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Economic Development

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Back in business?

The Iowa Legislature is back in session, and business groups are hoping to push through tax reforms — one of the few big-ticket items they didn’t win last session. 

The major organizations representing business also …

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Event Preview: 2018 Economic Forecast Luncheon

While the stock market continues to hum, new and unpredictable variables present opportunities and potential hurdles for businesses in 2018, including federal tax reform going into effect, changes to the state’s tax environment coming, and …

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Ernst sees Trump opposition to NAFTA softening

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Add U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s voice to those who believe that President Donald Trump is reassessing his position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Although the president repeatedly has threatened to pull …

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Most economists surveyed by WSJ said U.S. is at or near full employment

Full employment is finally here, or at least not far away. That’s according to the vast majority of economists surveyed this month by The Wall Street Journal. Asked if the U.S. economy has reached full employment, …

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Salisbury named SBA regional administrator

Thomas Salisbury has been named the regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska (Region VII). He previously worked as the small business liaison for U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt …

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D.M. council adopts program to combat blighted properties

In the longtime throes of battling decay in some neighborhoods, the city of Des Moines will provide a financial incentive to private and nonprofit groups that agree to rehab blighted properties.

The Des Moines City …

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Public Companies: Meredith Corporation

The past year has been a landmark time for media powerhouse Meredith Corp., which recorded its strongest financial results yet in its 115-year history. To cap a momentous 2017, the Des Moines-based publishing company in …

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Public Companies: Heartland Financial

The beginning and end of 2017 had a similar theme at Heartland Financial USA Inc., the Dubuque-based bank holding company that has sprawled over 12 states since its founding in 1981.

At the start of …

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Public Companies: Winnebago Industries

2017 was the year that Winnebago Industries shifted from its familiar role as a manufacturer of RVs into a bigger player in camping trailers. And the company, enjoying one of its best financial years in …

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Stock Watch 2017

Apparently investors think we have an aging population that’s ready to retire, buy a new RV and hit the country roads for an outdoors adventure. 

Forest City-based Winnebago Industries Inc. topped the Iowa Index list …