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Two Ames development groups will hold a joint annual meeting for the first time this year. The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission will highlight their accomplishments of 2007 on Thursday evening, Feb. 7, at Iowa State Center, followed by entertainment by the Capitol Steps.

“In the past we have always held separate meetings, and we thought it would be fun and a change of pace to do something different,” said John Russell, chairman of the AEDC. As part of a five-year plan launched last spring, the AEDC hopes to attract 1,000 new jobs and $500 million in new capital investment to Ames. In the past year, it has received commitments for 401 new jobs and nearly $25 million in capital investments from companies it has worked with.

Russell is also market president for Bankers Trust Co.’s new Ames branch, which opened Jan. 28 at 1510 Buckeye Ave. In addition to being among the record 100 new businesses that joined the Ames chamber last year, Bankers Trust has committed to a seat on the AEDC’s board and is the lead sponsor for the event.

“I’ve lived and worked in Ames for 15 years, and during that time I’ve admired how Bankers Trust invests in the communities where it does business,” said Russell, who joined the bank in September 2007.

He was formerly market president for U.S. Bank in Ames. Bankers Trust currently leases space from Hunziker & Associates at the northwest corner of Duff Avenue and 16th Street, but expects to build a permanent branch office as growth permits, Russell said.

The Capitol Steps’ 7:30 p.m. performance at Stephens Auditorium is open to the public. Tickets are $37.50 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (866) 448-7849 or (515) 233-1888.