The Bravo Greater Des Moines (Bravo) board has approved distribution of more than $2.4 million in cultural enrichment grants for 57 regional arts and cultural organizations, the non-profit arts organizations announced today. Organizations receiving more than $100,000 were the Blank Park Zoo Foundation, $440,000; Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, $385,000; Science Center of Iowa , $267,628; Edmundson Art Foundation, $240,000; Des Moines Botanical Center, $195,000; Living History Farms Foundation, $150,000; and Des Moines Symphony Association, $110,000.

U.S. service industries, from retailers to home builders, contracted last month at the slowest pace in nine months, as measures of new orders and employment improved, Bloomberg reported today. The Institute for Supply Management’s index of non- manufacturing businesses, which make up almost 90 percent of the economy, rose to 47 from 44 in May, according to data from the Tempe, Ariz.-based group. Readings less than 50 signal contraction. The index’s third straight monthly improvement reflects signs of stabilization in housing and consumer spending. That combined with leaner inventories means companies might start expanding output again in coming months.

Principal Financial Group Inc. will release second-quarter financial and operating results at 3 p.m. Iowa time on Aug. 3. Chairman, President and CEO Larry Zimpleman and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Terry Lillis will lead a discussion of results during a live conference call at 9 a.m. Aug. 4. A copy of the earnings release and financial supplement will be posted at www.principal.com/investor, where the conference call will be available via live Internet webcast, and an audio replay will be available through Aug. 11. To access the conference call by telephone, dial (800) 374-1609 about 10 minutes prior to the call.

Speed networking will be featured during the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, 1600 Jordan Creek Parkway. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., and the program starts at noon. Advance reservations are required. Reservations placed less than 48 hours prior to the event will be charged an additional $5. Click here to register online, or call 225-6009.

General Growth Properties Inc. reported a $23.9 million net loss attributable to common shareholders for May, on revenues of $218 million. Operating income for the month was $86.1 million, interest expense was $102 million and reorganization items were $15.5 million. General Growth owns more than 200 shopping malls, including Jordan Creek Town Center, and filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on April 16.

“The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid” is the No. 1 non-musical in the 90-year history of the Des Moines Playhouse. Over the course of the show’s three-week June run, 6,551 people visited the theater, for a total attendance of 99.5 percent of capacity. “The Thunderbolt Kid” was the top-selling non-musical in Playhouse history, with $146,096 in ticket sales. The show is the fourth overall, financially, behind “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” (2008-09 season), “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” (2003-04 season), and the top-selling “Disney’s High School Musical,” with $200,481 in sales during the 2006-07 season.