Continuing its efforts to hire an economic development director, Fremont County Economic Development Corporation (FREDCO) is considering several options aside from working with the county.

The group has enough funds to pay for a salary, however wanted to be part of a larger group that would be able to offer better insurance. Opportunities for partnering with Iowa State University or the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association have come up in the last several weeks.

“FREDCO's main objective in working with the county was to provide the medical insurance coverage for an employee.  Unfortunately, Fremont County belongs to an insurance pool that does not allow them to offer benefits to an employee hired underneath a 28E agreement,” said FREDCO President Lynda Cruickshank.  “The process to create a county position underneath one of the county officials and to submit a budget for that office would take yet another year.  FREDCO board members decided that they would pursue a new option that had opened up with ISU.”

Doug Doty, ISU  extension education director for Fremont County, presented information about the potential partnership to FREDCO members last week.

“The restructuring has really opened up that possibility,” he said.

Doty told the board that a memorandum of understanding between FREDCO and ISU would be created with a 2-3 year contract and would outline each group’s responsibilities. The position would be funded by FREDCO, trained by ISU and would be considered an ISU employee. However, the local board would oversee the position.

This would not be the first time ISU has partnered with a community to create an economic development partnership. He said there is a good example in West Liberty.

“Since ISU has in place a position description and memorandum of understanding that can be adjusted to our location, our task force will move forward with negotiations with ISU,” Cruickshank said. “ We have also been invited to pursue some collaborative work with the Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association (SCIA) as they are working on projects that would dramatically impact Fremont County employment opportunities.”