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Economic Development

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ABI survey finds economic optimism

Quarterly survey results from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry today showed optimism among ABI’s board members.

“Business leaders continue to be optimistic about Iowa’s economy,” Mike Ralston, ABI president, said in a statement. …

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Iowa Mainstreet Index falls

Iowa remained in growth territory in March but saw its Rural Mainstreet Index fall to 52.8 from 55.3 in February. 

Creighton University reported that the state’s farmland-price index for March dropped to 42.7 from 46.4. …

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Tomorrow Plan speaker calls for small, simple changes

Jason Roberts, founder of the Better Block Foundation, is expected to lay out small, simple changes neighborhoods can make when he appears in the Tomorrow Plan Speaker Series at noon April 10 at the State …

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Iowa City chamber to take Bitcoin

The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting Bitcoin payments for membership dues. 


Chamber President Kim Casko made the surprise announcement on Tuesday morning at Iowa City’s TechBrew meeting, a monthly event hosted …

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China: Trade wars will harm global economy

China is warning that a trade war with the United States would be a global economic disaster, Reuters reported. Commerce Minister Zhong Shan on Sunday warned that the metals tariffs planned by President Donald Trump — …

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March 20: State of the City Luncheon

Host: FuseDSM, the Des Moines West Side Chamber and the Downtown Chamber of Commerce. 
About: Join us for a special luncheon featuring Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and City Manager Scott Sanders as they highlight …

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Iowa employment rate holds 2.9 percent

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in January, matching the revised rate for December. The state’s jobless rate was 3.4 percent a year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent in January. …

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Recommended reads to start your week

Here’s what my early Monday reading turned up that may be of interest to you:

— A peek at a bill that may matter to anyone who is hiring college grads or who cares about …

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What’s happening with trade — and how does Iowa fit in?

There’s been a lot of talk of tariffs and trade in national and local headlines in the last week or so. The March 9 Business Record (Insider) tackles the very topic with Managing Editor Perry Beeman talking …

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Ankeny lops $1 per $1,000 from property tax rate

Ankeny property owners will pay 90 cents less per $1,000 of taxable valuation under a $133 million budget approved this week by the City Council. The property tax rate will drop to $10.75 per $1,000 …