By Audrey Posten
Darla Kelchen is retiring as executive director of Clayton County Development Group (CCDG), effective Sept. 2, after over 20 years in the role and nearly 30 in economic development.
“I got started in economic development in 1997, when I took the position as economic development coordinator in Strawberry Point. In 2004, I transitioned to Clayton County Development Group Executive Director,” Kelchen recalled. “And there’s never been two days the same. There’s a lot of moving parts to this office.”
Kelchen said economic development serves as a connection—a hub and resource—to provide assistance to businesses, residents and visitors to promote growth and development in local communities and the county. That takes on many roles, from business planning assistance, marketing, conducting assessments to find needs in the area, and then finding programs to bring the needs to fruition. She’s also focused on finding funding opportunities to assist businesses and with home ownership and marketing. Grant writing is a large part of that.
“There probably isn’t a project or program that we do that we don’t look for partners. We do whatever we can to stretch those dollars,” she said.
Kelchen’s efforts have helped develop a business revolving loan fund that has served over 28 businesses with low interest loans to start up or expand a business venture. CCDG has also partnered with Small Business Administration consultants to assist with business planning and meeting those who have a passion to take an idea to a business.
“It’s very rewarding for me to sit with someone who has a dream, what they’d like to do as a business, then see that come to fruition and be able to help them out with a loan. We’ve done many of those,” Kelchen said
Housing has been another priority. CCDG is part of a team with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission that promotes the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund program.
More recently, CCDG was awarded a federal community project grant that will assist new housing development in Clayton County. Anyone planning on building a new home can apply for up to $40,000 at 1% interest for up to two years to assist with a construction loan, Kelchen noted.
“Housing has been a huge need. It still is a huge need,” she said. “Daycare has also been a huge need, so we helped with a grant there, and another group took it and ran with it.”
“It’s all about finding solutions to the needs of others,” Kelchen added, “then connecting with legislators, representatives and senators to share with them what the concerns are and to work on a solution.”
CCDG has worked with Clayton County communities to build a tourism marketing team that, together, promotes events, attractions and points of interest in Clayton County. Financial support comes from the county board of supervisors, Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation, Allamakee/Clayton Electric Coop, the Iowa tourism office, Alliant Energy, Alpine Communications, Northeast Iowa Telephone Co. and Black Hills Energy, as well as individual communities—including their chambers of commerce and economic development groups.
Since efforts began in 2014 to reach further outside the area, the hotel/motel tax in Clayton County has over doubled, according to Kelchen, and Clayton is regularly the first or second most-visited counties in Northeast Iowa.
Brochures go out across the country, and visitors to the CCDG office in Elkader have come from around the United States too.
“Together, we made it a successful program to market to all age groups in a variety of medias,” Kelchen said.
For that, adaptability has been key.
“When I started, we were developing websites. That was a whole new thing,” Kelchen said.
Marketing has since included print, radio and TV, and now QR codes, video, multiple social media platforms and even influencers.
“We partner with the state of Iowa to understand what the trends are,” she shared. “Every year we take a look at what is out there that’s popular, what people are looking into. Now we’re looking at itineraries. That’s a hot item for next year for social media. So it is very much adaptable. You have to put your thinking hat on, you have to take a look at what’s going on and you have to bring it to the table.”
Kelchen stressed none of this would be possible without partnerships.
“Nothing gets done without being a part of the team. And that philosophy has been here all along. You are a team player. You’re not an island. You don’t stand alone,” she said.
Kelchen feels the CCDG board of directors has been an asset in making the organization a success through their support, guidance and dedication to the organization. She also credited the Clayton County Board of Supervisors, community leaders, federal and state legislators, chamber of commerce and economic development directors and others who help make things happen.
Additionally, Kelchen has valued meeting business owners, event planners, residents and visitors to make connections and share information.
“I have met so many wonderful people through the Clayton County Development Group, and many have become life-long friends over the years,” she said. “I’ve worked alongside some very ambitious and talented people while I’ve been here, and I enjoy being a part of that team and bringing in ideas on what we can do to expand.”
One of the most rewarding aspects, she said, is to “meet others with the same passion to make a difference where we all live. [Economic development] is a career from the heart.”
Kelchen is grateful for the opportunity to serve Clayton County. She plans to remain involved in the community and assist CCDG into its next chapter.
“I look forward to assisting the next Clayton County Development Group Director in a transition to the position for a long rewarding and productive career,” she said.
