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Economic Development

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State awards $40,000 in grants for rural community development

Four rural Iowa communities will receive a total of $40,000 in grants from the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative to support revitalization projects, the state announced Monday. Clarion, Clear Lake, Redfield and Stanton each received $10,000 …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 31, 2026
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Registration opens for 2026 DSM Intern Connection Series

Registration is now open for the 2026 DSM Intern Connection, a free summer professional development program hosted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership to help interns and college students build career networks and explore job …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 30, 2026
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Greater Des Moines Partnership launches skills-based hiring series for employers

The Greater Des Moines Partnership announced it will host a three-part Employer Skills-Based Hiring Series this spring to help businesses strengthen recruitment strategies and build broader talent pipelines. Aimed at human resources professionals and organizational …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 27, 2026
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Barn Town’s steady growth avoids missteps

About three years ago, Pete Faber bought land on Waukee’s west side with plans to build a production facility for his brewery, Barn Town, which had outgrown its space in a strip retail center along …
By Kathy A. Bolten | Mar 27, 2026
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IEDA approves $9.5 million from Iowa Reinvestment Act for Market District development

This image from JSC Properties shows the proposed Market District development, which received a boost today when the Iowa Economic Development Board approved $9.5 million in Iowa Reinvestment Act funds for the project.

The Iowa …
By Michael Crumb | Mar 20, 2026
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Rural Mainstreet Index drops to lowest level since October 2025

Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral in March, dropping to 39.7 from 46.5 the previous month.

The state’s farm and ranchland price index for February rose to 51.0 from 44.4, and its new …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 20, 2026
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ABI survey finds growing business confidence entering second quarter

Results from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s second-quarter Business Survey show growing optimism among Iowa employers, alongside continued challenges related to workforce availability, health care costs and policy uncertainty.

According to the survey, …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 19, 2026
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Three Iowa dentists receive loan repayment awards from FIND Project

Three Iowa dentists will receive educational loan repayment awards from the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists, or FIND program, a public–private initiative supporting dental practices in underserved areas. Dr. Abigail Thomas of Algona, Dr. Darrian …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 18, 2026
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Urbandale continues steps toward downtown revitalization

Urbandale’s plan to redevelop its downtown district — that area between Merle Hay Road to 75th Street along Douglas Avenue — is moving forward with the next steps focused on branding and zoning to better …
By Michael Crumb | Mar 18, 2026
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State announces 2026 Iowa Tourism Award winners

The Iowa Tourism Office recognized 17 individuals and organizations with Iowa Tourism Awards at its annual conference last week. The awards recognize outstanding contributions across the state’s tourism industry, including honors for innovation, marketing excellence, …
By Business Record Staff | Mar 17, 2026