Iowa Market Analysis Training and Technical Assistance

Downtown Professionals Network (DPN) is contracted by the Iowa Department of Economic Development to provide market analysis training and technical services to participating Main Street Iowa communities.

The initial course launched in 2005 delivered "basic level" training and technical assistance to 14 communities. Services provided during this initial phase included:

►	An "Introduction to Market Analysis" workshop held at five regional sites across the state.
►	Development of an exclusive market analysis curriculum and training materials for a 4-part Market Analysis Training series conducted by DPN and televised via the Iowa Communications Network.
►	Consultation and assistance to communities receiving additional technical assistance to design business and consumer survey questionnaires and to help train and organize volunteers to complete survey-related tasks.
►	Survey tabulation and analysis services to compile survey results and produce preliminary reports for communities completing the 4-part training series.
►	Site visits to 14 participating communities to review results of the process and to discuss the implications of market analysis findings and strategies for implementation.
►	The production of an Executive Summary report for recipient communities of additional technical assistance services.

Executive Summary reports prepared for communities completing the 2005-06 market analysis course serve to highlight key findings and direction synthesized from analysis of data collected in each community. Similarly, the implementation strategy outlined in each community’s Executive Summary report provides a framework for the local development and implementation of strategies that are both market-driven and intrinsic to each community’s goals and aspirations for its downtown business district.

In addition to "basic level" services, the 2008-09 series features the launch of a new "intermediate level" course. Intermediate level training and technical assistance is especially designed to advance local Main Street program business development and recruitment initiatives.

Intermediate level services are specifically tailored for each of the eight participating Main Street Iowa communities to build local organizational capacity and to focus on business retention, expansion and recruitment opportunities that are distinct to each community's market. Services provided as part of the intermediate level series include:

►	Updates and in-depth analyses of trade area demographic, lifestyle and economic data to identify changes, trends and new opportunities in the marketplace.
►	A "Let's Get Ready to Recruit" training session broadcast on the Iowa Communications Network.
►	Facilitation of local work sessions and research to identify "top prospects" for business expansion and recruitment.
►	A "recruitment test" site visit designed to help communities develop and enhance local business expansion and recruitment efforts by providing a "real test" of each community's business recruitment strategy and process.