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Economic Development

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7 takeaways from our 2020 Economic Forecast

The Business Record held its annual Economic Forecast yesterday at the Sheraton West Des Moines hotel. Below are a few takeaways from our staff writers.

Logistics outlook
Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers said …

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SBA backs $71.7M Central Iowa loans in 2019

The U.S. Small Business Administration in 2019 guaranteed 146 private loans for a combined $71.7 million for Central Iowa projects. The amount is a steep increase from the $42.7 million for Central Iowa projects in …

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Iowa’s unemployment rate increases slightly to 2.7%

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly to 2.7% in December. The state’s jobless rate was 2.4% one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.5% in December. “Given the holidays and weather in …

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Indianola receives federal grant for access road for training center

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration announced it has awarded a $627,237 grant to the city of Indianola to support an access road project that will serve a workforce training facility for electrical …

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Economist: Recession chances lessen in 2020, but so do growth prospects

The probability of a recession in 2020 is waning, according to the keynote speaker of the Corridor Business Journal’s 2020 Economic Forecast Luncheon on Wednesday, the Corridor Business Journal reported. However, growth prospects for the economy …

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IowaWORKS expands services at new satellite location in Des Moines

Iowa Workforce Development and community partners will host the opening of the new IowaWORKS satellite office at Park Fair Mall on Jan. 28. The open house begins at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by center tours. …

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Iowa fell behind most states in job growth after Great Recession, new paper asserts

Des Moines Register: Iowa industries recovered from the Great Recession at a rate less than half that of the national average, according to a new Iowa State University paper. From 2007 to 2018, the state added …

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How is the local economy doing? Business Record readers answer.

We asked our readers to give us their thoughts on Iowa’s economy in year ahead – do they think it will improve, regress or stay at the same level? The 2020 results of the survey, …

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Economic Forecast 2020

While the stock market continues to skyrocket, many questions about the economic outlook for Iowa remain. How will trade deals affect the state? Will an election year add an element of uncertainty for investors? What …

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Rural Mainstreet Index begins 2020 on stronger footing

A monthly economic survey of rural Midwest bankers reached its highest level this month since June 2018, despite expectations for a further decline in farm equipment sales and borrowing in 2020. 

The Creighton University Rural …