The Heartland Developers Conference welcomed over 600 attendees from across the Midwest to Council Bluffs, Iowa, delivering an estimated $150,000 economic impact to the local community. Hosted at the Mid-America Center, the technology-focused event marked its debut in the city and has already been confirmed for return next year. n nAccording to Mark Eckman, Executive Director of the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau, the conference contributes to the broader regional tourism economy, which sees approximately $300 million in annual visitor spending in Pottawattamie County. He noted that securing repeat events reflects positively on both the venue’s quality and the city’s hospitality standards. n nDala Alphonso, president and CEO of AIM—a nonprofit organization behind the conference—highlighted the initiative’s mission to strengthen tech capabilities in southwest Iowa and neighboring areas of Nebraska. Expanding participation could foster economic development and attract larger enterprises to the region. n nAlphonso also emphasized the potential to extend technology education to underserved rural populations. AIM served more than 6,000 individuals last year and aims to double that figure within five years, reinforcing long-term workforce development and digital inclusion.\n\n— News Original —\nTech conference brings $150,000 economic boost to Council Bluffs, returns next year\nCOUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — The Heartland Developers Conference brought more than 600 guests from across the Midwest to Council Bluffs, generating an estimated $150,000 for the local economy. n nWATCH STORY BELOW n nCouncil Bluffs tech conference generates $150K economic impact n nThe event for technology devlopers at the Mid-America Center is part of the roughly $300 million visitors spend in Pottawattamie County annually, according to Mark Eckman, Executive Director of the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau. n nThe conference, which was in Council Bluffs for the first time, will return next year. n n”The fact that we are able to win repeat business I think speaks to the quality of not only the facility but also the customer service,” Eckman said. n nDala Alphonso, president and CEO of AIM, the nonprofit that presents the conference, said the organization works to elevate technology skills of neighbors in southwest Iowa and Nebraska. n n”But if we are able to grow the numbers and create a true technology pipeline, it means that, one, we can grow economically, number two, we can attract bigger businesses,” Alphonso said. n nHe also sees an opportunity to bring tech training to underserved rural areas. More than 6,000 individuals were served by AIM last year and the organization hopes to double that number over the next five years.
