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Economic Development

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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 …
By KATE HAYDEN | Feb 26, 2020
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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 …
By BPC Staff | Feb 25, 2020
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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. …
By BPC Staff | Feb 21, 2020
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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 …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Feb 21, 2020
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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 …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Feb 21, 2020
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Iowa City Chamber rebrands to Iowa City Area Business Partnership

Corridor Business Journal: On an evening dedicated to telling stories, the organization formerly known as the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce announced it would write itself a new one. The newly rebranded Iowa City …
By BPC Staff | Feb 17, 2020
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Five Threats to Watch

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 …
By CHRIS CONETZKEY | Feb 14, 2020
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Registration opens for 2020 Iowa Rural Summit

Registration is open for the Iowa Rural Summit, to be held April 29 to May 1 at the Hotel Kirkwood at Kirkwood Community College. The summit is sponsored by the Iowa Rural Development Council, a …
By BPC Staff | Feb 12, 2020
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SBA backs $2.1M Central Iowa loans in January

The U.S. Small Business Administration in January backed $2,179,500 in Central Iowa loans. 

Those eight loans are expected to create 78 new jobs and retain 35. Two of the top loans went to: 

2100 NE…
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Feb 12, 2020
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Central Iowa Boy Scouts host inaugural STEM employment summit

The Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host its inaugural “Workforce Development in Iowa — Bridging the Career Awareness Gap,” a career and education summit designed to bring in the state’s advanced …
By BPC Staff | Feb 11, 2020