The Ames Economic Development Commission and the city of Boone are partnering to support economic development in Boone. According to a news release, the Boone City Council approved a 12-month contract with the AEDC Monday night. It will become effective Jan. 1, 2021. The agreement will tap into new resources that Boone city officials have identified as being critically important to keep Boone growing. The focus of the agreement will be business retention and program expansion and to provide a variety of workforce programming to support the local business community. “We know that the majority of new jobs come from existing employers and we believe working with the team at the AEDC will help us expand those relationships and maximize those opportunities,” Boone City Administrator William Skare said in the release. The partnership will enhance the city’s relationship with the Boone County Economic Growth Corp. by providing additional resources, the release stated. “Ultimately, what we will be providing to the city of Boone is the strength of our team that does similar work in communities across Story County,” said Dan Culhane, the president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission. “This agreement is a logical extension of the work we are already doing to enhance the market to support businesses while working to ensure that our region is an attractive place to live.”