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Economic Development

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Partnership legislative luncheon Monday

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will unveil its lobbying agenda for this year’s Legislature Monday at a luncheon featuring legislative leaders. The lunch at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. …

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Latest headlines on global trade issues

The United States and China continue to exchange tough talk in the ongoing trade and tariff battle. A new front developed with a Brexit deal being struck. Here are some of the latest developments on …

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Downtown Ames begins search for new director

Ames Tribune: With the departure of Cindy Hicks last week, Downtown Ames has begun the search for a new executive director to keep what group officials say is the momentum Hicks created in her more than …

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Corridor personal income lagged national average in ’17

Personal income in eastern Iowa’s Creative Corridor area was above the state average but lagged the national average in 2017, the Corridor Business Journal reported. Growth rates ranged from 2.7 percent in Iowa County to 1.4 percent …

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Knoxville joins Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Knoxville Chamber of Commerce has become the 24th affiliate chamber member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The Knoxville organization has 140 business members who will automatically join the Partnership’s regional business members, now …

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Midland redevelopers approved for $4M in state historic preservation tax credits

The Chicago firm that plans a $40 million conversion of the historic Midland Building in downtown Des Moines has been approved for nearly $4.7 million in state historic tax credits for the project, according to …

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Iowa unemployment rate drops to 2.4 percent

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.4 percent in October, only the fifth time since record-keeping started in 1976 that the monthly rate has been that low. The U.S. rate was 3.7 percent. The …

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Retail plan for downtown Des Moines

In a city bent on taking its visions of the future and turning them into something tangible, a new report that hopes to map out a future of retail growth in downtown Des Moines was …

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Rural Iowa growth dips, ekes out 0.1 percent game in jobs

The latest Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for Iowa in November fell to 48.7 percent — below the growth level — from October’s 53.5. 

Anything above 50 is considered a sign of growth. The overall …

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SBA backs $6.8 million in Central Iowa loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration backed 16 private loans to Central Iowa businesses in October, the second-highest total this year next to May’s 17.

The businesses that took out loans approved by the SBA in …