Winneshiek County Development might be "acquiring" WCCVB

Two county-based organizations have been holding discussions about combining forces in what's being called an "acquisition" instead of a "merger."

Representatives from Winneshiek County Development Incorporated and Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau had been in discussions with the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce about a possible merger or ways to lower costs through collaborations.

But WCDI Board Chair Mark Jensen says public feedback has led to dropping the merger idea and instead focusing on combining the two countywide organizations into one organization.  "We have an opportunity here," Jensen told county supervisors Monday morning.

But in order to simplify the process, the discussions are now involving folding WCCVB into WCDI, with the new WCDI having responsibility for both economic development and tourism--and equal representation on the WCDI Board for both industries.

One advantage of this approach would be less money would have to be spent in creating a new non-profit organization.

No agreement has been signed yet, but members of the boards of both organizations are continuing their discussions.  County supervisors voiced their support of the process on Monday.