One City, One Voice: Metro Message Training Greater Des Moines Partnership Staff Monday, April 12, 2010

One City, One Voice: Purpose Prepare business & community leaders to speak and promote Metro Des Moines Originally packaged as a training to sell office space Now must appeal to a wide audience and sell the Metro based on quality of life and business capabilities Serves as a press packet on the metro area All materials are available in the folder and electronically Accessible and easy to manage information

One City, One Voice: Rankings Des Moines is ranked #1 City in the U.S. for doing business. – MarketWatch City of Des Moines is ranked #2 as the “Most Secure City to Live.” – Farmer’s Insurance Group First in the nation for real- estate as the “Most Livable Bargain Market.” – MSN.com Des Moines is 15% below the national average for cost of doing business. –Moody’s Economy

One City, One Voice: Ambassadors YOU are the greatest ambassadors of our Metro YOU serve our community by being prepared with recent rankings, pro-business incentives and quality of life talking points YOU can use the materials as conversation starters and point of entry when starting business dialogue

One City, One Voice: The Metro Greater Des Moines has 565,000 residents Population grew by 17.3% since 2000, U.S. growth is 8.8% Projected to grow at double the national rate by 2014 Major industries include: Finance & insurance Technology & IT Government Manufacturing Trade & service Biosciences

One City, One Voice: The Partnership Mission Statement: One Voice, One Mission, One Region Founded in 1999 Economic development organization serving Greater Des Moines area Serves 4,400 regional members, 250 investors & 22 Affiliate Chamber groups CEO & President: Martha Willits Four pillars of work include: Regional Economic Development, Regional Workforce Development, Regional Business Development & Downtown Development

One City, One Voice: Trainings 2010 Trainings: –Economic Development Board –Young Professionals Connection –Communications Advisory Council –Regional Business Development Board Future trainings: –Workforce Attraction & Retention Board –Greater Des Moines Partnership Board –Davis Brown Law Firm –Carlisle Affiliate Training for Partnership Boards & leadership groups Workforce to Young Professionals Trainings for Chambers & Affiliates

One City, One Voice: Future One City, One Voice program to run until 2011 Continue trainings, outreach to media and business groups First measure results after Q2 & Q3 Track number of trainings Business leads Increased public awareness Media inquires & placements Will send updated materials as applicable

One City, One Voice: Life Des Moines ranks as #5 city in the nation where “Americans Are Getting Richer.” – Forbes Des Moines is one of the top ten cities in the nation for volunteer service. – National Corporation on Volunteer Service Iowa ranks as the 2 nd happiest state in the nation. - Mainstreet.com

Contact Information Message Training inquiries: Lauren Burt Director of Media & Marketing Economic Development inquiries: David Maahs Executive Vice President of Regional Economic Development