The Vision Iowa board said it will provide $1 million toward a $7 million renovation of the Des Moines Art Center. Improvements include replacement of boilers and chillers, expanded vault storage, improved security for the outdoor sculpture collection, replacement of the roof and some windows, additional storage space, addition of an elevator and improvements to make the museum more accessible. Vision Iowa awarded more than $2.9 million to a variety of Iowa projects.

Novecta LLC, a joint venture of the Iowa and Illinois Corn Growers associations, has begun the process of establishing a standard for verifying reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as the result of efforts to trap carbon in soil. The Carbon Credit Exchange in Chicago operates a voluntary system in which farmers are paid a dividend for soil conservation. The federal government is expected to impose mandatory caps on carbon emissions, in which polluters will purchase credits from non-polluters, such as farmers who use environmentally sound production methods. That system is expected to require a quantitative measure of pollution-control methods. Novecta has assembled a subcommittee to study such measures. The subcommittee is expected to meet again in October.

EMC Insurance Group Inc. said it will record an investment impairment in the third quarter as a result of the federal government’s decision to place the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac) in conservatorship. EMC holds preferred stock in the mortgage lenders that are included in the company’s balance sheet as equity securities available for sale at a total cost of $16 million. The securities currently trade at seven to 12 percent of par value. EMC said it does not hold any other equity securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Rockwell Collins Inc. reaffirmed its fiscal 2008 revenue and earnings outlook in the wake of strikes at two of its largest customers, Hawker Beechcraft Corp. and The Boeing Co., RTT News reported. The Cedar Rapids-based company said it expects revenues of about $4.75 billion and earnings of $4.05 to $4.10 per share for the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Ruan Transport Corp. is delivering food, water and other supplies to residents who live in areas struck by Hurricane Gustav. The Des Moines-based carrier is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Target Corp. to provide aid to areas along the Gulf Coast. Thirty Ruan tanker trucks are delivering clean water to a Home Depot Inc. warehouse in Lafayette, La., where it will be distributed to residents and businesses. Ruan and Target also provided relief supplies earlier this summer to residents of tornado-stricken Manhattan, Kan.

Express Employment Professionals, with two offices in Greater Des Moines, ranks among the 10 fastest-growing private companies on Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 indexes for revenue and gross sales. Express Employment Professionals is based in Oklahoma City and has franchises at 4521 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, and 10190 Hickman Court, Clive. The company reported $2 billion in revenues in 2007.