Archive for June 2011
Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa receives $7,500 grant
Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc. has awarded $7,500 to Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa. The funds will be used to support the Retail Skills Training Program for individuals who are vocationally disadvantaged. Goodwill provides essential …
Read MoreInclement weather could hamper rural economic growth
The economies of 10 non-urban areas in the central United States continue to expand, according to a survey of bank CEOs.
The overall Rural Mainstreet Index remained above growth neutral for the eighth consecutive month, …
Read MoreIowa’s unemployment rate unchanged in May
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6 percent in May as the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent from 9 percent in April.
U.S. employers hired only 54,000 workers, the fewest in eight …
Read MoreTransportation commission approves 5-year improvement program
The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved the Fiscal Year 2012-2016 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program. The program is designed to reflect the state’s multimodal transportation system through inclusion of investments in aviation, transit, railroads, trails and …
Read MoreWells Fargo sheds HECM loans
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage will discontinue the origination of home equity conversion mortgages (HECM), otherwise known as reverse mortgages. New applications will not be accepted after June 30. The HECM is a U.S. Department of …
Read MoreSocial media talk slated for PRSA chapter
The Central Iowa chapter of the Public Relations Society of America will host a talk about the techniques used to evaluate social media effectiveness through both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Katie Miller-Smith, director of Catchfire …
Read MoreIMF warns against delaying budget decisions
The International Monetary Fund has cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth and warned that the federal government should take immediate steps to reduce the budget deficit, Reuters reported.
Debt-ridden European countries were also told …
Read MoreConsumers seek discounts amid rising cost of commodities
Value-minded consumers are helping McDonald’s Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as commodity prices skyrocket, Bloomberg reported.
Energy and food costs have risen 19 percent and 4 percent, respectively, since December, and some households earning less …
Read MoreMeredith to shutter ReadyMade brand, cut positions
Meredith Corp. said it will record a special charge of approximately $10 million in its fiscal fourth quarter as it shuts down its ReadyMade magazine brand and cuts 75 positions companywide, including 20 in Des …
Read MoreMetro Waste Authority to host cleanup day
Metro Waste Authority will host a “Clean Up Crew” event on June 25 at the Valley High School football stadium parking lot on Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. From 8 a.m. to noon, …
Read More