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Economic Development

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New state report finds tax credits underused

A new Iowa Department of Revenue analysis found that many businesses that created a lot of jobs didn’t use the state’s new jobs tax credit.


“Among 912 businesses with a 260E contract reporting at least…
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Report makes pitch for biobased chemicals incentive program

A new white paper released Thursday says Iowa is better positioned than many domestic competitors to capitalize on the next frontier of bioprocessing in the United States. How well it achieves its full potential will …

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Taking Stock

And the winner is… newly listed Iowa public company, KemPharm Inc.

At least it was before the first week of 2016 saw the U.S. stock market, led by turmoil in China, have its worst start …

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Dissecting the rankers of state business climates

The Iowa Policy Project has launched a website, Grading the States, that critiques organizations that rate the economic health of states and generate rankings. “While useful state rankings do exist, the four most prominent ‘business climate’ rankings …

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INSIDER: Revised ‘revenue-neutral’ tax credit bill has industry, bipartisan support

At least five Iowa-based companies have projects in the works that would benefit from passage this year of a biorenewable chemicals tax credit, according to a new white paper, “Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity,” released…
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SURVEY: In 2016, I believe the Iowa economy will …

The Business Record is surveying its readers to get a sense of where you think the Iowa economy is going in 2016.   Answer the multiple-choice question below, then if you wish, elaborate on what…
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State prepares pitch for combined Dow, DuPont ag campus

State economic development officials and Gov. Terry Branstad are already preparing a proposed aid package to back negotiations they hope will land DowDuPont’s planned new ag spinoff, The Des Moines Register reported. That operation, which would include …

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Branstad ‘willing to consider’ minimum wage hike

Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday he would consider an increase in the state minimum wage if such a bill lands on his desk this legislative session, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported. Branstad said that a number of …

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December 2015 general fund revenue memo

Over the first six months of fiscal year 2016, Iowa net general fund revenue growth stands at 2.0 percent, with individual income tax and sales tax growth positive and corporate income tax growth negative, says…
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December layoffs down sharply, but 2015 still took a toll

A strong economy, coupled with what appears to be a growing reluctance to announce layoffs during the holidays, contributed to December experiencing the lowest number of monthly job cuts in more than 15 years, according…