Comment on Despite COVID setback, Iowa economic development chief Debi Durham remains bullish

DES MOINES — Back in December, Debi Durham predicted 2020 would be one of the best years of her decade as chief of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).“And we’ve had some stellar years,” Durham told the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Wednesday.She based her prediction on trade deals that had been signed, positive signals in the farm sector and a rebound in manufacturing.“Little did I know we would deal with a Black Swan event called COVID,” she said.The coronavirus pandemic was a setback, but Durham remains bullish on Iowa’s economy and economic development potential.There are pockets of concern, she said.