About The Site

This site is created and managed by Priority One, the economic development arm of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Priority One

Recognizing that a sound strategy for economic growth and diversity would be a catalyst for the Cedar Rapids area, private and public leaders established Priority One as the area’s economic development organization in 1986. Since that time, Priority One has assisted in the creation of more than 30,000 new jobs, recruited more than 150 new companies to the area and assisted nearly 450 existing businesses in expansion, training and support.

Priority One serves as an initial contact for businesses interested in expanding or relocating to the Cedar Rapids area. The group provides extensive assistance to new and existing businesses, including demographics and trade figures, site location assistance, state and local incentive assistance, workforce development and a variety of specialized activities designed to respond to the needs of each particular project. The staff of seven works with other area development groups to provide complete information to interested companies and site selection consultants. This website is led and managed by Priority One as part of the organization’s workforce initiatives. For more information regarding Priority One, please click here.

The Chamber, Champion for a Greater Cedar Rapids

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic membership organization representing the interests of more than 1,300 member companies. As stated by our mission, The Chamber is a catalyst to promote economic vitality and quality of life in Linn County. The Chamber plays a vital role as a uniting force between business and citizens to ensure continued progress. For more information on The Chamber visit www.cedarrapids.org.

Site Partners

The promotion and marketing of this site involves many partners.  Outreach to students and employers is equally important. If your nonprofit group or organization would like to be a part of this initiative, please click here to contact us.  Any group or organization that promotes the site to employers or students is included here as a site partner. 

We’d like to thank all of our partners for their role in developing this website!

Cornell College/Career Engagement Center

Cornell College is a nationally acclaimed private, four-year liberal arts college of about 1200 full-time students located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.  Cornell has students from almost all 50 states and nearly two dozen nations.  Cornell’s Career Engagement Center provides innovative and purposeful career guidance to support the growth and development of undergraduate students.  The Career Engagement Center partners with local and national companies to get Cornell students connected with internships, part-time or full-time jobs, as well as other skill building or networking opportunities.  More information can be found at http://www.cornellcollege.edu/career-engagement/index.shtml

Iowa City Area Development Group

Since 1984 the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD Group) has been committed to enhancing the economic vitality of our area.  Our organization works to strengthen our local communities with a strong business climate and employment opportunities. ICAD Group staff is available to assist interstate commerce companies with location or expansion projects, workforce development and entrepreneurial services.

The Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD Group) develops workforce initiatives based on the immediate and future needs of our area.  We assess worker readiness, skills development, employer challenges, and workforce productivity through a series of surveys and a network of partners.  We provide workforce development services to our investors, clients and the Iowa City area in five key areas: Guidance, Retention, Education, Attraction, and Training for businesses with or without HR staff and departments. 

Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest and fastest-growing organization dedicated to educating young people about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Through age-appropriate curricula, JA programs begin in kindergarten and continue through the twelfth grade, teaching kids how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers and consumers while inspiring and preparing them to succeed in a global economy. Locally, 37,575 Eastern Iowa students participate in programs offered by Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa.

Workplace Learning Connection

The Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) is professionally-staffed intermediary organization whose main purpose is to make high quality, age-appropriate connections between schools, employers, and communities to prepare our region’s young people to enter and succeed in the new world of work. WLC is a non-profit partnership of Kirkwood Community College and Grant Wood Area Education Agency serving in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties since 1998.  For more information go to: www.workplace-learning.org.

Eastern Iowa Human Resource Association

EIHRA’s mission is to serve and advance Human Resources by creating avenues of value for our members with networking, committee and professional relationship opportunities. EIHRA provides a VIVID roadmap of strategic growth and alignment for the diverse workforce and business needs of the community.

VIVID Roadmap: Value, Involvement, Volunteerism, Interaction, Diversity