FAIRFIELD, IOWA --  

Entrepreneurship was the word in Fairfield at the 8th Tri-State Development Summit Monday. The event brings together 35 counties from across Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois in the name of economic development.

“This whole spirit of entrepreneurship is the future. I think we need to look at that to keep people coming back to the rural areas, to keep people in this area because if you're a really good entrepreneur, you can collect income from all 50 states, that's one of our mottos, to bring it back to the local tri-state area,” said Missouri Entrepreneur John Wood.

Transportation across the tri-state area was also an important focus of this year’s summit.

“There's a lot of passenger rail activity in the tri-state region. Long distance trains in Iowa, and Iowa's very interested in service from Chicago. Of course Missouri's had a long history and cooperation with Amtrak and of course Illinois has a lot of trains, but there is a similar effort or consistent effort between economic development and regionalism,” said Tom Carper, National Amtrak Board Chairman.

Water issues, tourism, and agriculture were also hot topics among business leaders across the tri-state area. Economic specialists say this year's Tri-State Summit was most important one yet.

“Because of the concern and fear that's out there right now, I think it's pretty extraordinary that this can enhance the economy for our region. There’s 700,000 people in the summit service territory, and so it's pretty huge to be able to have the opportunity to tell that story, and tell it again, and tell it again,” said Jim Mentesti, Facilitator of the Tri-State Summit.
  
The event also brought Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, and a representative from Iowa Governor Chet Culver's office to the Heartland.

To learn more about the Tri-State Development Summit, click here.