On September 1st, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the appointments of Iowa’s boards and commissions, and Stephanie Fromm, Executive Director of Winneshiek County Development and Tourism was among those appointed yet again.

Fromm has been the Executive Director of Winneshiek County Development and Tourism since 2015. Re-appointed to the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Board, Fromm will be beginning her second term.

Fromm has been instrumental in the development of the new Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center, an expansion of the previous facility Governor Reynolds visited previously. In her visit, Reynolds noted that the innovative business model for the Child Development and Discovery Center was unique for the State of Iowa. Fromm stated how Sunflower’s new business plan for the Center diversifies income to keep child care affordable for all, while at the same time expanding services to the community and to visitors.

Regarding the re-appointment, Fromm noted “I am excited to be able to serve again on the Growing Iowa Task Force. My time on the board has been full of sharing, learning, and growing. I consider this work incredibly important and to be able to bring ideas and enthusiasm from Northeast Iowa is a really neat opportunity.”

The Growing Iowa Task Force is part of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa initiative and was created to address leadership, recruitment and retention efforts, and programming in rural communities. The Empower Rural Iowa Act created three task forces in 2018, each of which develops recommendations for Gov. Kim Reynolds in advance of legislative sessions.