20 prospective Latino business owners, entrepreneurs scout Jefferson

By DOUGLAS BURNS
d.burns@carrollspaper.com

JEFFERSON - They came from Denison and Storm Lake and Perry, Lincoln, Nebraska and other parts of the Midwest.

And these 20 Latino business owners and entrepreneurs, some with established restaurant chains and eyes on expansion into Greene County, others with budding big ideas for new businesses, spent 5 hours in Jefferson Tuesday touring available buildings, meeting with local leaders and taking in the local culture.

The tour was part of the Greene County Development Corporation’s ongoing Nueva en Vida in Greene County (new life in Greene County) project, a major push to boost the population and increase the labor and business ownership ranks and school class sizes by reaching out to the state’s fastest-growing demographic — Latinos.

“I think this is one of the most unique events to ever take place in Iowa,” said Ken Paxton, executive director of the Greene County Development Corporation. “Certainly no rural community has ever done anything like this. In 20 years of economic development I’ve never had a situation where 20 to 30 businesses tour a town for possible new locations. That doesn’t even happen in Des Moines, let alone in Greene County. To be blunt, we’re shocked at the level of interest.”
The delegation of  businesspeople said they were eying opportunities with clothing stores, restaurants, massage therapy, cleaning services, a pet-boarding business, Mexican grocery store, hair salon, bakery, tutoring service, day care and building trades — among other pursuits.

“We hope you have an interest,” Paxton told the delegation. “We’d love for you to become a part of our community.”

And there is no city in Iowa that wants Latino residents more than Jefferson, no county more ready in Iowa than Greene County said Chuck Offenburger, a long-time community advocate who is helping to lead Nueva en Vida.

“The reason you should think about this is because right now Greene County wants you more than Denison , Perry, Carroll, Coon Rapids and Storm Lake,” Offenburger said. “We want to make you all Greene Countians.”

Hugo Cruz, a long-time business owner in Storm Lake, said the Greene County approach is essentially a scaled version of what worked in Buena Vista County, which has a high concentration of Latinos.

“Take a look at what we are doing there,” he said.

Jose Angel, 27 a graphic designer who lives in Lincoln, and has Denison ties, looked across Jefferson from the bell tower. The rooftop murals, which community leader Deb McGinn  described, drew his attention.

“As far as the community and what it has to show, it is very nice, very neat,” Angel said. “I like the whole art in the alleys, it’s just a little different than I am used to. Art is one of my passions so it definitely got my attention.”

Offenbuger said the push to attract more residents must work.

“We are waking up Greene County,” Offenburger said. “We are saying, ‘If we can’t grow our population, we will lose our manufacturers.’”

Offenburger said Latinos can be a foundational part of building a new Greene County.

“Think of yourself as pioneers,” he told the  visitors to applause over lunch at the Sierra Theatre in dowtown Jefferson before the delegation walked to the Mahanay Bell Tower
He added, “We will look to you as heroes of this effort.”

Carlos Arguello of Grimes, a native of Nicaragua who grew up in Carroll and founded Latino IQ, the firm that serves as Greene County’s consultant in the population-increasing strategy, recruited the prospective business owners for the tour. Latino IQ is also attracting employees and residents to the county.

Among other things, Arguello said he is impressed with the range of female small business owners in Jefferson. A number of women were in the business-scouting delegation, and Arguello pointed out the potential opportunities and fellowship with existing businesswomen.

“I’ve never known a town that has had so many women entrepreneurs as Jefferson,” Arguello said.

The next step, Paxton and GCDC President Sid Jones said, is for more individualized meetings with potential business operators.

“This is just an incredible turnout for us,” Jones said.