Entrepreneur Guide and 'Made in the Corridor' Guide published

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has published two new guides aimed to support entrepreneurs in the four-county region of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. An Entrepreneur's Guide is full of contact names, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites of service providers and resources available in the region and Iowa to assist existing and prospective entrepreneurs.

"Everything from developing a business plan to licenses, permits, and zoning contacts are included in the entrepreneur's guide," said Kathy Evert, president of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. "The list of websites and having contacts for entrepreneurs to get started should be helpful."

The Entrepreneur's Guide is available online at www.lakescorridor.com/work_resourceguide....

The Corridor has also compiled a first "Made in the Iowa Lakes Corridor" Holiday Gift Guide to support area food and visual artists sell their products and art this holiday season. It includes over 30 visual artists plus art galleries and shops where local art is sold and 20 food entrepreneurs. The guide is being distributed through local newspapers and shoppers the week of Dec. 8. An electronic version is available online at www.lakescorridor.com/play_shopping.cfm.

"We have a growing number of food and artist entrepreneurs in our region and this is a way to help promote them," said Evert. "We encourage local residents and businesses to consider buying or giving locally-made products this holiday season and throughout the year."

For more information on the Iowa Lakes area, visit www.lakescorridor.com or call 264-3474 or 1-800-765-1428.