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Economic Development

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SBA-backed loans picked up in May

The U.S. Small Business Administration backed 17 private loans for businesses in Central Iowa in May, the most in a single month this year.

The loans totaled $4.5 million and were for businesses in an …

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Iowa economic indicators were flat in April; 6-month trend is skidding

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index in April remained unchanged from March at 108.5, following the first two consecutive negative signals since July 2016. However, with four of the eight components contributing positively, up from three …

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Tariff trouble continues: Mexico takes aim at U.S. pork industry

The news hit the Clive office of the Iowa Pork Producers Association before 9 a.m.

CEO Pat McGonegle broke the news to association spokesman Ron Birkenholz. Colleagues in Washington, D.C., had heard that Mexico planned …

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CIRAS to merge with Iowa Lean Consortium

Two Ames-based business resources will be merging to serve the Iowa business community. The Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC) and Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) will merge effective July 2, CIRAS announced …

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June 1: First Friday Series: Featuring Claudia Schabel of Schabel Solutions

Host: Iowa Center for Economic Success
About: On the first Friday of every month, join us to hear the savvy, successful business owners and entrepreneurs of Des Moines share their story. In a laid-back environment, …

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Panel to provide input to Fed on job quality for low-wage workers

United Way of Central Iowa’s Central Iowa Works will host representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago today for a roundtable discussion on increasing the quality of jobs for low-wage workers. With low unemployment, …

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Hubbell extends development agreement for Riverfront Y site, pushes on with condo project

Hubbell Realty Co. is sticking with its plans for a midrise luxury condominium project at the site of the former Riverfront YMCA at 101 Locust St.

Hubbell President and CEO Rick Tollakson said that in…
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Census: Ankeny is 4th-fastest growing large city in U.S.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s list of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. puts Ankeny at No. 4. 

The northern suburb of Des Moines was the only Iowa city among the nation’s top 15 …

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Riding the wave

The push to raise $100 million or so from public and private sources to turn Central Iowa’s riverfronts into one big adventure park comes as the metro area faces many other financial challenges, from mass …

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Treasury approves Iowa 62 opportunity zones

The U.S. Treasury Department has approved the 62 Iowa Opportunity Zones proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Opportunity Zones is a new program that promotes investment in low-income areas. It uses federal tax incentives to spur development …