Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

What Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance does

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance (GFDGA) is a nonprofit economic and community development organization headquartered at 24 N 9th Street, Suite A, Fort Dodge, Iowa, serving the Fort Dodge and Webster County region. Formed in 2012 through the merger of the Development Corporation of Fort Dodge/Webster County and the Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce, the organization unifies regional business advocacy, networking, and development services under a single entity. Its mission is to coordinate accountable economic and community development to enhance quality of life in Fort Dodge and the region.

The organization operates a portfolio of membership-based and event-based programs: the Growth Alliance Membership Program, Leadership Fort Dodge (a 9-month program limited to 28 participants at $500 registration), Junior Leadership Fort Dodge for high school juniors, the Annual Dinner with multi-tier sponsorships ($500-$5,000), the Annual Golf Outing, Member Meet & Eat luncheons, Leading Ladies networking events, and Young Professionals events. Content products include The Alliance Connection podcast (released biweekly), the Business Connections magazine, a Jobs Board, and the LocationOne Information System (LOIS) database for commercial and industrial property listings. The organization also conducts annual advocacy trips to Washington D.C. alongside city and county leadership.

Revenue derives from recurring membership dues, corporate event sponsorships, individual event ticket sales, and program registration fees. The organization is led by CEO Astra Ferris with a six-person staff including a Community Engagement Director, Economic Development Director, Operations Coordinator, Marketing Specialist, and Administrative Assistant, and is governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives from over 40 member businesses and organizations, including Availa Bank, Cargill, UnityPoint Health, Iowa Central Community College, Nestle Purina PetCare, MidAmerican Energy, and NEW Cooperative.

Name

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

Legal name

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

Website

https://greaterfortdodge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is a nonprofit economic and community development organization in Fort Dodge, Iowa, serving local businesses through membership programs, leadership development, networking events, advocacy, and site-selection services for the Fort Dodge/Webster County region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Dodge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Local businesses and organizations pay membership fees to join the Growth Alliance and gain access to networking events, advocacy, and promotional opportunities.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various tiers (Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,500, Silver $1,000, Bronze $500) for the Annual Dinner and other events.
3. Event Tickets: Individual tickets sold for events such as the Annual Dinner ($60 per person) and workshop with Joey Coleman.
4. Leadership Program Registration: Registration fees for Leadership Fort Dodge program ($500) covering class materials, food, transportation, orientation, and graduation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is a membership-based nonprofit economic and community development organization that recruits local business members, delivers networking events (Annual Dinner, Golf Outing, Member Meet & Eat), runs leadership development programs (Leadership Fort Dodge, Junior Leadership Fort Dodge), conducts advocacy trips to Washington D.C., and provides site selection assistance through the LocationOne Information System (LOIS) property database for businesses evaluating Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa.

Product overview

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is an economic and community development organization formed in 2012 through a merger of the Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce. The organization operates a multi-faceted platform consisting of membership programs, leadership development programs (Leadership Fort Dodge and Junior Leadership Fort Dodge), community events (Annual Dinner, Golf Outing, Member Meet & Eat, Leading Ladies), publications (Business Connections magazine), a podcast (The Alliance Connection), a jobs board, and a property database (LOIS). The portfolio centers on economic development advocacy, business networking, workforce development, and regional promotion for Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Alliance Connection: Official podcast of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance featuring weekly conversations with people, businesses, and organizations driving progress in Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa.
• Leadership Fort Dodge
• Junior Leadership Fort Dodge

Products and services

• Growth Alliance Membership Program A membership program that gives local and regional businesses access to networking events, advocacy representation, promotional opportunities, and the regional business community of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.
• Leadership Fort Dodge Program A 9-month leadership development program running September through May with monthly full-day sessions covering community topics including history, healthcare, government, business, and education. Limited to 28 participants with a $500 registration fee covering class materials, food, transportation, orientation, and graduation.
• Junior Leadership Fort Dodge Program A youth leadership program for high school juniors providing educational experiences about the Fort Dodge region including economic development, recreation, arts, healthcare, civic engagement, and local government.
• Site Selection Resources (LocationOne Information System) A database-driven service for site selectors and expanding businesses providing access to commercial and industrial property listings, business incentives, infrastructure/transportation data, workforce/training resources, and certified industrial park information for the Greater Fort Dodge region.
• Annual Awards Dinner Event A premier annual networking event featuring keynote speakers, awards (Catalyst Award, Volunteer of the Year Award, Emerging Leader Award), and tiered corporate sponsorship opportunities (Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,500, Silver $1,000, Bronze $500) plus individual tickets at $60 per person.
• Annual Golf Outing The 57th Annual GFDGA Golf Outing, a member networking event providing sponsorship and participation opportunities for regional businesses.
• Member Meet & Eat Luncheons Quarterly networking luncheons featuring Q&A sessions with City and County leaders for member businesses.
• Leading Ladies Events Networking events celebrating inspiring stories of women in the Fort Dodge community and fostering supportive connections among female professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ member businesses represented on Board of Directors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Webster CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Strong regional partnership with Webster County including Supervisor Austin Hayek serving on the Board of Directors. Joint advocacy efforts to Washington D.C. covering infrastructure, workforce development, and economic priorities.
• City of Fort DodgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026City of Fort Dodge partners with the Growth Alliance, with Mayor David Flattery and City Manager David Fierke participating in advocacy trips and economic development initiatives.
• Iowa Central Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Critical educational partner with President Dr. Jesse Ulrich serving as At-Large Board Member. Joint workforce development advocacy and technical education program support.
• McClure EngineeringminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026Engineering firm participating in Washington D.C. advocacy delegation to discuss infrastructure needs and regional development projects.
• Snyder & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026Engineering and planning firm participating in the regional delegation to Washington D.C. for advocacy on infrastructure and development projects.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023USDA Rural Development State Director Theresa Greenfield met with Growth Alliance CEO Astra Ferris and regional leaders at Iowa Central Community College to discuss economic development priorities and rural development opportunities.
• Fort FrenzyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for the Annual Dinner event held at Fort Frenzy (3232 1st Ave South, Fort Dodge, IA 50501).
• Iowa Community College Consortium (ICCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSession sponsor for the Leadership Fort Dodge program, supporting leadership development across Iowa community colleges.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance: Cedar Rapids' combined chamber of commerce and economic development organization. Operates membership programs, advocacy, leadership programs, and site selection services in a comparable Midwestern regional model.
• Greater Des Moines Partnership: Iowa's largest unified chamber and economic development organization, combining business membership, advocacy, talent attraction, and site selection under one roof—directly comparable to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance's merged structure.
• Iowa City Area Business Partnership: Regional chamber/economic development organization serving Iowa City and Johnson County with business advocacy, networking events, and leadership programs—comparable in mission and operating model to the Growth Alliance.
• Lincoln Chamber of Commerce: Nebraska regional chamber delivering membership, advocacy, leadership development, and economic development—comparable to the Growth Alliance's integrated chamber-plus-development mandate.
• Ames Chamber of Commerce: Mid-sized Iowa chamber offering membership, events, advocacy, and economic development support for the Ames region. Comparable in scale and program mix to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.
• Sioux City Chamber of Commerce: Western Iowa chamber offering business membership, events, leadership programs, and economic development for the Siouxland region. Similar scale and service model to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.
• Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce: Bi-state regional chamber providing business advocacy, networking, leadership programs, and economic development for the Quad Cities region—mirrors the Growth Alliance's combined chamber/EDO service stack.
• Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional Iowa chamber combining membership, events, and economic development programming for the Dubuque area. Closely comparable to the Growth Alliance in structure and Midwestern regional focus.

Broad incumbents

• Iowa Economic Development Authority: State-level Iowa economic development agency coordinating incentive programs and site selection across all regions including Fort Dodge. Relevant as a broader incumbent the Growth Alliance partners with and complements.

Others

• International Economic Development Council: National professional association for the economic development profession. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and peer network for the Growth Alliance's economic development director and leadership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GreaterFortDodgeGrowthAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-fort-dodge-growth-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/growthalliancefd
• TikToktiktok.com/@greaterfortdodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance