Our Mission

The Charles City Area Development Corporation is the catalyst for economic development in greater Floyd County, nurturing the creation and retention of quality jobs.

Charles City Area Development Corporation

Charles City Area Development Corporation Announces Business Plan Competition

Competition, $5,500 Award for First Place, $2,500 for Second

The Charles City Area Development Corporation [CCADC] Board of Directors announces its 2023 Business Plan Competition with submission due date of 15 October 2023.

“We celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation and are soliciting Business Plans in encouraging entrepreneurs, whether they have business ideas, start-ups or early-stage ventures” stated Tim Fox, CCADC Chief Executive Officer. Eligible applicants will be residents of Floyd County and Nashua seeking to start a business or enter a new phase in an existing business.

CCADC President Ron Litterer noted that “we seek to be inclusive of all types of business starts and will provide more assistance than a mere Business Plan review.  CCADC staff and Directors are available to work with applicants in devising the Business Plan, including critical review.”  In addition, CCADC works with local professionals to provide in-kind services for entrepreneurs relating to the professional’s area of expertise.

Your initial step should be in contacting Tim Fox at the CCADC office at 401 North Main Street, Charles City, Iowa telephone 641.228.3020 x13 or email tfox@charlescityia.com.  He will give you the list of required Business Plan components as well as mutually formulate an action plan.

“We seek to nurture a new or early-stage business from the ground up,” said Litterer.  Applicants will have the opportunity to set progress milestones with CCADC staff to ensure the best possible product by the 15 October deadline.  The superior Business Plan submissions will garner the $5,500 and $2,500 cash prizes.

Beyond the Business Plan process entrepreneurs can avail themselves of professional expertise from the community as they implement actions depicted in the Business Plan.  These typically include access to capital, marketing, and identification of legal structure, operations plan and financial planning.

Charles City Area Development Corporation Earns Accredited Economic Development Organization Status

Charles City Area Development Corporation of Charles City, Iowa has been named the 69th Accredited Economic Development Organization in the world by the International Economic Development Council. The AEDO recognizes the professional excellence of economic development organizations and says to the community that the organization is a leading authority on economic-related issues.

“Charles City Area Development Corporation displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.

Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that Charles City Area Development Corporation has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well-placed, and their business is in good hands.

An Award Presentation was held on Thursday, January 20, 2022 in the Zastrow Room at the Charles City Public Library.  Presenting the award was Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi V. Durham.  Following the presentation Director Durham and IEDA Business Development Manager Beth Balzer led a question-and-answer session for attendees.

Avenue of the Saints Development Park Certified Site

The Avenue of the Saints Development Park is a 75-acre site located at the juncture of the Avenue of the Saints four-lane thoroughfare and South Grand Avenue, Charles City, Iowa. Location on the Avenue of the Saints renders it easily accessible to transportation and major cities. It is situated within Charles City’s South Grand Tax Increment Financing District.

This industrial development site is state certified and shovel ready with all the title, documentation and environmental, historical and geotechnical studies completed.

Electrical, water and sewer utilities are on site, with natural gas and telecommunications in close proximity.

Iowa Economic Development Authority Certified Site

Click here to learn more about Avenue of the Saints:

Avenue of the Saints Development Park

For further information go to LOIS link:

https://pdf.locationone.com/property/site/59eaba35bec80e09b4bbef40/5e04ee44ee5a3d5d377bfd0e

About Charles City, Iowa / Floyd County Iowa

Charles City (population 7,652), the county seat of Floyd County is situated along the Avenue of the Saints (Iowa 27) in northern Iowa. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S. Highways 18 and 218, Iowa Highway 14, and the Canadian National Railway Co. and the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

Charles City is known as the birthplace of the farm tractor in the early 1900’s by the Hart-Parr Company.

Comprehensive Housing Needs Analysis for Floyd County, Iowa

Charles City Area Development Corporation 2017

Charles City Area Development Corporation Strategic Plan, 2017-2022

Floyd County Home Base Iowa Initiative

The state of Iowa has proactively become competitive in pursuit of transitioning military talent in creating the “Home Base Iowa” program in 2014. Assistance is available for employment, housing and identifying communities where their skills shall be valued. Home Base Iowa helps address Iowa’s middle-skill workforce gap.

This is a unique opportunity for businesses to access the wealth of talent and experience engendered within our military personnel. Businesses have the opportunity to recruit prospective employees with technical and transferable skills. Communities have the opportunity to add residents of high moral fiber, good work ethic and social productivity.

Floyd County was certified as a “Home Base Iowa Community” on 23 September 2014.

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors is implementing the Home Base Iowa local veteran’s incentive by offering a $10,000 loan to be used for down payment assistance, closing costs and/or home improvements at closing for a residence purchased in Floyd County. Home improvement services and materials must be purchased in Floyd County. The loan is repayable over five years at 0% interest. A veteran is defined as: a. Meeting standards of service denoted in Chapter 35 “Veterans Affairs” subsection 35.1 “Definitions” of the Code of Iowa 2013; b. A federal status injured person having served in active duty; c. A surviving spouse of an eligible service person.

Applicants must be employed at minimum 30 hours per week or have a conditional offer for employment.

Floyd County will secure a mortgage upon the purchased real estate and recipient shall sign a Promissory Note.

Charles City Area Development Corporation shall administer the program. It shall be the policy of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors and the Charles City Area Development Corporation that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, isability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.

While the primary intent is to serve veterans being discharged from service, current Floyd County employed veterans are eligible should they currently not own their own home in Floyd County and have not owned a home in Floyd County within the past five years and meet the veteran qualification under Chapter 35 of the Code of Iowa.

Floyd County Home Base Initiative Application