AMES, Iowa -- Throughout Iowa, ISU Extension supports economic growth and works to improve quality of life by encouraging business development, helping to create jobs and expanding entrepreneurial activity, according to Jack Payne, vice president for extension and outreach.

Terry Janssen, regional extension education director in Region 2, said examples of projects that are having an economic impact in this area include several Homeward Housing Trust Fund activities where one-on-one consultations and program development assistance have helped the regional trust fund get established.

ISU Extension also helped a manufacturer in Garner improve processes and increase production and annual sales.

For more information about ISU Extension’s economic development statewide efforts, see www.extension.iastate.edu/AED/ for a sampling of projects in each county.

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About 10 projects have been reported for five counties in ISU Extension Region 2, including the following:

Palo Alto

• Homeward Housing Trust Fund
• Individual Child Care Providers

Emmet

• Community Short Course
• Individual Child Care Providers

Kossuth

• Homeward Housing Trust Fund

Winnebago

• Homeward Housing Trust Fund
• Iowa Living Roadway (ILR) Visioning for Forest City
• Basic Budgeting
• Free Tax Preparation and E-filing

Hancock

• Working Smarter, Not Larger