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Economic Development

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WDM Chamber releases 2025 workforce survey results 

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has released the 2025 Central Iowa Workforce Survey, offering new data on employer hiring plans, talent readiness and workforce challenges across the region. The results point to confidence …

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Ames Regional Economic Alliance welcomes new director of economic development

The Ames Regional Economic Alliance appointed Jennifer Luengas-Otto as director of economic development on Feb. 2. In her new role, she will lead Story County outreach and serve as executive director of the Nevada Economic …

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Des Moines metro area ranks 100th in Best-Performing Cities index

The Des Moines–West Des Moines metropolitan area ranked No. 100 in the Milken Institute’s 2026 Best-Performing Cities (BPC) Index, placing it in Tier 3 of 5, where Tier 1 is the highest rank. The annual …

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Mid-America Business Conditions Index starts year below growth neutral

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index fell below growth neutral for the fourth time in the past five months. The index, an economic indicator for a nine-state region including Iowa, was 49.6, up from …

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Schroder tapped as Urbandale’s community development director

Rose Schroder has been hired as director of community development for the city of Urbandale, the city announced. Schroder replaces Steve Franklin, who recently retired. Schroder most recently served as Johnston’s community development director. She …

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7 takeaways from the 2026 Economic Forecast

After a year of rapid policy changes, continued challenges for the ag economy and higher costs for businesses and consumers, panelists said during the Business Record’s Economic Forecast event that uncertainty will still be a …

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Iowa Talent Poll finds state appealing to residents, but economic concerns persist

Photo courtesy Iowa Chamber Alliance

Iowa continues to rank highly among residents for quality-of-life factors such as safety, friendliness and cost of living, but concerns about their ability to achieve career and financial goals persist, …

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Where Economic Forecast panelists are bearish and bullish on the economy

BPC President and Group Publisher Chris Conetzkey moderates the 2026 Economic Forecast event Jan. 20. Photo by Duane Tinkey

At the Business Record Economic Forecast on Jan. 20, moderator Chris Conetzkey asked each panelist to …

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Iowa’s December workforce data released

Iowa employers shed 3,300 jobs in December, primarily in the areas of private services and manufacturing, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. Iowa’s total nonfarm employment in December was 1,595,500, down from November when …

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Clinton backhoe manufacturing plant closing in May

The CNH Industrial plant in Clinton will be shuttered in May. The plant makes loader-backhoe tractors. Photo courtesy of CNH Industrial

CNH Industrial, the parent company of Case and New Holland Construction Equipment, will shutter …