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Economic Development

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Event Jan. 27: Iowa Caucus Consortium CEO roundtable

The Iowa Caucus Consortium plans a CEO roundtable Jan. 27 at which business leaders will discuss issues of importance to them and their businesses that could be affected by the political world. The event will …
By BPC Staff | Nov 25, 2015
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EFCO to receive state tax credits for $11 million expansion

EFCO Corp.,a Des Moines-based manufacturer of concrete forms and support systems, will receive nearly $1.3 million in state tax credits for a planned $11.3 million expansion that will result in 40 new jobs, with 88 …
By BPC Staff | Nov 25, 2015
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McClure Engineering to merge with Red Oak rail specialists

McClure Engineering Co. of Clive has signed a definitive agreement to merge with JFSCO Engineering of Red Oak, according to a release. With the merger, McClure will add rail design and terminal transloading facility design …
By BPC Staff | Nov 23, 2015
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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