Fairfield Economic Development Association

What Fairfield Economic Development Association does

Fairfield Economic Development Association (FEDA), doing business as Grow Fairfield, is a nonprofit economic development organization founded in 1980 (firmographics list 1977) and headquartered at 101 North Court Street, Fairfield, Iowa. It serves Fairfield and Jefferson County by coordinating business attraction and retention, housing development, workforce initiatives, and community programming. The organization operates with a small team (1–10 employees) under Executive Director Ed Malloy, who assumed the role from Joshua Laraby in March 2025.

Its core offerings are structured around four pillars. In housing, FEDA runs the Sunrise Trail subdivision (31 single-family lots at $29,000–$39,000, supported by a 15-year TIF and projected to enable up to 70 housing units), the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, and the Homes for Iowa workforce housing initiative (infill homes valued at $232,000–$249,000). In business services, it lists commercial properties, runs a Business Recovery resource hub, and supports entrepreneurship through workshops and the CoLab co-working space. In workforce development, it co-produces Laborshed studies with Iowa Workforce Development and partners with Iowa State University on the Housing Readiness Study, which identified minimum demand for 220 new units. In community development, it leads child-care initiatives including the Jefferson County Kids Early Childhood Learning Center (188 spaces) and hosts events such as the Generative AI Workshop.

The revenue model blends transactional, recurring, and grant-based streams: lot and property sales at Sunrise Trail and infill sites, an annual membership program for businesses and organizations, and grant funding from USDA, SBA, IEDA, and regional foundations. No proprietary technology platform underpins the organization; service delivery relies on direct engagement, partnerships with the City of Fairfield, Jefferson County, Maharishi University, Vastu Partners, and local manufacturers, and traditional channels including a website, Facebook, email newsletter, and community events.

Name

Fairfield Economic Development Association

Legal name

Fairfield Economic Development Association

Website

https://growfairfield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fairfield Economic Development Association (Grow Fairfield) is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Fairfield and Jefferson County, Iowa with housing development (Sunrise Trail, Homes for Iowa), business support, workforce studies, and community programming including child-care and AI workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Annual membership program for businesses and organizations supporting economic development initiatives in Fairfield and Jefferson County.
2. Property Development and Sales: Develops and sells residential and commercial properties including the Sunrise Trail subdivision and commercial sites. Generates revenue through lot sales and property transactions.
3. Grant Funding: Receives grant funding from federal, state, and local sources including USDA, SBA, IEDA, and community foundations to support economic development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fairfield Economic Development Association (Grow Fairfield) delivers economic development services for Fairfield and Jefferson County, Iowa, including business attraction and retention support, housing development programs (Sunrise Trail subdivision, Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Homes for Iowa), commercial property listings, workforce and child care initiatives, and educational workshops for local professionals. The organization is funded through grants, membership dues, and property lot sales, and coordinates closely with the City of Fairfield, Jefferson County, IEDA, USDA, and local financial institutions to deploy incentives and financing.

Product overview

Fairfield Economic Development Association (Grow Fairfield) operates as an economic development organization offering a portfolio of community development programs rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include housing development programs (Sunrise Trail Development, Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Homes for Iowa), which work together to address workforce housing needs through new construction, infill development, and attainable housing initiatives. Business support services include commercial property listings, the Business Recovery Program, and entrepreneurship support through workshops and the CoLab co-working space. Workforce development services encompass Laborshed studies, job fairs, and child care initiatives including the Jefferson County Kids Early Childhood Learning Center. The organization also provides a Membership Program for local businesses with networking and promotional benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunrise Trail Development A 35-acre residential subdivision at the southern entrance to Fairfield, Iowa, offering 31 single-family lots priced at $29,000 (7 lots), $34,000 (16 lots), and $39,000 (8 lots). Supported by 15-year Tax Increment Financing and city-sponsored incentives, the project is expected to support up to 70 new housing units and is targeted at homebuilders and developers.
• Neighborhood Revitalization Program Program that transforms vacant lots into new homeownership opportunities through infill housing construction in partnership with Homes for Iowa, targeting first-time buyers, working families, and workforce housing needs in Fairfield.
• Homes for Iowa Workforce housing initiative providing newly constructed, energy-efficient homes at attainable price points (approximately $232,000-$249,000) with features such as 2x6 construction, Pella windows, energy-efficient design, wood floors, and complete appliance packages. Homes are subject to five-year covenants and maximum income caps.
• Commercial Properties Listings Commercial real estate listings and development support services, including the Highway Interchange commercial site (6.17 acres, B-2 Commercial zoning) and the Fairfield Business & Industrial Park with shell building options, targeted at businesses and developers.
• Business Recovery Program COVID-19 business recovery resource hub providing information and links to SBA disaster loans, PPP programs, Iowa Nonprofit Recovery Fund, Iowa Small Business Relief Fund, and workforce development resources for Fairfield and Jefferson County businesses.
• Entrepreneurship and Remote Work Support Programs supporting entrepreneurs and remote workers, including business pitch competitions, educational workshops, and access to the Fairfield CoLab co-working space, targeted at local entrepreneurs and remote workers in Fairfield.
• Workforce Development Services Workforce initiatives including Laborshed studies conducted with Iowa Workforce Development, job fairs, educators-in-the-workplace programs, school-to-work initiatives, and child care support programs, targeted at local employers and the Fairfield workforce.
• Child Care Initiatives Comprehensive child care support including the Jefferson County Kids Early Childhood Learning Center (188-space facility), home-based provider incentive programs ($2,500-$3,500 per provider), child care business kits, and workforce childcare assistance for Fairfield families and providers.
• Community Business Workshops Educational workshops for local professionals covering business technology topics such as generative AI tools, legal and ethical considerations, and implementation strategies, delivered in partnership with Innovation Profs LLC and Drake University and targeted at Fairfield-area businesses and professionals.
• Membership Program Annual membership investor program for businesses and organizations supporting economic development initiatives in Fairfield and Jefferson County, providing networking, promotional opportunities, billboard access, and member discounts on Grow Fairfield events and workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42 new homes built in 5 years, more than previous 2 decades combined
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Housing Readiness Study conducted in collaboration with Grow Fairfield, City of Fairfield, and IEDA. Study reported urgent need for 220 new housing units. Also partnered for Laborshed employment studies.
• Iowa Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to complete Laborshed employment study for Fairfield area, defining which communities contribute to Fairfield's workforce based on commuting patterns.
• City of FairfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner for economic development initiatives. Partnership on Sunrise Trail development, neighborhood revitalization, Brownfield grant projects, and strategic planning. City provides TIF support for housing developments.
• Maharishi University of ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for North Campus Village and Ridge subdivisions development.
• Vastu PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for transforming underutilized land into vibrant neighborhoods including North Campus Village and Ridge subdivisions.
• Fairfield Manufacturers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting events including 10th Annual Teacher of the Year Golf Outing and other workforce development initiatives.
• Fairfield Area Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting candidate forums and community events including State Legislature Candidates Forum.
• Fairfield Arts & Convention CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for workshops, job fairs, candidate forums, and community events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ames Economic Development Commission: An Iowa-based local economic development organization serving the Ames area. Comparable as a community-focused EDA offering business attraction, workforce development, and housing initiatives funded through a mix of public and private sources.
• Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation: A rural Iowa economic development organization serving a multi-county region in northwest Iowa. Comparable as a similarly-structured rural EDA combining business attraction, workforce development, and housing/community programming with grant and municipal funding.
• Greater Burlington Partnership: A combined chamber of commerce and economic development organization serving the Burlington, Iowa region. Comparable as a Southeast Iowa community-based EDA that integrates business attraction, workforce, and community programming under a single membership-driven nonprofit structure.
• Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce: The local Chamber counterpart in Fairfield, Iowa, focused on business networking, advocacy, and community promotion. Highly comparable as a parallel membership-based organization serving overlapping business and resident stakeholders in the same single geography.
• Iowa Area Development Group: A statewide Iowa economic development organization that partners with local communities and utilities on business attraction and community development financing. Comparable as an Iowa-focused EDA leveraging public-private partnerships and grant/loan programs for rural community projects.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity of Iowa: The Iowa state affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, focused on affordable homeownership and workforce housing development. Comparable in housing development mission and infill construction activity (Neighborhood Revitalization, Homes for Iowa), though focused exclusively on housing rather than broader economic development.
• Main Street Iowa: A state-administered community development program under the Iowa Economic Development Authority supporting downtown revitalization in small Iowa towns. Comparable as a rural Iowa community development initiative, though operated as a state program with participating local affiliates rather than an independent nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Des Moines Partnership: The largest regional economic development and chamber organization in Iowa, serving the Des Moines metro. Comparable in mission (business attraction, workforce, community development) but operates at substantially greater scale, budget, and geographic scope than FEDA.
• International Economic Development Council: The largest non-profit membership organization serving economic developers worldwide. Comparable as an industry body supporting economic development professionals and organizations, though operating at the macro industry level rather than as a direct local service provider.
• Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Development Alliance: The larger regional EDA serving the Cedar Rapids metro area in Iowa. Comparable as an Iowa-based economic development organization, though operating at materially greater scale and resource base than the rural-focused Fairfield operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Fairfield-Economic-Development-Association-1534089553474812
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairfield-economic-development-association-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Fairfield Economic Development Association