The Ames Regional Economic Alliance Business Advocacy Program focuses on educating and engaging members on key legislative issues and initiatives impacting the Ames region. Maintaining strong relationships with federal, state, and locally elected officials is a key tenet of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, and a service we are proud to provide to our entire membership.
This component of our services is most prevalent during the spring when the state legislature is in session, but the efforts continue year-round at the state and federal levels. In all advocacy efforts, the Ames Regional Economic Alliance remains nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates or support political action committees but provides opportunities for candidates and constituents to connect and share information.
In April 2026, the Ames Alliance organized the annual Washington D.C. Fly-In where a delegation of business and community leaders from across the four-county Ames region traveled to our nation’s capital to meet with elected officials, government department officials, and nonpartisan foreign policy experts.
“Our objective for the 2026 Fly-In is straightforward: to amplify our region’s voice at the national level while gaining a deeper understanding of the federal policy landscape affecting our local priorities.,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. “Throughout our time in Washington D.C., we will meet with elected officials and policy experts to discuss issues critical to central Iowa, including infrastructure, economic development, international trade, workforce, and agriculture.”
During the three-day visit, our delegation was able to meet directly with our elected officials including Senator Joni Ernst, Representative Randy Feenstra, Representative Ashley Hinson, and Representative Zach Nunn. A packet of policy considerations was presented, and our delegation was able to talk candidly with our policymakers about upcoming legislation in real time ranging from housing to the upcoming Farm Bill.
Additionally, the delegation also took a deep dive on upcoming policy questions in Senate legislation with Senator Grassley’s staff and visited the Embassy of Canada to meet with their trade specialists. Iowa and Canada are large trade partners (Iowa exporting $5 billion a year) and it was great to get insights on international policy and trade relationships directly impacting our region. Pollster and Director of Political Strategy Mitchell Brown from Cygnal presented polling perspectives ahead of the 2026 mid-term elections. Chris Kerber, ITC Federal Policy Specialist on both national and Iowa energy demands directing policy targets and Devon Lidz, Congressional Affairs at the Association of American Railroads on the new Surface Transportation Bill discussions impacting rail, increasing economic network demands and regional project needs that could benefit.
Other topics related to our region included the importance of regionalism, small business support, funding opportunities, tourism, and transportation. The pace within the Capitol building is robust, yet many of our federally elected officials prioritized time to meet with our delegation from Boone, Greene, Hamilton, and Story County between committee meetings and votes.
This annual fly-in is critical to building direct relationships with just not our elected officials but their staff as well. Such work can create even greater opportunities throughout the years as federal partnership opportunities arise for local regional initiatives and the ability to partner and advocate for future support. Planning for 2027 is already underway with the fly-in tentatively scheduled for April 2027. For more information, contact Greg Piklapp, Director of Economic Development Outreach & Government Relations.