Sibley, Iowa — There’s a new face around Sibley and Osceola County these days, as Stephanie Neppl settles into her new position as Osceola County Economic Development Director.
Neppl took the reins January 1st upon the retirement of former director Mike Earll who had served in the position for the previous five years. KIWA talked with Neppl, and the Estherville native told us a little about her background.
Neppl tells KIWA that she had been looking to return to northwest Iowa to get closer to family.
She says the challenges facing Osceola County are some of the same ones she encountered during her tenure in Kansas City, the only difference being the population difference. One challenge is in keeping Osceola County’s young people from leaving the area.
Neppl says attracting new companies to locate in Osceola County is an important part of her job, but so is helping the county’s existing businesses.
One of Neppl’s duties is to serve on the board of Northwest Iowa Development, an organization comprised of community development professionals from around northwest Iowa. She says one of the first things she did upon arriving in Sibley is attend an NWID meeting with former director Mike Earll.
Neppl’s been on the job in Osceola County for just a couple of weeks, but says she is happy and excited about her work in Osceola County.
