Development Zone Council

The Development Zone office provides technical support and business assistance to connect new and existing businesses to the appropriate resources to meet their needs. Iron County along with cities, towns, chambers, utilities, banks and the development corporation all contribute to fund economic development activities in the county. Working together creates a unified approach to accomplish economic development projects. The Development Zone also participates in many community development projects to make Iron County, WI more attractive for business development.

Iron County Resource Development Association, Inc.

The ICRDA operates with a volunteer board of directors under Wisconsin’s non-profit corporation law to promote development by assisting in site development, financing and working with local units of government. The ICRDA was formed in 1963 and assisted in forming the Hurley Industrial Park in 1979 with an initial investment of $40,000 to leverage $90,000 in grants. Additional investments and grants have been made for the parks expansion.

Development Zone and ICRDA staff serves on other Boards

Iron County is represented on several other boards and committees around northwest Wisconsin which deal with economic development efforts. They include: Northwest Wisconsin Regional Economic Development Fund; Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board; Northwest Wisconsin Tourism (ITBEC); Northwoods Rail Transit Commission; Iron County Mining Impact Board; Wisconsin Investment and Local Impact Fund Board; Northwest Wisconsin Business Conference Committee; Visions-a regional economic development effort; Iron County Broadband Committee.

Tourism Marketing

The tourism industry is a big part of Iron County’s economy by providing one in five jobs. For this reason the county has helped promote the area to attract visitors to increase spending and job creation as an economic development tool. The Development Zone has partnered with the Hurley and Mercer Chambers of Commerce to promote the county as a place to visit. The partnership has allowed Iron County to get a bigger bang for the dollar when advertising.