AABP EP Awards 728x90

Economic Development

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Ames Chamber names new Main Street director

Kim Frey has been named the new Ames Main Street director and Ames Chamber of Commerce membership coordinator. Frey began her new duties on Feb. 1. According to a news release, Frey comes to Ames …

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Axne, Durbin introduce bill to waive taxes on first $10,200 of 2020 unemployment benefits

Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa and Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, have introduced legislation that would waive federal taxes on unemployment benefits to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and received unemployment …

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Growth in manufacturing jobs boosts Iowa’s economy in January

Iowa’s economy improved in January behind increases in manufacturing employment, according to a monthly survey of supply chain managers released Monday.

The Creighton University Business Conditions Index showed Iowa remained above neutral growth in January, with its …

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Hiccup with new debit cards delays some state unemployment funds

Des Moines Register: Some out-of-work Iowans aren’t getting their unemployment insurance benefits this week because the state could not get new debit cards to them, Iowa Workforce Development announced Thursday. While the agency said in a …

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NOTEBOOK – Six takeaways: Business Record’s 2021 Economic Forecast

 

COVID-19 recovery highlighted the Business Record’s 2021 Economic Forecast panel on Thursday. 

For the first time in its nearly two-decade history, the Business Record’s annual Economic Forecast event was held virtually on Zoom. For …

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VIDEO: 2021 Economic Forecast – First Question

 

COVID-19 recovery highlighted the Business Record’s 2021 Economic Forecast panel on Thursday. 

For the first time in its nearly two-decade history, the Business Record’s annual Economic Forecast event was held virtually on Zoom. For …

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Little change in weekly unemployment claims filed in Iowa

The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims in the week that ended on Saturday changed little from the previous week, data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows.

Overall, 52,664 people filed unemployment claims …

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What will happen to the local economy in 2021?

Business leaders’ outlook on the economy for 2021 varies greatly – depending in large part on what industry they work in and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their companies. That outlook also varies by …

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Iowa’s unemployment rate drops to 3.1% in December

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.8% to 3.1% in December 2020, Iowa Workforce Development said today. It’s Iowa’s lowest unemployment rate since February, but it still is above the 2.8% rate from 12 …

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Raygun owner Draper joins in small business support for national $15 minimum wage

A prominent Des Moines small business owner is siding with federal minimum wage advocates who say that “raising wages is good business.” Mike Draper, owner of Raygun LLC, a popular clothing, home goods and printing …