BCS 113GG
- (319) 236-8123
- james.hoelscher@uni.edu
James Hoelscher
Senior Program Manager, IDM
Education
Communications and Public Relations, 1991
UNI; Master of Public Policy, 2002
Responsibilities
James Hoelscher, Program Manager at UNI’s Institute for Decision Making, provides consultation and facilitation to rural/urban community and economic development organizations undertaking strategic planning and applied research. James facilitates community-wide strategic planning, visioning and program development related to business retention, industry recruitment, entrepreneurship, marketing, workforce development, tourism and organizational management. He is the principal investigator for UNI’s Economic Development Administration awarded University Center and serves as the Director of the Heartland Economic Development Course. James is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Association.
Professional Accomplishments
James’ economic and community development experience includes serving as the Northeast Iowa STEM Hub Manager for the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council; managing video production and resource development for UNI’s Center for Teaching and Learning Mathematics; counseling and teaching small business owners through UNI’s Center for Business Growth and Innovation-SBDC; and developing workforce and economic development related program for communities and immigrant/refugee newcomers through UNI’s New Iowans Program. James has also served as a national account executive and video production manager for EdgeCore Marketing.
Latest News & Views

Serial entrepreneur got his start at UNI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Travis Steffen remembers the first time he contemplated building a business. An undergraduate student, he was sitting in his dorm room at Dancer Hall, chatting with his two roommates. They wanted to make bed lofts and sell them to incoming students. They calculated a $10,000 profit, life-changing money in college. Although they later found out UNI already contracted with a bed loft company and dropped the idea, Steffen couldn’t shake the potential.

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College is an exciting time in your life, but don’t spend all four years merely enjoying it – you should take advantage of this time to determine exactly what you want to do with your life. This article will help you decide how to choose your college major that fits your long-term goals.

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UNI releases new COVID-19 dashboard
The University of Northern Iowa today begins its release of COVID-19 test results. This routinely updated aggregate data, shared in a way that protects individuals’ privacy, is available here. The dashboard will be updated each Friday and Monday. “Timely, accurate information is a powerful tool for fighting COVID-19, and we believe everyone in the community deserves to have access to it as we work together to stop this virus,” said President Mark A. Nook.

UNI Center for Business Growth and Innovation Receives Kauffman Grant to Assist Rural Iowa Business Owners
The University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Business Growth and Innovation (CBGI) has been selected for grant funding through the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s 2020 Heartland Challenge.