ICAD and Priority One Targeting Potential Workforce During RAGBRAI

Promoting CorridorCareers.com During Ottumwa Stop

The Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Corridor will encourage RAGBRAI riders to “Get Their Careers in Gear” while promoting job opportunities and quality of life in the Corridor during the overnight stop in Ottumwa on Thursday, July 23, 2009.

The Iowa City Area Development (ICAD Group), Priority One of Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Gazette have outfitted more than 30 riders from the Corridor area with special CorridorCareers.com bike jerseys to wear that day.  Additionally, promotional sponsorships have been arranged with Ottumwa and the Iowa Department of Economic Development to provide promotional handouts.

“We were able to showcase our area last year when RAGBRAI visited North Liberty and Tipton,” said Joe Raso, ICAD Group President.  “This year’s sponsorship helps us promote CorridorCareers.com and allows us to talk face-to-face with visiting riders about the extraordinary opportunities available for work and life in the Corridor.”

This regional approach to economic development has a proven record of success.  ICAD Group, Priority One, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette market CorridorCareers.com throughout the year at local and national job fairs, the Corridor Career Fair, through e-mail and direct marketing, and through event sponsorships such as RAGBRAI.

“By marketing our area as a collaborative region and combining the opportunities and amenities available in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and all the communities in-between, we’re able to compete with larger metros like Chicago, St. Louis and Minneapolis,” said Mark Seckman, president of Priority One.  “As a region, we can offer better job opportunities, continuing education and healthcare choices than we could if we tried to compete alone.”

ICAD Group and Priority One Staff will be in Ottumwa beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday next to the CorridorCareers.com Shady Grove Mini Stage.