David Swenson, research scientist, has had recent media contacts:
Cara Smith, The Dispatch-Argus, "Quad-Cities job growth is slow. The new Amazon fulfillment center might not help," Aug. 29.
“The Quad-Cities in general has not been a standout Metro in terms of growth,” said Dave Swenson, economist at Iowa State University. “For one reason or another you've basically had slow growth.”
“It doesn't mean you ignore manufacturing,” Swenson said. “It's just that you acknowledge that manufacturing isn't going to be your growth engine for the future.”
“Thirty thousand dollars a year does not buy a very nice apartment and doesn't send kids to college,” Swenson said. “Those are not middle-class jobs, those are actually lowering the average pay received by people in the region.”
This story also covered by:
Quad-City Times, Aug. 29
Noah Wicks, Agri-Pulse Communications, about the top ag producing counties in Iowa and how changes in agricultural activity explained their likelihood of growing or declining.
Perishable News.com, Sept. 3, "Small Family Farmers Generate More than 50% More Economic Value for Local Economy, Report Reveals."