IEDA Director Debi Durham will join Grow Cedar Valley for their Annual Celebration

posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in Grow Cedar Valley

IEDA Director Debi Durham will join Grow Cedar Valley for their Annual Celebration

WATERLOO, IA – IEDA Director Debi Durham will join Grow Cedar Valley to recognize the 2023 Annual Award recipients for their outstanding achievements and dedication to the Cedar Valley. The date for the Annual Celebration will be Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Bien VenU Event Center from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Grow Cedar Valley offers a yearly celebration to recognize businesses, individuals, and organizations. The event is attended by approximately 500 Cedar Valley business and community leaders. The evening event includes a social networking hour followed by dinner and an awards ceremony. Director Durham will join John Huff of KWWL to present awards to the Annual Celebration awards winners. 

"We are extremely excited about how Director Durham has shown support for the work we are all doing to strengthen and grow the Cedar Valley", said Cary Darrah CEO of Grow Cedar Valley. "We are so glad she has chosen to celebrate the award winners at our Annual Celebration."

Debi Durham is a longtime economic and community development professional who serves as Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). Durham was named to the position by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in January 2019. 

Durham was first appointed to lead IEDA in 2011, and during her eight-year tenure, has turned the agency into a successful public-private partnership, landed billion-dollar economic development projects for Iowa, and worked tirelessly on expanding trade and investment opportunities for the state. She prides herself on building coalitions, supporting new ventures, and strengthening the state’s industries and communities. 

Prior to joining IEDA, Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Her several accolades include being recognized as one of the “Most Influential Business Leaders” in the 2019 Des Moines Business Record Book of Lists and receiving the Technology Association of Iowa’s “Legislative Advocacy Leader” award in 2017. Durham also was recognized by the Business Record as a “Woman of Influence” in 2016. Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing, and Management from Missouri Southern State University.