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Economic Development

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Change needed in job training, development in new pandemic workforce

A group of nearly 100 people gathered Thursday to address challenges facing the state’s workforce and what needs to be done as the state continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting, hosted by …
By MICHAEL CRUMB | Jul 24, 2020
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$10M in housing tax incentives awarded for projects that redevelop properties

The Iowa Economic Development Authority today announced nearly $10 million in Workforce Housing Tax incentives for 19 projects across the state. According to a news release, the program provides tax benefits to developers to provide …
By BPC Staff | Jul 22, 2020
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Iowa City Press-Citizen: Defying Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mayor Bruce Teague today ordered Iowa City residents to help combat the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face coverings when in public places. Those who fail to comply could face a misdemeanor charge. The governor’s office had no immediate response to the order, though it previously said a similar order by Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson was unenforceable because it conflicted with Reynolds’ statewide emergency declarations and public health guidance on COVID-19. Reynolds has encouraged but not required wearing masks in public places.

Corridor Business Journal: Iowans registered the second-highest number of new business entities in state history during the 2020 fiscal year, according to the Iowa secretary of state’s office. A total of 24,481 new businesses were registered …
By BPC Staff | Jul 21, 2020
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Iowa’s rural economy continues to lag into recessionary levels in July

Iowa’s economy continued to lag below neutral growth in July, in part because of fears of growing areas of drought in the state. Much of western Iowa is experiencing abnormally dry conditions as seen in …
By MICHAEL CRUMB | Jul 20, 2020
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Hoyt Sherman Place tells improvements to be made with historic preservation tax credits

Hoyt Sherman Place plans to use $710,000 it received in historic tax credits from the state to restore historical significance to the second floor of the mansion, including the master bedroom, sitting parlor and children’s …
By BPC Staff | Jul 17, 2020
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Iowa’s unemployment rate at 8% in June

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate slipped to 8% in June, down from 10.2% in May, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Iowa’s unemployment rate in June 2019 was 3.7%. “Moving out of double-digit unemployment is a …
By BPC Staff | Jul 17, 2020
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Extended filing and delayed tax payment deadlines result in $500 million drop in state tax receipts

Iowa annual gross and net (gross tax receipts minus tax refunds issued) tax revenue calculated as a 365-day moving total. The time period depicted is June 30, 2017, through July 14, 2020. The graph shows …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Jul 17, 2020
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Economic Recovery Advisory Board’s Government Working Group to meet Wednesday

One of the working groups of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday. The Government Working Group is scheduled to meet from 10 a.m. to noon. It is one of seven …
By BPC Staff | Jul 14, 2020
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Small Business Recovery Grants through Greater Des Moines Partnership announced

UPDATE: This story adds communities that received grants that were not included in an earlier version.  
More than 250 Central Iowa businesses have been awarded grants through the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Small Business Recovery Grant …
By BPC Staff | Jul 14, 2020
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Big losses in arts, entertainment lead to 3.5% drop in Iowa GDP

Iowa’s gross domestic product fell 3.5% in the first quarter of 2020, behind steep declines in arts, entertainment and recreation, as the state shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus …
By MICHAEL CRUMB | Jul 8, 2020