Debra Lucht of Minburn, vice president of Perry Economic Development Inc. and CEO of Minburn Communications, has been selected as a Rand Fisher Rural Leadership Award winner for 2022.
Lucht was presented with the award April 12 at the sixth annual Iowa Rural Summit held on the Iowa State University campus. The Rand Fisher Rural Leadership Award, sponsored by the Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) Community Foundation, recognizes individuals in the fields of rural economic and community development, philanthropy, the arts and utilities.
“I am very appreciative of receiving this recognition,” Lucht said. “Making an impact on our community and the people we serve is a core value we take seriously. To get state, regional and national exposure for what we do is a great honor. Thank you.”
Lucht joined Minburn Communications in 2006 and was named CEO and general manager in 2008. She has led several successful initiatives for improving broadband access in Dallas County and furthering the work of the Perry Economic Development Inc. (PEDI), including serving two terms on the Empower Rural Iowa (ERI) Connectivity Taskforce, which helped bring $450 million to a broadband expansion program.
Under Lucht’s leadership, Minburn Communications donated the labor and equipment to install a fiber drop to a downtown building and partnered with the Perry Lutheran Homes in Project TechConnect, which purchased and set up tablets for more than 200 residents so they could engage with the world outside of their campus.
As PEDI president and vice president, Lucht was instrumental in arranging for the construction of two speculative buildings in the Perry Industrial Park in 2018 and 2022. Minburn Communications was also instrumental in Percival Scientific’s $2 million plant expansion in 2021.
