Perry Mayor John Andorf presented a certificate of appreciation to outgoing Perry Community and Economic Development Director Mike Fastenau at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Perry City Council.
Fastenau, the city’s director of economic development since April 2019, announced his retirement at the Oct. 18 meeting, bring to a close a 40-year career of working closely with large and small cities in a variety of business and community development-related activities.
In his nearly three years with the city of Perry, Fastenau had a hand in several large housing projects, and he oversaw a significant reform of the city’s building code.
The University of Nebraska alumnus worked with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Black Hills Energy Corp. He was recognized for exceptional service by former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.
Fastenau served as a staff member of the Vision Iowa Board and worked with legislators on issues related to economic development. He has also served on many community boards, including chair of the Newton Development Corp.’s Small Business IRP Loan Fund, president of the Chamber and Development Corp. of Crawford County, president of Granger Economic Development, Winneshiek County Development Board, Mills County Economic Development Foundation and the Advanced Southwest Iowa Board.
