Just nine months into Capital Crossroads, a mix of technology-based and collaborative initiatives that are moving forward illustrate just how effectively the regional planning effort is working, J. Barry Griswell noted last week. Griswell, one of the tri-chairs of Capital Crossroads, led a quarterly update meeting of the committee co-chairs last week at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center. With a lot of moving parts, Capital Crossroads has spurred new programs on several fronts, Griswell said, among them:

• StartUp City Des Moines – the business start-up incubator now has eight resident companies; six of which are generating revenues.

• SourceLink – launched in April, the one-stop website to help businesses find the services they need.

• eCertify – an online certification process for exporters supported by the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s international trade office.

• Acquisition Inc. – an emerging nonprofit in which businesses can invest in downtown redevelopment.

• GetActiveDSM app – a smartphone application launched by the Partnership to help people find healthy activities and track their progress;

• Plains Angels – a group of central Iowa angel investors that has begun meeting.

Additionally, the recent 7-0 vote by the Des Moines City Council to allow the Des Moines Social Club to move forward with the purchase of the former Des Moines Fire Department headquarters is indicative of how Capital Crossroads planning efforts are paying off, Griswell said. One of the priorities of both Bravo and the Cultural Capital section of Capital Crossroads is to broaden the availability of arts and cultural resources such as the Des Moines Social Club.

The next meeting will be held on Oct. 10.

To read about all the capitals, see the full plan and who all the capital leaders are, go to www.businessrecord.com/capitalcrossroads