h digitalfootprint web 728x90

Economic Development

DSC 6869

Creighton survey: Iowa economy dips again

A Creighton University survey of Midwestern supply managers and business leaders found that Iowa’s economy was out of growth territory for the second straight month in May. The state’s overall index dropped to 47 from …
By BPC Staff | Jun 5, 2019
DSC 6869

Iowa’s construction unemployment rate falls

Iowa was among the three states in April with the lowest estimated not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Iowa and Nebraska both had a 2% …
By BPC Staff | May 30, 2019
DSC 6869

Urbandale hires assistant economic development director

Iowa native Aaron DeJong, director of economic development for Louisville, Colo., will become Urbandale’s assistant director of economic development in July.

DeJong, whose annual salary will be $99,382, received a bachelor’s degree in community and economic …
By BPC Staff | May 30, 2019
DSC 6869

Report: U.S. visas should focus on economic development

The American Action Forum and the Concord Coalition today released a nonpartisan report that calls on the U.S. government to focus decisions on granting visas on the economic development ramifications, instead of mainly family considerations.

The national release held at Drake …
By PERRY BEEMAN | May 29, 2019
DSC 6869

Survey of manufacturers foreshadows strong year, but tariffs ‘a stumbling block’

Results from a survey of more than 300 U.S. manufacturers indicate that 2019 will be a good year for the industry, according to online manufacturing marketplace MFG.com. 

Overall, business is growing, and suppliers plan to …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | May 29, 2019
DSC 6869

Ankeny 10th fastest-growing city in U.S.

New U.S. census data shows Ankeny as the 10th-fastest-growing city in the country for cities of more than 50,000 residents.

The Des Moines suburb had 65,284 residents on July 1, 2018, up 4.6% in a year. Buckeye, …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | May 23, 2019
DSC 6869

Empower Rural Iowa Act signed into law

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday signed House File 772, the Empower Rural Iowa Act. The legislation, which passed the Iowa Legislature unanimously, was a key priority in Reynolds’ Condition of the State address, and was based …
By BPC Staff | May 21, 2019
DSC 6869

Tariff fallout continues

Reuters reports that Chinese officials have said trade talks won’t resume anytime soon after President Donald Trump contended Chinese companies are bolting to Vietnam and elsewhere because of the tariffs. 

Closer to home, Bloomberg reports the Trump administration’s …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | May 21, 2019
DSC 6869

Iowa unemployment rate steady at 2.4%


Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed at 2.4% in April, well below the national figure of 3.6%. Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development, said in a statement that Iowa’s unemployment has been at historically …
By BPC Staff | May 17, 2019
DSC 6869

IEDA approves aid for Facebook, Vermeer


The Iowa Economic Development Authority board today approved aid for Facebook’s expansion in Altoona and Vermeer’s reconstruction from tornado damage in Pella. The Facebook package included a 20-year local property tax exemption through a program …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | May 17, 2019