Technology Corridor (Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City: fit in, how much, university)

[metro223]

Not sure how much you guys know about this - I don't know all that much myself ... but what do you think of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City marketing themselves together by calling it the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Cooridor? Do you think this has really improved/helped the economy grow in the area? Do you think there is anything they should change in this "marketing campaign?" I do...

I think they should have included Waterloo. Yes, the forgotten city of the area. You may say - "well that's because Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are so close." But keep in mind the Eastern edge of Waterloo and the Nothern edge of Cedar Rapids are only 35 minutes apart. (40 if you're slow) And in terms of business and economy, that is nothing. (imo) Waterloo does have a lot of valuable companies that the marketing campaign could use to it's advantage to market the region as a whole. ie: JOHN DEERE, Target (CF) ... so on and so fourth...

I can't remember who it was - but someone on this forum mentioned how The Eastern Iowa Airport really sucked the life out of Waterloo Regional in the past - and I feel like "The Corridor" is just sticking another straw into the orange. (imo) I see it like this - the three are neighbors in a tri-metro area - and they should use that to their advantage. It would ad quite a bit more - including another University entirely - to the marketing. (UNI)

Well - I don't want this to be too long so nobody reads it, but I think it's foolish that they are marketed seperately. It's almost like they don't want to be associated with the neighbor who had a little bit of a rough past - so they're just going to pretend it's not there. However I don't think it would take a lot to turn Waterloo around, and even in it's present state there is quite a bit of growth economically, so it would only help out IC/CR, again imo.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good way to promote 'their area,' but I think they should have expanded by 1 county North - Black Hawk, rather than include the county to the far south - Washington - in the demographics.

Welcome to the Corridor! - Cedar Rapids / Iowa City Technology Corridor
^^^
Link to Corridor Homepage.

So, just wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on this - or disagreements.

Edit: I also forgot to mention how ironic it is that the original purpose for the i-380 was to connect Cedar Rapids and Waterloo for business reasons. You wouldn't guess that as "The Corridor" is completely focused on Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

[SharpHawkeye]

I've always had mixed feelings on this whole "corridor" thing...

[metro223]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

I've always had mixed feelings on this whole "corridor" thing...

It could be seen that Cedar Rapids is just trying to promote themselves with Iowa City's amenities by unifying the cities. Is that what you mean?

[Deselminator]

Well to be quite honest, while I agree that Waterloo could potentially be "turned around" and made into a decent city, I still disagree that it has a place in the "corridor" so to speak. Yes, while it may be only 35-40 minutes or so from Cedar Rapids, it is mostly rural area in between, where as with Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty/Cedar Rapids, give it 5 years (or MAYBE 10 at the most) and they will all be a part of one big metro area. In many ways they almost are already. There is so much growth along 380 and 965 that the corridor could be considered more literally to refer to the area in between Coralville and Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately despite the postive aspects of Waterloo that you mentioned, it just doesn't really fit into that model IMO.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by Deselminator

Well to be quite honest, while I agree that Waterloo could potentially be "turned around" and made into a decent city, I still disagree that it has a place in the "corridor" so to speak. Yes, while it may be only 35-40 minutes or so from Cedar Rapids, it is mostly rural area in between, where as with Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty/Cedar Rapids, give it 5 years (or MAYBE 10 at the most) and they will all be a part of one big metro area. In many ways they almost are already. There is so much growth along 380 and 965 that the corridor could be considered more literally to refer to the area in between Coralville and Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately despite the postive aspects of Waterloo that you mentioned, it just doesn't really fit into that model IMO.

The thing is the Corridor is marketed by MSA rather than just Linn and Johnson, so there are actually five counties included in "The Corridor." Benton County is included which is next to Black Hawk - so wouldn't it make more sense to include Black Hawk (Waterloo) rather than Jones and Washington, which are almost completely rural?

See the bottom graph at this link of civilian labor force demographics. It shows the counties included.
Demographics - Cedar Rapids / Iowa City Technology Corridor

I do realize Cedar Rapids and IA City are very close ... but I don't know that they would be connected within 5 years the way that IA City and N. Liberty are. That would take quite a bit of dense growth between the cities. I do find it strange however that the two MSA's aren't legally a CSA.

[DSMGuy]

This "corridor thing" is a passing fad, a marketing slogan. DM once called itself the "golden circle" and you never hear that anymore.

[SharpHawkeye]

I don't know. I guess I always saw it as a gimmick...more sloganeering than any real connection between the two cities. I think you'd be hard pressed to find many people outside of the chamber of commerce who use the term "the corridor" on a regular basis.

[metro223]

lol, I guess that's true - it's not something that would stick with people, like it's easier to use or something ... It would sound stupid to be like - "Oh yea, we're moving to the Corridor area of Iowa this summer." - People would just look at you like - The more I think about it, the more stupid the name sounds.

[DSMGuy]

There are probably other places that could legitimately call themselves a tech corridor, but this is not one of them. I mean, compare this to the route between San Fran & San Jose.

As you drive along that you see Yahoo, a big Microsoft facility, Computer Associates, EA Games, Google, Webex and the list goes on and on. A true tech corridor.

You drive between IC and CR you see... North (or West?) Liberty (nice town), a lake, corn, more corn, truck stop, strip club, airport that bills itself as the airport of Eastern Iowa (CR airport) and a huge ethanol plant.

Small difference.

[metro223]

You forgot that dinky Coors facility on the W. side of the road. (Before you get to the strip club) .... As I said in the rep I just gave you - you sort of make me feel "" for even mentioning the topic. The whole "Tech. Corridor" thing hasn't really caught on and I have a hard time taking it too seriously. Haha I'm just contradicting myself all over the place here. That's ok.