Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, toured Washington County on Wednesday. Washington Economic Development Group (WEDG) Director Mary Audia hosted and coordinated the visit. The day began with an update at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort and then a bus tour of the City of Kalona including the new South Town subdivision.

Durham then visited Washington for a lunch at the YMCA where Washington City Administrator Joe Gaa provided an update on the city and CEO of the YMCA of Washington County Amy Schulte shared information about their facilities and programs.

Durham shared locally there are a number of amenities and she gave some insights, “First of all, this is a beautiful county, just gorgeous. And the trails systems, and we didn’t even get into all the parks, but it is amazing. And Iowa’s biggest challenge is population. And I say this everywhere I go, that’s not atypical of most Midwest states. We have an aging population, we have slow population growth.”

She also outlined some areas for improvement including increased housing options and further developing tourism locally.

Following the visit at the YMCA in Washington, Durham toured Brava Roof Tile in Washington. The company manufactures composite tiles used in roofing that mimic shingles, concrete tiles, slate, and shaker products, but are made from recycled materials and are touted as more durable and longer-lasting.