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Economic Development

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Survey: 54 percent of Des Moines professionals say they’d jump ship for higher pay

Greater Des Moines tops a list of 28 metro areas in the percentage of professionals who say they would leave their present position if offered a job with better pay, according to a new national …

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Iowa GDP growth outpaces the nation

Iowa’s economy is doing better than average, writes the Cedar Rapids Gazette according to a report from the state’s fiscal agency that shows Iowa leading neighboring states and the nation in economic growth over the past 20 …

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SBA roundtable finds business owners feeling good

Corridor Business Journal: U.S. Small Business Administration head Linda McMahon stopped in central Iowa Friday for a roundtable with women business owners and state political leaders. The business owners in attendance reported equipment purchases, increased advertising …

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Iowa factory laying off most of its production workers because of steel tariffs

Des Moines Register/Associated Press: An eastern Iowa factory has laid off workers, reduced production and delayed expansion plans in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on steel imported from Canada. The Black Cat …

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Through June, Urbandale development busiest since 2004

The city of Urbandale has issued its highest six-month valuation of development permits since 2004, according to a release. Through the first half of the year, the city has issued 483 building permits with a …

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July 18: Regional Regulatory Roundtable

Host: SBA Office of Advocacy
About: Join the Office of Advocacy for a roundtable discussion of federal regulatory issues affecting your small business. Advocacy is also inviting Iowa congressional offices and key federal agencies to …

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NOTEBOOK – One Good Read: Trade war fallout: Soybean prices plunge to a 10-year low

We’ve covered the importance of trade to Iowa in the last few months, including a piece by Managing Editor Perry Beeman that highlighted Iowa’s strong trade ties to China (where former Gov. Terry Branstad is the ambassador) …

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D.M. prepares to embrace long-sought chamber exec group

Greater Des Moines is ready for its close-up. 

Next week, chamber executives and economic development representatives from hundreds of cities across the United States and the world will begin arriving at Des Moines International Airport, …

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Limited housing prospects for minimum wage earners

A recent national report carried some startling numbers about affordable housing: None exists in any state, city, county or metropolitan area in the country for workers earning minimum wage and needing a two-bedroom apartment.

Say …

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A Closer Look: Steve Shaffer

Steve Shaffer joined Homesteaders Life Co. in 2014 as chief operating officer, as part of the West Des Moines-based company’s succession plan. That move brought Shaffer and his wife, both raised in Indiana, back to …