Howard Dean returning to Iowa

(CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who says he's open to making another bid for president, will travel next week to Iowa, a move that will surely stoke further speculation that Dean may run in 2016.

The former presidential candidate will speak Wednesday at the Iowa Federation of Labor convention, taking him back to the same state where he finished third in the 2004 Iowa caucuses and made his infamous "Dean Scream."

A spokesman for Dean's independent group, Democracy for America, said Dean will be talking next week about the organization's "Purple to Blue Project," a plan aimed to help Democrats win state House and Senate seats.

While the project is focused on five races in Virginia this year, the group plans to expand to other states next year, including an effort to win the majority in Iowa's state House.

A spokesman for Democracy for America confirmed Dean's travel plans, which were first reported by The New York Times.

Dean told CNN earlier this year that he would consider another presidential run if he didn't think other candidates were taking on progressive issues.

He joins a small list of Democratic names with Iowa plans. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota heads to a fundraiser in the Hawkeye State on Friday, while Vice President Joe Biden and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will attend Sen. Tom Harkin's steak fry next month.

- CNN's Ashley Killough and Peter Hamby contributed to this report.