An important event is taking place in Fort Dodge this week. The Fall Conference of Professional Developers of Iowa is being held at the Best Western Starlite Village Inn & Suites.

This group is generally regarded as the Hawkeye State’s primary economic development association. This is the first time in 16 years that it has convened in Fort Dodge for this significant annual gathering.

Our town and county have changed enormously since the last time PDI met here. The years since the 21st century began have been a boom time locally. It is with a good deal of pride in what has been accomplished and is on the drawing boards that our community leaders will show off Fort Dodge and Webster County to these visitors.

“This is an opportunity to showcase Fort Dodge, Webster County and our region and the positive things that are happening,” Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, told The Messenger last week.

The Growth Alliance’s outstanding work facilitating a collaboration of public and private sector entities locally to build a better tomorrow for the region will be a success story about which many of the conference attendees will want to learn more. What is being accomplished here has lessons that may be highly useful to PDI members.

The approximately 200 conference participants will take part in three days of educational sessions and tours. Topics that will be addressed include the economic impact of industrial development, the role of community colleges, working with elected officials and using social media.

The importance of the efforts being pursued across the state by those taking part in this conference is underlined by the fact that both Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will address the group today. On Friday, Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, will be in town to share her expertise.

Local groups and businesses sponsoring the conference are Calhoun County Rural Electric Cooperative, Calhoun County Economic Development Corp., city of Fort Dodge, Corn Belt Power, Fort Dodge Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, Iowa Central Community College, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Mid Iowa Growth Partnership, Midland Power Cooperative, Prairie Energy Cooperative and Woodruff Construction LLC.

The Messenger welcomes PDI members to Fort Dodge. To make sure they enjoy their few days in our midst, we urge our readers to show these visitors truly heartfelt hospitality.