AABP EP Awards 728x90

Economic Development

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Competitive grants available for rural Iowa projects

Two competitive grants are available to Iowa communities with less than 20,000 residents, the Iowa Economic Development Authority recently announced. The Rural Innovation Grant Program, which has up to $300,000 available, can be used to …

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Supply disruption worries reflected in quarterly Iowa Business Survey

Iowa manufacturers are concerned about supply disruptions due to coronavirus, according to the results of the latest ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey released Tuesday. “Uncertainty is never good for business, and members are concerned about the unknown,” …

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Johnston business owner named Iowa’s Small Business Person of the Year by SBA

Johnston businesswoman Sabetha Mumm, owner of Dance Vision, was named Iowa’s 2020 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

The honor was announced last week by U.S. SBA Administrator Jovita …

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March 13: Capital Crossroads Informational Session

Host: Capital Crossroads
About: Capital Crossroads, the region’s strategic vision plan, is hosting an informational session on March 13. Accomplishments and current initiatives that are shaping our region will also be shared. Details of the …

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Mid-America Business Index falls for February

The February Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, sank for the month, but remained above growth-neutral.

Iowa’s overall index has climbed above …

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NOTEBOOK – One Good Read: The typical worker can no longer afford a family on a year’s salary

The median male U.S. worker now has to earn more than a year’s salary to afford the annual expenses for a family of four, as published in the Cost of Thriving Index and Business Insider. In …

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Fund would help Iowa businesses recruit workers from Puerto Rico

Cedar Rapids Gazette: An Iowa House committee has approved creation of a workforce recruiting program that would target Puerto Ricans looking to relocate to work in Iowa. “It’s a real, tangible solution,” Rep. Joe Mitchell, R-Mount …

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SBA to award grants for Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training program

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering competitive funding to nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, and institutions of higher learning to deliver entrepreneurship training to women service members, women veterans and women military spouses. …

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4 takeaways from Capital Crossroads quarterly report

Here are four key takeaways from Capital Crossroads’ annual report released this week. 

Water trails
The $25 million federal grant for the water trails announced in November will help to activate a five-mile stretch of the …

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Rural Mainstreet Index declines regionally and in Iowa amid weak farm income

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index declined in February, but remained above growth-neutral. This is the sixth straight month the reading has moved above growth-neutral, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of …

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