New homes sales increased more than forecast in June after an unprecedented collapse the prior month, Bloomberg reported after the release of U.S. Commerce Department data. Junes sales rose 24 percent from May to an annual pace of 330,000, according to the Commerce Department. Economists forecast sales would rise 3.3 percent to an annual pace of 310,000, according to a Bloomberg News survey. The median price decreased 0.6 percent to $213,400 from June 2009.

Laurie Conner, currently the chief executive officer of Dallas County Hospital in Perry, has been named administrator of Mercy Medical Center-West Lakes and vice president of Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, effective Sept. 6.

The Iowa Office of Energy Independence has extended the application deadline for community-based energy projects through the Power Fund Community Grants Program. Up to $850,000 is available during this funding period. There is a maximum award of $50,000 per project, with a one-to-one match required. The application deadline has been extended to 4 p.m. Aug. 13. Go to www.iowagrants.gov to view requests for proposals or to apply. Additional information is available at www.energy.iowa.gov.

The Iowa Small Business Development Centers elected Dusan Stojanovic, Bob Hartwig, Danny Johnson and Wendy Mihm-Herold to its state advisory board. Stojanovic is the executive vice president and chief risk officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Hartwig is the legal counsel and lobbyist for the Iowa Bankers Association. Johnson is an associate professor of supply chain management and the interim associate dean of undergraduate programs in Iowa State University’s College of Business. Mihm-Herold is the vice president for Economic Development Services for Northeast Iowa Community College. The Iowa Small Business Development Centers are an outreach program of Iowa State University’s College of Business. Partially funded by the U. S. Small Business Administration, the organization has 15 regional business assistance centers in the state.

Samy El-Baroudi, a Des Moines East High School business teacher, has been named 2010 Financial Educator of the Year by Iowa Jump$tart Coalition. The award was provided by the Iowa Credit Union Foundation and was presented at the annual Jump$tart Coalition Personal Financial Literacy Conference held July 22-23 in Ankeny.

The Des Moines Products Show will be Oct. 27-28 at Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center. The event features 100,000 square feet of exhibit space for vendors and suppliers to display their products, materials and services for area users and buyers. Companies interested in exhibiting at the event should telephone Bob Mancuso Jr. at (800) 475-7469 (SHOW) or send an e-mail to info@showofficeonline.com. More information is available at www.showofficeonline.com.