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Economic Development

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Volunteer Iowa to equip and staff mobile response unit

Volunteer Iowa has allocated $400,000 in state and federal funding to equip and staff a mobile response unit that will make critical repairs to tornado-damaged homes in Marshalltown, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced. The mobile response …

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NOTEBOOK – One Good Read: Why some Amazon workers aren’t happy about their raise

Last week Amazon grabbed many headlines and some positive press with its news it was raising workers’ pay to $15 an hour. Sounds great. It turns out we should look for the details. The New York …

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SBA backs eight Central Iowa loans in September

The U.S. Small Business Administration backed eight private loans to Central Iowa businesses in September. 

The loans for a combined $2.2 million were for projects expected to create seven jobs and retain 29.


None of …

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Insurance accelerator wins international award

The Greater Des Moines Partnership received a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award for the Global Insurance Accelerator in the category of Multi Year Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council on Tuesday in …

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Greater Des Moines is drawing people from Omaha, returnees

Greater Des Moines is drawing residents from Omaha, rural Iowa and, in the case of former residents returning, from all over the country, consultant-with-data James Chung told the Tomorrow Plan Speaker Series today. 

His presentation …

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IEDA backs wind-energy storage projects

The Iowa Economic Development Authority has granted a $200,000 grant to Fairfield-based Ideal Energy for two projects to study storing wind energy in batteries, the Energy News Network reported. The Fairfield company will pass information along to …

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NOTEBOOK: One Good Read – U.S., Canada and Mexico just reached a sweeping new NAFTA deal. Here’s what’s in it.

Forget NAFTA, remember USMCA. That’s the acronym for the new trade deal struck with Canada and Mexico on Sunday. It’s been a monthslong process to get to this point. If you want to know what …

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Creighton Midwest index slips but still positive

Creighton University’s index of Midwest economic strength in nine Midwest and Plains states slipped to 57.5 in September, down from 61.1 the month before. That is still well into growth; anything above 50 is positive. Creighton …

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Iowa leads nation in use of special tax districts for development

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa is the most prolific user in the nation of tax increment financing to spark economic development but is “modest” in borrowing against the proceeds, according to a new national report. Iowa …

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IBC survey: Iowa economy best in 10 years

The Iowa Business Council’s quarterly survey of its members found the highest overall index in a decade. 

The capital spending index also was the highest in 10 years.

The results show optimism about the Iowa economy, …

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