want to relocate to Decorah--manufacturing jobs? (Dubuque, Charles City: rentals, find a job, schools)

[wide-eyed]

We are strongly considering moving to northeast Iowa from elsewhere in the state, and we are especially interested in Decorah. I've done a fair amount of research on the area and have been visiting several times a year since 2003.

While the area is well-known for its tourism, I am aware that there are several manufacturing companies there as well. I've been chatting with locals that I run into, trying to find out which of these companies are honest and reputable and if there are any that are kind of shady. My husband has many years of management experience, but recently got "burned" by an unethical employer where we live now, and he is really gun-shy now about applying to places he hasn't heard of.

We're not picky about housing (own or rent), we never had kids so the schools are a non-issue, and we already know about the amenities. I am a "trailing spouse" specializing in seasonal outdoor work and will probably have an easier time finding a job up here than where we currently live. So at least for now it's all about finding employment for him.

I keep hearing really great stuff about Deco, and one person said Gemini was good, but that's about it. I'd appreciate any help anyone can give. Thanks!

[LarkBea]

Have you checked out employee reviews for companies on Glassdoor.com? You'll have to register to view all of them.

[wide-eyed]

Thanks for your reply. I'm registered, but to access everything, they want people to give out way more info than I am willing to disclose. Otherwise, it's a very interesting site.

[601halfdozen0theother]

I can't think of much manufacturing in the Decorah area. Maybe some small shops?? Winnebago is in Forest City, which is more than an hour away. Charles City, also about an hour away, has Cambrex, Thor, and Hawkeye. Dubuque is about 2 hours away, and has some more manufacturing options. La Crosse, WI is also about an hour away and has more options.

You might look at Decorah Now: Building Local Community Through Arts, Cultural, & Recreation Events, and the Exchange of Goods and Services to see if any potential jobs might be listed, or to post your own resumes.

Also, right now housing in Decorah is very hard to find and very expensive. It is a super competitive market right now, even for rentals. You might do better to look for jobs in NE IA in general, and then see what housing you can find nearby or within a reasonable commute once you find a job.

Good luck!

[LarkBea]

Originally Posted by wide-eyed

Thanks for your reply. I'm registered, but to access everything, they want people to give out way more info than I am willing to disclose. Otherwise, it's a very interesting site.

Really? All I had to supply was a valid email address. You can get a throwaway one at gmail.com or yahoo.com without using your real name.

[wide-eyed]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

Also, right now housing in Decorah is very hard to find and very expensive. It is a super competitive market right now, even for rentals. You might do better to look for jobs in NE IA in general, and then see what housing you can find nearby or within a reasonable commute once you find a job.

Good luck!

You are not the first person to state that Decorah housing is expensive. The locals I talked to also said that. However, I am finding the prices to be very similar to where we live now, so I guess "expensive" is relative.

We are also looking in NE Iowa in general. It definitely helps that both of us are already used to driving 25-35 miles to get to work.