CLINTON, Iowa – Grow Clinton, a newly formed regional business advocate group, has a new – but familiar – leader.
Andy Sokolovich has been selected to serve as president and CEO, Grow Clinton announced Thursday, April 7.
“I have been preparing for this role for a decade. Since arriving in Clinton in 2012, I have felt welcomed and supported,” Mr. Sokolovich said in a news release announcing his new role. “I have developed lifelong friendships and continue to build connections with leaders at the municipal, state and federal levels. I feel that my ability to engage and foster the growth of relationships will enhance the opportunities available to Clinton and the surrounding communities.”
Mr. Sokolovich resides in Clinton with his wife and three children. He has been with the Clinton Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) since 2016, serving as CRDC’s interim president before Grow Clinton was created.
Now at the helm of Grow Clinton, the new president and CEO will oversee tourism, economic development and community development operations.
Grow Clinton was established following the merger on Thursday, March 31, of CRDC and the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce (CACC). The new group’s mission is to promote business growth, build community, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of the greater Clinton region.
When the merger was announced, Mr. Sokolovich was named Grow Clinton’s interim president and CEO.
During his tenure with the CRDC, Mr. Sokolovich has worked with local businesses, specifically manufacturers, to support expansions resulting in more than $500 million of new capital investment into the region. He also helped launch talent attraction efforts locally such as Home Base Iowa and the Clinton County Community Student Loan Assistance Program, according to Grow Clinton’s release.
“Andy Sokolovich stepped up when asked to lead the merger of the CACC and CRDC,” Grow Clinton Board Chair Paula Steward said in the release. “While a strong group of staff and volunteers supported him, his efforts paved the way, ensuring the success of a process 15 months in the making.”
“We have great confidence in his ability to lead the organization toward a prosperous future,” she added.
Grow Clinton’s office is located at 721 S. Second St.
