and opened in 1904. As the Armory, it housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, as well as other civic events. The building housed a gymnasium, swimming pool, and bowling alley.

In 1938, the Armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer and became the Laramar Ballroom. From the 1930s to the 1960s, the Laramar was a premier location for big bands of the different eras. Over the next decades, the building changed hands and has most recently been vacant.

Then, a group of local investors stepped up to restore the Laramar Ballroom with the goal of creating a new venue space in the Historic Downtown Fort Dodge. Sadie Anderson, Event Manager and Wedding Coordinator, answered some questions regarding the soon-to-be open Laramar Ballroom.

Q&A

WITH LARAMAR BALLROOM

WHAT TYPE OF EVENTS ARE YOU ABLE TO HOLD AND HOW CAN SOMEONE GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU TO BOOK THE LARAMAR?

The Laramar Ballroom will be an event center for all ages, with events catered to meet the desires of multiple demographics in the area. We will host a wide variety of events, including but not limited to- weddings, concerts, social gatherings, corporate events, class reunions, proms, private events, etc. you name it- we can find a way to host it. If you are interested in hosting an event with us, you can contact the Laramar Ballroom at (515) 206-8080 and speak to one of our incredible booking agents, Sadie Andersen or Brady O’Brien.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THE SPACE BACK TO LIFE?

Bringing this space back to life has indeed been a work of the heart. The ten investors that were all brought on to this project have a unique desire to see the building thrive again. This project has truly been about revitalization and bringing life back to downtown Fort Dodge. This building houses so many memories for a wide variety of generations and is a hub of Fort Dodge history. There really wasn’t an event space quite like it in its time and the talent that it brought to Fort Dodge tells an incredible tale of the fame that surrounds the building. When we devised the plan to restore and renovate the ballroom, we knew preserving the structure was top priority, and we also focused on how to bring the building back to life while still ensuring that we kept key elements that are original to the ballroom. Modernizing without ruining the historical elements that make the building unique. We want your experience at the Laramar to be unlike anywhere in the Webster county area and we have integrated several different elements to ensure that this venue is one that is worth all of the chatter.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE LARAMAR TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?

I personally am most excited to see the light in the eyes of our upper generation when they first enter the Laramar again for the first time. I can only imagine the emotions that tie into the building for so many people from weddings to concerts, proms and more. It’s the space where a lot of couples locked eyes for the first time, and I hope they fall in love with what we’ve done to the space just as they did many years ago.

artistspot

Tyler Sandstrom

What are some of the best things about owning your own pottery studio?

I get to live where I work and create functional pottery that gets used every day all over the country. Best of all, I get to work alongside my lovely wife, Laura, and together we teach our three children to work smart & hard in whatever they choose to do with their God given talents.

What would you like people to know about From Miry Clay Pottery?

Fun fact: Our kilns have been fired over 1,480 times, and I go through 2,000 lbs. of clay every 7 - 8 months…which means I make a LOT of pots! Together, we create over 350 different functional stoneware vessels in 14 established glaze colors. Along with that, we also have fun making horsehair pottery and illuminated pierced vessels. Find out how versatile and amazing clay is by making a trip to Dayton and seeing our studio and gallery in an old bank building. Go to frommiryclaypottery.com for our hours and more info.

Growing up, did you grow up in an artistic household? If so, how?

I was brought up in an encouraging, creative, and hardworking family. My mother has a good eye with home décor and flower arrangements and my dad is very diligent worker. I was encouraged to develop and use my God given gifts. For me, this happened to be a creative mind that keeps at a task until it is done.

Tell us about your educational path.

I graduated high school and then did an apprenticeship with a master potter.

Do you remember the first pottery piece you made? What was it and what were your first impressions of creating pottery?

I do remember my first piece of pottery. It was a bowl type looking…thing.

I thought making pottery on the wheel was super difficult and extremely fun.

What are some of the challenges in owning your own pottery studio?

Challenges abound when you have been a full-time, self-employed artist trying to sell art in rural Iowa since 2006. Most of the answers come by perseverance.

Some of those challenges are getting your story out and your product known, getting people to your storefront, and keeping up with demand.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Be a hybrid artist: organized, business minded, and adaptable. Don’t waste your talent and always treat others better than yourself.

Age: 41 • Hometown: Harcourt area • Current City: Dayton • Profession: Potter

UNITYPOINT HEALTH – FORT DODGE

Leah Glasgo has been President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge since January 2019. Over the past 4.5 years in Fort Dodge, Glasgo has been instrumental in growing partnerships and bringing more services and specialties to Fort Dodge, including neurology, orthopedics, vascular and Blank Children’s pediatric services.

Just over a year into her role, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and as team members worked tirelessly, Glasgo focused on team member retention and engagement, as well as the patient experience. She created a hospital task force, focused on serving parents and families, business leaders and volunteers. Not just that, but a 15-million-dollar remodel was recently completed to bring off-site services together in one location.

Glasgo started her career at UnityPoint Health in 2013 as the Vice President of Rural Development for the Fort Dodge and Sioux City Regions. She then became the Vice President of Clinical Operations for UnityPoint Health – Sioux City. She was promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer and held that position for three years. Prior to joining UnityPoint Health, Glasgo served as President and CEO of Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City.

Glasgo began her career as a nurse receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She went on to receive her Master of Healthcare Administration from Des Moines University.

UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge provides comprehensive, coordinated care that covers an eight-county area in North Central Iowa. Our vast network

GREATER FORT DODGE GROWTH ALLIANCE BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

LEAH GLASGO

RN, BSN, MHA, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer

UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge

of health care experts includes 28 clinics, a regional medical center, care at home and a center for mental health, all working together with the goal of keeping our communities healthy. UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge is leading the way in cardiology, oncology, obstetrics, and surgery, including general surgery and orthopedics, while keeping patients at the center of all we do.

UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge Encompasses

UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center

As a designated regional referral center, Trinity offers a wide range of primary and secondary care services. We are the largest employer in Webster County, employing over 1,155 healthcare professionals, technicians, and employees and boast a medical staff of more than 100 providers. Trinity is accredited by DNV Healthcare Inc. and has achieved the Pathway to Excellence designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2011. In 2022, Trinity became the first hospital in Iowa to be recognized as a DNV certified Hip and Knee Replacement Center. Additionally, Trinity is the only Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a 60-mile radius with fellowship trained, board certified intensivists. With cardiologists, intensivists and surgeons on-site, Trinity can take care of critically ill patients and some of the most life-threatening issues.

Not only does Trinity provide high quality care, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association Trinity Regional Medical Center adds nearly $74 million to the local economy.

UnityPoint Clinic

UnityPoint Clinic – Fort Dodge brings a full array of Family Medicine services throughout our service area and also offers several specialty clinics including pediatrics, OB/GYN, orthopedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, ENT, aesthetics, palliative medicine, pulmonology, urology and surgery.

UnityPoint Health – Berryhill Center

Berryhill Center is a community mental health center offering a complete range of counseling and psychiatry services to individuals, families, and couples, for all age groups. In addition, Berryhill Center provides outreach clinics and tele-psychiatry to surrounding areas.

UnityPoint at Home

UnityPoint at Home serves the critical role of coordinating with UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint Health hospitals to surround the patient with all the resources and care necessary to achieve wellness at home.

Whether an individual is learning to manage a chronic disease, transitioning home from the hospital, or rehabilitating after an injury or surgery, UnityPoint at Home allows them to continue the level of care necessary to help restore health, well-being and independence all from the comfort of home. When a life-limiting illness no longer responds to treatment, UnityPoint at Home provides hospice services. A patient can choose to stay in their own home or take advantage of the variety of amenities and accommodations at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.

Other services UnityPoint Health offers locally include nursing services, rehabilitation therapy, infusion therapy, respiratory therapy, specialty pharmacy and home medical equipment services.

2021 at a Glance

In 2021, UnityPoint Health – Trinity delivered 497 babies, admitted 3,536 patients, performed 3,475 surgeries, and had more than 19,524 emergency visits, 44,190 home care visits and 295,891 clinic visits.

CYNTHIA (CYNDEE)

CELL: 515-269-3130

OFFICE: 515-955-7645

FAX: 515-955-6388

cyncarlson86@gmail.com

www.cyndeecarlson.com

1728 Central Avenue, Suite One Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Each

City Connect FORT DODGE

MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS IN FORT DODGE

When most people think of Economic Development, they picture new manufacturing plants or new office buildings. They think of a company adding new jobs or perhaps some new stores at the mall. And all those thoughts would be correct, but it’s more than that. In today’s Economic Development world, it goes a little deeper. A new company has been built and they’ve added 100 jobs. Now we need to recruit the workforce to fill those jobs. What do we need in order to recruit? We need people that want to live in our community. Gone are the days where jobs are accepted blindly without checking out the community first and making sure it’s where the applicant (and their family) wants to live. The community must have those quality-of-life amenities that we all look for. Good schools, trails, parks, shopping, restaurants, health care, golf courses, pickle ball courts, the list goes on and on. Another item on the list is housing. The community must have the type of housing potential employees want to live in.

Fort Dodge has excelled in the quality-of-life department, but we needed a little push in the housing department. In 2016, the City partnered with the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation and purchased 60 acres of farm ground on Williams Drive and created the “Williams Bend” subdivision. Three local developers and one non-local developer have constructed new 34 new bi-attached housing units and 28 new single-family homes since 2018. These units have sold or rented as quickly as they have been built. We have an agreement with Iowa Central Community College Trades Department to construct 5 additional homes and two additional developers looking at most of the remainder of the east side of Williams Drive. We anticipate subdividing the west side of Williams Drive, “Williams Ridge”, very soon.

In addition to the Williams Drive area, several private housing development projects have been completed in the last 6 years. In 2017, the historic rehabilitation of the former Phillips Middle School into the Phillips Luxury Lofts was completed with an investment of $8.8 million. The developer created 67 new market rate units. These lofttype units offer a different type of living space than what Fort Dodge residents are used to. The units are typically 85% occupied. In 2020, District 29 came on the scene with a 93-unit complex and five 5-unit townhomes. They were 60% occupied at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Today, they are 97% occupied. In 2022, the developer started phase 2, which will add another 118 units and a clubhouse and pool.

Another project just getting underway is the “2nd Avenue Rowhomes”. DEV Partners, out of Des Moines, recently purchased an under-utilized City-owned parking lot at 2nd Avenue South and 9th Street to construct 33 market-rate units. The developer anticipates completion in August of 2024.

In late 2022, the City Council approved a resolution expressing intent to enter into a development agreement with Lazy Tree LLC in support of a residential subdivision. This project would include the construction of 14 single-family homes and 5 duplexes (10 units), offering yet another housing option to help recruit that needed workforce.

That’s over 400 new units since 2017. We are well on our way to meeting the housing needs in our community.

As an incentive, the City offers tax abatement citywide for the construction of new housing and for improvements to existing housing (minimum 15% increase), which is a phase-in of new taxes created. In addition, eligible developers can apply for Workforce Housing Tax Credits through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Applicants are eligible to apply for up to 20% of their investment on the first $150,000 per unit and a refund of sales tax, with a maximum award of up to $1,000,000 per project. For additional eligibility requirements and terms go to: https://www.iowaeda.com/workforce-housing-tax-credit/

It doesn’t have to be one developer coming in to make a big impact in our community. Fort Dodge’s success story includes a variety of local, non-local, large and small companies, each contributing to our housing goals, and before you know it we’ve made a difference. Thank you to all who have and are still contributing to the improvement of our housing stock. We appreciate your investment in Fort Dodge!

STAFF

Dennis Plautz CEO dennis@greaterfortdodge.com

Kelly Halsted Economic Development Director kelly@greaterfortdodge.com

Jill Nelson Community Development Director jill@greaterfortdodge.com

Skyla Porter Organizational Administrator skyla@greaterfortdodge.com

Deena McCaulley Office Manager deena@greaterfortdodge.com

Lydia Schuur Communications Specialist lydia@greaterfortdodge.com

“Greater

NewMembers

Beauty Lux by Azures is a solo esthetician salon providing lash extensions, facials, microdermabrasion and chemical peel treatments, and brow enhancements. Beauty Lux by Azures has been servicing the community since 2020 and recently became an independent salon in February 2023

They are located at 8 N 13th St, Fort Dodge

“Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington It is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. As of November 2021, the company had 33,833 stores in 80 countries, 15,444 of which were located in the United States ”

Their new company mission is “With every cup, with every conversation, with every community –we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection.”

tRIBBON

tRIBBON

Karl Webster City

Congratulations

County Connect Webster

Gowrie Addresses Housing Needs

Communities across the country are facing a housing shortage, and Gowrie is among those deciding to do something about it.

According to the National Association of Realtors, Webster County, Iowa’s average monthly mortgage payment is $661. With a career in the highest-paying industries of Public Administration ($53,059), Wholesale Trade ($52,819), and Manufacturing ($51,704), housing costs take up significantly less of a worker’s household income than in other cities in Iowa and the US.

With data from 2022, the projected growth in home value and income will drive growth and development, and the need for workforce housing to be available.

• Estimated Median Household Income Growth: 10% over the next five years

• Estimated Average Household Income Growth: 13% over the next five years

• Estimated Per Capita Growth: 13% over the next five years

• Estimated Median Household Income Growth: 10% over the next five years

• Estimated Average Household Income Growth: 13% over the next five years

• Estimated Per Capita Growth: 13% over the next five years

Kelly Halsted, Economic Development Director with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance worked with Gowrie to address their housing needs. “The Gowrie Development Commission (GDC) created a familiarization tour of Gowrie and Origin Homes (a division of Hubbell) was the only developer that showed interest.  The GDC Housing committee was able to show them special attention describing the Go Build in Gowrie incentive program that the GDC created for the City, showing them all the amenities Gowrie has and the shovel ready housing development.  Origin Homes took all the information back and within a couple of weeks said they would be interested in marketing the lots and putting together a special package which included items like financing and appliances.  Then

the State’s Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program became available.  The GDC housing committee encouraged Origin to apply for the program and they just submitted their application to the State.   If successful, Origin will build five homes in the Wiley 2 Addition.   The commitment from the city of Gowrie is that they will provide the lots for free and waive the utility hookup fees and building permit fees.   Now, Origin and the City of Gowrie wait until August to find out if they are successful with their application. “

Origin Homes travels within all 99 counties and partner with local trades and contractors near the community they are building in. They build single-family homes in Ranch, 1.5-story, and 2-story homes.

City leadership in Gowrie is once again looking forward by encouraging builds and offering incentives, and putting the “Go” in Gowrie.

shiningstar

Walker

What do you enjoy about dancing?

I love that there are different styles of dance. Hip-Hop is my favorite style because I can have fun on stage and show all my sass. Lyrical is my second favorite because I’m able to use my body to tell a story. I also enjoy that regardless of how my day has went, when I get to dance, I can forget about all the bad. There’s a lot that I enjoy about dance that I could talk about!

What is the most challenging part of dancing?

This year I tried Pointe for the first time. I have found this to be the most challenging because I have to support all of my body weight on the tip of my feet.

Also, when learning new skills, you have to strengthen different parts of your body so that you can do it. Sometimes it feels like I’m asking my body to do something that seems impossible.

How are you involved in the arts? In both school and the community? Are you involved in art, music or theatre? What do you like about it?

I’m involved in my school choir and have also participated in three musicals in the community. I was in The Little Mermaid Jr., The Elf, & Shrek. I will also be taking part in the upcoming musical Madagascar with Stage Door Productions! I like that I am able to meet new friends and watch the older kids & adults. My favorite part is of course the dancing. Musical theatre is another style of dance that’s a lot of fun!

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment is my increase in confidence. I just finished my third year of dance, and feel like over these last three years I truly believe in myself and what I can accomplish. I am also very proud that I am able to be a Jr Coach at United All Stars. This year I was able to help coach 6 different teams of little ones. Knowing that I am able to be a positive role model for these kids makes me happy. I love working with the younger kids!

Parents: Ashley Utley & Leighton Walker School & Grade: 6th Grade at the Fort Dodge Middle School • Hometown: Fort

Kinley

Who do you look up to?

I have so many people that I look up to for different reasons. I want to talk about Laila Taylor & I know this won’t come as a surprise to anyone. Laila is there for me in and out of the gym/studio. She gives me pep talks and helps me with my fast costume changes. She asked me to do a duet this year for her senior year, and I loved every second of dancing on stage with her. Laila also helps me with my tumbling tricks that I can incorporate into my dance routines.

Other are…Ella Sells, Reese Pederson, Samantha Smith and of course, Coach Emily Eastwood! I love all of you!

What do you see yourself doing in 25 years?

In 25 years, I’d love to have either my own salon or dance studio with a few friends.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you pick?

The Bahamas or somewhere warm & sunny!

Walk us through a day in the life of Kinley. After a 7hr day at school

I spend 4-5 hours at the dance studio between coaching, ballet, team classes and/or private dance and tumbling lessons. It can be a lot, but I love being at a United.

To become a member or let us know about an event contact:

Fort

LEAVING A LEGACY CAN BE A GREAT HONOR FOR A LOVED ONE

One of the best ways to honor a loved one or even a family is to establish a legacy fund in their memory and honor. The definition of a “Legacy Fund” is – a fund used to convey one’s values through a foresighted action to provide long-term financial support to a charitable organization or cause. In simple terms, it means giving back by helping charitable causes through a gift from one’s estate. The charitable cause could be advancing community betterment/quality of life, supporting education, helping the poor, improving parks or the environment, advancing recreation, or a myriad of other ways that will impact people’s lives and make our community a better place to live.

By providing long-term support for a charitable organization, cause or our community in general is a wonderful way to highlight a loved one’s life. Often times a person or a family has passed on and with it goes the memory of the impact that person or family had in their community. A legacy fund can sustain the family’s name and impact in the community for decades to come while providing meaningful financial support for important community causes. What a wonderful why to honor a loved one or family.

Current examples of legacy funds are the Catherine Vincent Deardorf Charitable Foundation and the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust. Both are making a major impact in our community. Yet, you don’t have to have great wealth to establish an impactful legacy fund. Legacy gifts are for everybody, not just the wealthy; they represent a meaningful way to reflect and express one’s values; and strengthen the charitable causes they care about for the long term.

Legacy gifts often come from people’s assets, not their disposable income. They usually come in the way of a bequest from a will or from planned gifts such as charitable remainder trusts, life-income arrangements, life insurance or real estate. Any individual, at any point in their life, can create a legacy gift. All these gifts represent a powerful and meaningful way for individuals to create a philanthropic legacy for their community and the organizations they care about.

Legacy gifts offer donors significant tax advantages. In some cases, it can offer a triple tax avoidance opportunity. First –your donation is tax deductible afforded to charitable giving by the IRS. Second – if you donate stock or personal property that has appreciated in value, you do not have

RANDY KUHLMAN

C.E.O FORT DODGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY

to pay capital gains taxes. And three – if your gift is endowed, you are eligible for an additional 25% state tax credit through the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program. Hypothetically, a donor in a 32% tax bracket, donating $100,000 of appreciated stock could likely save over $60,000 in various taxes. (Note: donors should consult their personal tax advisor to determine actual tax savings).

Most of us want to “do good,” and find a meaningful and important way to give back. Charities and charitable causes in our community truly touch our lives and enrich our community in a myriad of ways. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way offers charitably inclined citizens a number of ways to establish a legacy. Be it an endowed fund, a donor-advised fund, or a planned gift that will come from your estate, the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way can show you how your legacy can make a real and long-term impact in our community.

For more information on legacy giving or to learn more about how you can make an impact and benefit from the tax advantages offered through charitable giving, please contact our office. We are located at 24 North 9th Street, Suite B, in Fort Dodge. Or give us a call at 515-573-3171. Let us show you how you can establish your own legacy. It might be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do for your family and your community.

College Connect

As the need for housing continues to grow in the region, Iowa Central Community College is working with both the City of Fort Dodge and Iowa State University to build new homes and bring the latest in construction technology to the area.

Williams Bend Homes

Iowa Central Recently purchased three lots in the new Williams Bend development, which is located between Williams Drive and North 15th Street, with plans to build three new homes in the neighborhood over the next three years. The new homes will be constructed by students in the Iowa Central Carpentry program, providing them with hands-on learning experiences as they work to bring quality housing to Fort Dodge.

The three new spec homes will be 1600-1700 square-foot houses with two to three car garages and full basements. They will be constructed, and when complete, placed on the market for prospective homebuyers to see.

Most recently, the carpentry students built seven similar homes

Carpentry Program’s Local Impact

The homes are not the only local project that Carpentry students have completed over the years. Their work can be seen at the Gypsum City OHV Park where they have constructed two open shelters and Carpentry students from the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility program have built cabins and tiny homes which are available for camping within the OHV Park.

They have also helped with community projects at the Otho Fire Department; framing and hanging walls for the building’s interior, built sheds for Almost Home Animal Shelter, poured sidewalks in Loomis Park, poured concrete for a goat barn at the Webster County Fairgrounds and built several 8x8 sheds which have been used on campus, at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility or donated to drawings at The Messenger’s farm and home shows. On campus, 13 of the 16 student residence halls were constructed by the Carpentry students as well as a four plex for trucking students at the Transportation Technology Center on South 32nd Street. The program’s current active project is building the clubhouse at the new baseball field at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex.

3-D Printer

A partnership with Iowa State University has brought the newest in construction technology to Iowa Central’s East Campus; a 15-by50-by-8 feet 3-D printer which arrived in Fort Dodge in September.

Pete Evans, an ISU assistant professor of industrial design, said the goal of the partnership with Iowa Central is to put together a plan for affordable and innovative tech housing that would capture Iowa’s workforce and affordable housing priorities.

“The Iowa Economic Development Authority looked at both the workforce and housing problems together,” said Evans. “We are helping to build up new technology to make the housing that is in demand. We are in the logistical and testing phases now, learning new ways of building and testing them out to see what is real and what works.”

“It’s a two-fold partnership that will combine workforce training and academics,” said Neale Adams, associate vice president of instruction at Iowa Central. “Iowa Central is a critical part of that, we provide the workforce training aspects of the project while Iowa State will work with the research and development.”

The large format concrete printer will eventually have the ca pability to “print” a home that can withstand the elements of nature, such as heavy rain, tornadoes and derechos. The parts of the house that are 3-D printed are the concrete-like walls or the framing of the house. With 3D printing, it will take around two or three days to print and construct exterior walls.

Evans and Adams hope to have the printer running this summer with the intention of starting small.

“This technology will have its opportunities and its limitations,” said Adams. “We hope to start with building a shed; maybe a tiny home until we have the capacity to build a full home.”

The first full homes to be constructed will provide housing in Hamburg, a western Iowa community situated east of the Missouri River which was devastated by 2019 flooding.

Beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, an introductory course, Additive Construction and Manufacturing 1, will be offered to give students in various programs, including carpentry, hands on experience with the printer.

“We’ll offer a first-year introduction into the program,” said Adams. “This will be the initial survey course to gain experience. In the spring, we will get into the management and logistics of how the process works. Iowa Central will be the first community college in the state to offer (3-D printing construction) and if this excites the students and we see the implications this will have on carpentry we hope we can offer a full degree program in the future.”

Evans said it is exciting to add to the already innovative carpentry program at Iowa Central.

“Iowa Central Carpentry brings a very strong history to Iowa,” he said. “Sustainable design has always been a part of their program and the pieces of the puzzle were here and working before this project ever became an idea.”

“The beauty of it is, we will see if it is sustainable and will be able to see if it is also a draw for extending and retraining the building trades profession,” said Adams. “It is a high demand area with a workforce need that is not being met and we hope this will bring in new blood and new capabilities.”

BIGGEST THREATS TO A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT?

If you save and invest for decades, you’d like to know you can retire without financial worries. Nonetheless, you still have to be aware of some threats to a comfortable retirement — and how to respond to them.

These threats include:

Inflation – Inflation has been high recently, but even a mild inflation rate can seriously erode your purchasing power. In fact, with just a 3% inflation rate, your expenses could double in about 25 years — and your retirement could easily last that long. So, if you’re going to rely on your investment portfolio for a sizable part of your retirement income, you will need to own a reasonable number of growthoriented investments, such as stocks or stock-based funds, whose potential returns can equal or exceed the inflation rate.

Excessive withdrawals – Once you retire, you should establish a withdrawal rate for your portfolio — an amount you can take out each year and still feel secure that you won’t run out of money. Some people make the mistake of withdrawing too much, too soon, once they’re retired. Your withdrawal rate should be based on several factors, including your age at retirement, the size of your portfolio and the amount of income you receive from other sources, such as Social Security. A financial

professional can help you determine a withdrawal rate that’s appropriate for your needs.

Market volatility – The financial markets will always fluctuate. When you’re still working, this volatility may not be such a problem, as you have years or decades to recover from short-term downturns. But when you retire, you don’t want to have to sell investments when their price is down. To help prevent this, you can tap into the cash in your portfolio, assuming you have enough to cover several months’ worth of living expenses. You could also draw on a CD “ladder” — a group of CDs that mature at different times — to provide you with resources for the next few years and allow your equity investments time to recover their value.

Unexpected costs – You had them when you were working, and you’ll probably have them when you’re retired: the furnace that breaks down, the car that needs a major repair, and so on. But if you’ve established an emergency fund containing a year’s worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account, you may be able to “ride out”

these costs without jeopardizing your investment portfolio. Be sure to keep these reserves separate from your typical dayto-day accounts to avoid the temptation of spending your emergency money.

Health – Retirees may face more health concerns than younger people, and those concerns often come with larger medical bills. That’s why it’s important to maximize the benefits from Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan. Also, if you contributed to a Health Savings Account (HSA) while you were working, and you haven’t depleted it, you can use the money in retirement. As long as the HSA funds are used for qualified medical expenses, withdrawals are taxand penalty-free, and won’t be included in your income. This could help keep your income below certain levels, lower your Medicare premiums or avoid the 3.8% surtax on net investment income that can be assessed on high-net-worth taxpayers. Retirement can be a pleasant time in your life — and you’ll enjoy it more if you’re prepared for the challenges that face all retirees.