About Joe Raso

In November 2000, Joe Raso joined the Iowa City Area Development Group as president. Since then he has witnessed remarkable growth in the area and led some unique partnering to benefit economic development.

Raso is a member of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Area Chamber’s Economic Growth Committee, The Workplace Learning Connection Advisory Council and the Iowa City Community School District’s Facilities Advisory Committee and Comprehensive Strategic Planning Commission.
 

A native Iowan, Raso has lived and worked in Eastern Iowa communities where he created cooperative agreements that have positively influenced and shaped those areas. Prior to joining the Iowa City Area Development Group, Raso served as director of economic development for Delaware County, Iowa, and was honored by Governor Tom Vilsack for his comprehensive workforce development and value-added agriculture programs. He was also director of the Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mainstreet Program.
 

Raso received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. His post graduate work focused on economic development, emphasizing state and local government.