May 30, 2001
GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP EMBARKS ON “D.C. ODYSSEY” LOBBYING TRIP

GREATER DES MOINES – More than 110 local community and business leaders will gather in Washington D.C. June 13-15, 2001, to lobby for legislation that benefits Iowa. The agenda is structured to advance three themes: advocacy, education and networking.

“Our mission is to promote economic development policies that serve Greater Des Moines and enhance Iowa’s position in the global economy,” said 2001 Partnership Chair, John Forsyth, Chairman and CEO of Wellmark, Inc.

This year’s focus will be on four priorities:

  1. Biotechnology – secure funding for the new National Facility for USDA Animal Health
  2. Education – begin 5-year strategy to increase federal commitment to education from two percent of the federal budget to five percent
  3. Transportation – purchase of over 40 new buses for the Des Moines Metopolitan Transit Authority to provide relief during restructuring of I-235
  4. Technology – acquire second year funding for the Iowa Technology Center at Camp Dodge
“We want to secure federal funds for projects in Central Iowa while learning more about how federal policy initiatives affect our members and our local economy,” said Mike Blouin, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “We will also take the opportunity to network with each other, international trade representatives and governmental representatives to expand business opportunities for our Partnership members.”

2001 D.C. Odyssey Event Schedule:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2001
12:30 p.m. – “Insiders View on the Bush Administration” presentation
2:15 p.m. – White House Briefing on education and Trade
*****3:30 p.m. – Satellite media briefing with Senator Grassley (coordinates for this interview will be available closer to the event)
6 p.m. – New View Reception uniting former Iowans, entertainment by the Nadas
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001
8 a.m. – Congressional leadership breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Business issues session/local government session
12 p.m. – Congressional leadership luncheon
1:30 p.m. – Small group meetings with Departments of Agriculture, Education, Transportation, and Defense
5 p.m. – Iowa delegation update
6:30 p.m. – Dinner with trade delegation at Chinese Embassy
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2001
8 a.m. – Congressional staff breakfast
9:30 a.m. – Facilitated discussion of the regional agenda
11:30 a.m. – Biotechnology luncheon
The Partnership delegation will depart from Des Moines International Airport June 13 at 8 a.m. and will return at 5:30 p.m. on June 15. To arrange interviews before, during or after the trip, please contact Nicole Hinton at (515) 286-4966 at the Partnership.