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Economic Development

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SBA Awards $100,000 for veteran-owned small business growth pilot training program

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced a partnership with the Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network (VETRN) to establish a pilot training program for military members who are small business owners and their immediate family …

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Bayer supports YMCA STEM program

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines has received a $10,000 grant from Bayer Fund to provide STEM instruction as part of its Summer Learning Loss Prevention program for elementary age children who are performing below …

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SBA proposes new small-business standard

The U.S. Small Business Administration will accept comments through Aug. 23 on a proposed rule that would change how the agency calculates businesses’ annual average revenues.

The calculations are used to determine if an entity qualifies for …

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Iowa Business Council members expect strong finish to 2019

The Iowa Business Council’s quarterly survey of members found that most expect a strong economy and solid growth over the second half of this year. 

Overall, the index dipped a bit, to 63.75 from 65.5. Measures of …

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State unemployment, injury benefits to increase in July

Iowa Workforce Development announced an annual increase to maximum weekly benefits paid to unemployed Iowans and to workers injured on the job. The new benefit payment schedules will apply to people who file new unemployment …

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Reynolds appoints program manager for Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative

Gov. Kim Reynolds is appointing Liesl Seabert as the Rural Community Revitalization Program manager for the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, effective July 1. Seabert will work in conjunction with the governor’s office and be …

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Iowa Workforce Development partners with agencies on Iowa Disability Benefits Network

Iowa Workforce Development is partnering with state and local agencies to develop the new Iowa Disability Benefits Network, a website providing information to recipients of Social Security disability benefits, families and professionals supporting people with …

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Hanging on?

The signs of stress in the farm economy from low crop prices and tariffs run from higher loan volume to farmers barely hanging on to land.

Still, there is reason for optimism, say economists, finance …

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Creighton index shows Main Street growth

Creighton University’s June Rural Mainstreet Index showed significant growth in Iowa, rising to 51.1 from the May reading of 46.5. Anything above 50 is considered a sign of growth.

James Brown, CEO of Hardin County Savings Bank …

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ABI Survey: Growth expectations shrink for third quarter

Fewer Iowa business leaders are optimistic about their company’s sales growth potential for the remainder of 2019, according to results from the latest survey by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. Of the 32 …