Curtis Nelson, the presenter for this year's Renew Rural Iowa seminar hosted by Iowa Farm Bureau, spoke recently in Adel about recipes for business success.
      His speech focused on what defines successful business ingredients, and how they can be created. Participants learned how to assemble a balanced and talented leadership team, how to understand the definition and value of a true business leader, and what resources are critical to the overall success of any business.
      But all one needed to do was look around the room.
      With 28 people sitting around the community room at the Adel Public Library, the Renew Rural Iowa seminar was a success in and of itself. And, in a recessed economy, every success is good news to celebrate.
      "We've had excellent feedback; we're very pleased," Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce program director Julie Bailey said. "It certainly lived up to our expectations after going to the seminar in Ames."
      Last year, Bailey and Adel Partners Chamber economic development committee member Van Van Buren attended a Renew Rural Iowa seminar in Ames. They were impressed with what they saw then, and knew the program was something they wanted to bring back to Adel.
      Most of the 28 participants came from Dallas County, but some came from as far away as Oelwein and Humboldt. Seven "resource" people, including some from the Small Business Administration, the USDA Rural Development Office, and the Iowa Department of Economic Development, also took part.
      "All we had to provide was the lunch, so Raccoon Valley Bank and Dallas County Farm Bureau provided that, so we were able to offer the program for free," Bailey said. "They say it has a $250 value, if you were to pay for the speaker to come in."
      If the program is available next year, she said the Chamber may look at bringing it back, but in the meantime, she is writing a grant application to host a seminar for business networking, targeting biosciences. Other future programs will include a class on writing business plans and a summer camp for entrepreneurially minded teens.
      Simpson College is working out the details for a class to be offered this summer. A date and the topic have not yet been determined. Meanwhile, Bailey said the Chamber is working on a few other projects.
      "We're working on a new web site for the Chamber that will offer more economic development information," she said. "We've also had meetings with the city and investors about bringing more affordable housing to Adel."