DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds completed her 99 county tour for 2017 on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Carver’s Ridge in Corning in Adams County.
Gov. Reynolds restarted her 99 county tour after being sworn in as governor on May 24. She held 303 public events in 189 days.
As outlined in her swearing-in address, Gov. Reynolds stressed her four priorities for Building a Better Iowa in stops across the state, some highlights of which include:
Creating a competitive business environment: A tour of Tyme headquarters in Bellevue, where Dan and Jacynda Smith relocated in order to build a business and raise a family. Their innovative Tyme Iron products are sold all over the world.
Developing the most innovative energy policy in the country: A visit to Ideal Energy Solar in Fairfield, where founder Troy Van Beek is revolutionizing energy alternatives to “increase global security and create a healthier planet.”
Educating our children for the knowledge economy: A tour of Waukee APEX in Waukee with Apple CEO Tim Cook, where students draw on the expertise of business partners to bring real-world application into the high school experience. Cook said he considered the school a model for the future and was pleased to see it happening today.
Training Iowans for the jobs of tomorrow: A statewide Future Ready Iowa listening tour with stops in Des Moines, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, where panel discussions featured government and business leaders and centered around meeting Iowa’s goal of 70 percent of its workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025.
Over the past 189 days, these four public events, and 299 others, including weekly news conferences, have allowed the governor to share her message and learn from Iowans about what they would like to see accomplished as her administration is working to build a better Iowa.
“I made a pledge, first as lieutenant governor and now as governor, to visit all 99 counties each year,” Gov. Reynolds said. “I believe it’s the best way to connect with Iowans. I get to hear about the issues they face and their solutions for building a better Iowa. Every Iowan has a voice, and as governor, it is an honor to meet with so many people in every county, every year.”
This is Gov. Reynolds’ first 99 county tour as governor and seventh since taking office in 2011 as lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg will finish his 99 county tour next month.
