The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting nominations for its 2009 Small Business Week Awards. The SBA gives awards in several categories, including small business person/team, small business exporter and young entrepreneur. The deadline for submitting nominations is Nov. 14. For more information, contact the SBA office in Des Moines at 284-4522.

HDR Inc., an architectural and engineering firm based in Omaha, will determine the feasibility of building and operating a tram linking Western Gateway Park to the East Village. The firm was selected by the Downtown Community Alliance, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., the city of Des Moines and Polk County. After the completion last March of the Downtown Plan, a 20-year planning document, Nationwide said it would fund a tram study, which will examine costs, routes, types and styles of trams, infrastructure needs, funding options and a timeline.

Larry Zimpleman, president and chief executive officer of Principal Financial Group Inc., will present at the KBW Insurance Conference at 9:20 a.m. Iowa time Wednesday in New York. The presentation can be accessed at www.principal.com/investor.

There will be no collection of Metro Waste Authority recycling bins, yard waste or trash on Monday, Labor Day, and all collections will be delayed one day the remainder of the week. In addition, the Metro Park East Landfill and the Regional Collection Center for household hazardous waste will be closed Labor Day. The landfill, located 10 miles east of the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Iowa Highway 163, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and again on Sept. 6. After the holiday, the Regional Collection Center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month and from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The center is located one-half mile north of Adventureland USA on U.S. Highway 65.

Principal Financial Group Inc. dedicated its Principal Child Development Center today. The center, which is located at Principal’s complex in downtown Des Moines, provides early learning and child-care services to Principal employees. The center serves up to 180 children, age 6 weeks to preschool age. The 32,000-square-foot center features a tricycle track and outdoor play area. The building is Leadership Energy and Environmental Design certified, and the curriculum will include lessons on sustainable living.