February 2010
LAIC focusing on information technology, medical services jobs
By Alan Van Ormer
At the Lake Area Improvement Corporation Annual Meeting last month, Dustin Williams, President of the LAIC Board of Directors, outlined a plan that would continue focusing on pursuing jobs involved with information technology and medical services.
“We are adhering to our mission,” Williams said in an interview in early February. “We are dedicated to future growth of the economy and development of our most important assets, our families and local business. It is the intent of the LAIC to foster growth by developing partnerships between public and private entities.”
LAIC’s goals remain the same as they were when Forward Madison was launched four years ago; business retention and workforce development, entrepreneurship, new business development and marketing.
The Heartland Technology Center has been instrumental in helping with this ongoing process.
“The LAIC built the facility to encourage an atmosphere of technology growth and a clear partnership with DSU and its students,” Williams said. “The medical industry continues to grow nationally. With the addition of the Center for the Advancement of Health Information Technology (CAHIT) to the Heartland Technology Center, DSU and Madison have positioned itself into the medical research arena.”
Dr. Mel Ustad, Director, Office of Commercialization in the Department of Tourism and State Development, said his office helped provide the initial funding to create the National Center for the Protection of Financial Infrastructure, a research center focused on the security issues of the financial sector. The research center is also located in the Heartland Technology Center.
“They have done a good job of pursuing external funding from federal government and developing relationships with financial institutions,” Ustad said. “Hopefully, this will lead to both growth in the numbers of people working in the center and spin-off businesses.”
LAIC has been very supportive of 2010 research centers and related activities, said Ustad. “It has been a good partnership between the LAIC, the university and the Center to provide the space for researchers and support the efforts of the Center,” he said.
In addition, Madison participated in the 2009 Midwest Medical Device Manufacturing Trade Show and is currently participating in the State of South Dakota’s 2009-2010 Radio campaign.
“Cooperative marketing efforts with our communities just makes sense,” said Kim Olson, Director, and Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The fact that Madison is willing to step forward and partner with us tells me that it is an extremely pro-active community that is interested in growth.”
The LAIC is focusing on information technology and medical service-related jobs because they have become the hot job markets regionally and nationally.
“Again, with CAHIT moving into the tech center and receiving grants and funding for research, we believe that the research may lead to several opportunities to create and develop new business and new jobs,” Williams said. “Finance security is a key component of DSU and we believe that the work the LAIC is continuing with business development dovetails nicely with what DSU is developing in that field.”
It could also lead to higher paying jobs for DSU graduates. In addition, Williams said with a younger work force it would make sense that the community will enjoy new ideas, new fresh energy, potential for a housing resurgence and an increase in housing sales.
“It will also provide a great opportunity for commercialization of research,” Williams said. “These positions will attract a younger worker with a degree from any number of higher education facilities. The attempt is to create an economic base that is more diversified with potential of becoming recession proof.”