h digitalfootprint web 728x90

Economic Development

EFPreview Panelists

Economic Forecast Preview: What’s ahead in 2025?

With a new presidential administration set to influence and change policy, questions about the direction the Federal Reserve will take with interest rates, a rise in global uncertainty and labor issues that continue to challenge …

EFSurvey graph 2025

How will the Iowa economy fare in 2025?

Each year, we give our audience the chance to weigh in on how they think the Iowa economy will fare in the coming year in our annual Economic Outlook Survey. We asked respondents to rank …

manufacturing osmundson workers

As Iowa’s ag slowdown persists, insiders and observers monitor closely tied manufacturing sector in 2025

On the shop floor at Osmundson Manufacturing Co.’s facility in Perry in early January, workers shape, cut and powder coat tillage blades that will be installed on some of the most recognizable agricultural equipment brands …

DSC 6869

Economic Forecast Preview: What’s ahead in 2025?

With a new presidential administration set to influence and change policy, questions about the direction the Federal Reserve will take with interest rates, a rise in global uncertainty and labor issues that continue to challenge …

Iowa Business Council logo

Iowa Business Council finds increased optimism in Q4 Economic Outlook Survey

The Iowa Business Council’s fourth-quarter Economic Outlook Survey for 2024 shows an increase in optimism from IBC members with an overall economic outlook index of 65.63, up 8.96 points from the previous quarter. That is …

Babies toys in room

Gov. Reynolds awards Iowa businesses $14 million in grants to create, expand child care options

Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Workforce Development have announced $14 million in new grant awards for Iowa businesses that are expanding child care projects for their employees.

The funding comes from the state’s Child Care …

Goss

Creighton Business Conditions Index below growth-neutral for seventh time in 2024

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index fell below growth-neutral for the seventh time in 2024, sinking to 48.7 in December from November’s 49.6. The index, covering a nine-state region from Minnesota to Arkansas, ranges …

Brandon Carlson Cover

Survey: AI’s increasing prevalence, employee well-being poised to drive business in 2025

The Business Record strives every day to bring a diversity of voices throughout Iowa to our audience to help you make sense of what’s driving change in the state’s business and nonprofit communities. 

To begin …

ieda logo

IEDA board incentivizes $20 million in private investment, $36.7 million in public projects at December meeting

The Iowa Economic Development Authority board awarded nearly $900,000 in tax credits to two companies at its Dec. 20 meeting through the state’s High Quality Jobs program that the economic development agency says will create …

Goss

Rural mainstreet index plummets after November’s rebound

Iowa’s rural mainstreet index for December slumped to 41.7 after climbing to 49.6 in November, remaining below growth neutral for the 16th consecutive month.

The state’s farmland price index rose to 41.5 from 41.1 in …