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Economic Development

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IEDA assists EFCO, Men’s Style Lab

The Iowa Economic Development Authority board on Friday approved nearly $12 million in aid to Iowa businesses Friday, including the expanding concrete form company EFCO Corp. and Men’s Style Lab Inc., both of Des Moines.…
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Nov 20, 2015
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Iowa’s unemployment rate falls slightly

Iowa’s unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent in October, down slightly from 3.6 percent the month before. A year ago, the rate stood at 4.3 percent. The national unemployment rate was 5…
By BPC Staff | Nov 20, 2015
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Mainstreet Index: Iowa sees weaker hiring, farmland prices

Here are some key findings from the 100-point-scale Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for November: The Iowa index fell to 44.3 from October’s 46.9. Iowa’s farmland price index dropped to 28.6 from 42.5. New hiring also was…
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Nov 19, 2015
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IEDA looks to hire state economist

The Iowa Economic Development Authority wants to hire a state economist, a position that was eliminated 15 years ago, The Des Moines Register reported. Director Debi Durham said she will ask Gov. Terry Branstad to include $200,000…
By BPC Staff | Nov 16, 2015
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USDA awards value-added grants to nine Iowa businesses

Nine Iowa-based businesses will receive U.S. Department of Agriculture grants worth a combined $1.2 million, the agency announced. The money is from the USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program, which encourages new products. Among the recipients will…
By PERRY BEEMAN | Nov 13, 2015
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Capital Crossroads looks to 2.0

Capital Crossroads’ quarterly meeting this week brought a range of news and recaps of major developments. Among the updates: Gene Meyer, president of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Downtown Community Alliance, said work has begun…
By PERRY BEEMAN | Nov 11, 2015
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Middle-skills jobs, millennials lead some workforce categories – Iowa report

Iowa Workforce Development is issuing a new report this week on middle-skills jobs, which include construction workers, occupational therapy assistants, paralegals and massage therapists, for example.


The report indicates that over half of Iowa’s jobs…
By BPC Staff | Nov 10, 2015
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SBDC State Advisory Board leaders elected

America’s SBDC Iowa has elected Maureen Elbert of Algona and Lindsey Buchheit of Sergeant Bluff as the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the SBDC State Advisory Board. The board represents all regions of the …
By BPC Staff | Nov 10, 2015
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Iowa Area Development Group wins national USDA award

Iowa Area Development Group has received the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Abraham Lincoln Honor Award for its work to promote economic development. The group, as the marketing and business development office for nearly 250 rural …
By BPC Staff | Nov 9, 2015
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A Closer Look: Mark Phillips

When Mark Phillips was working as a banker for high-wealth clients In Denver, rather than taking them golfing, he would invite them to help him serve meals at homeless shelters. Many, in fact, joined him. …
By JOE GARDYASZ | Nov 6, 2015