| Iowa
Governor Appoints New
Economic Development Director
 With
economic growth as the focus of his second term, Governor
Tom Vilsack has appointed Michael T. Blouin as the new director
of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). His
charge from the governor is to energize Iowa's economy with
higher-paying jobs and business start-ups.
"From
Mike Blouin's work in the Statehouse, at the U.S. Capitol
and on Main Street, he knows Iowa's success depends upon
our ability to take bold steps to get our state's economy
moving," said Vilsack.
Blouin,
a former U.S. Representative, recently served as President
and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where he
oversaw almost $1 billion of local economic growth. Construction
projects currently underway include the new Iowa Events
Center, Iowa's largest shopping mall, and a new MidAmerican
Energy power plant. In addition, Wells Fargo Financial and
Allied Insurance are building new corporate headquarters
in downtown Des Moines.
Blouin
served as president of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chamber of
Commerce in the 1980s.
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