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Economic Development

unemployment

Iowa’s jobless rate remains unchanged at 3.7%

Iowa employers added 300 jobs in July, the first increase since April, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows.

Job gains were in the education and health services private sector, with 6,000 jobs added, and …

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JBS opening production facility in Ankeny

JBS USA announced it will buy an idle food production facility in Ankeny that currently is owned by Hy-Vee Inc. Photo courtesy of Google Inc.

Food processing giant JBS USA has reached an agreement to …

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Speaker lineup announced for WDM women’s conference

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced the mentor lineup for its eighth annual Mentoring for Women Conference on Sept. 19 at the West Des Moines Marriott. The event aims to give Central Iowa women …

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Several Iowa transportation projects move forward

The Iowa Transportation Commission met in Corning today and approved funding for several projects.

The commission approved $9.6 million for aviation programs:

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will fund $6.7 million for a variety of aviation safety…
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Iowa Leading Indicators Index up 0.3%

Image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index increased to 107.5 in June, up 0.3% from 107.1 in May.

The monthly diffusion index increased to 75.0 in June from a revised 62.5 …

GOF ICON connection

How ICON Water Trails, Great Outdoors Foundation collaborate to support recreation while tackling water quality issues

Cleaner waterways, updated recreational opportunities and a boost to economic development are a few of the outcomes of a partnership between two statewide organizations. The Great Outdoors Foundation and Iowa Confluence Water Trails are leading …

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IEDA announces Open 4 Business contest winners, names new Main Street Iowa community

Five small businesses from Main Street Iowa districts were awarded a combined $80,000 in state grants Monday evening after successfully pitching their expansion ideas in the final round of the 2025 Open 4 Business contest.…

sba

SBA approves $14M in Iowa, $4.8M in Central Iowa

The U.S. Small Business Administration has released its monthly loan approval figures in Iowa for the month of July. The SBA backed 29 loans for $14,072,500 to Iowa businesses from participating lenders using its two …

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Urbandale among 2026 Iowa Thriving Communities

Clear Lake, Ottumwa, Sioux Center, Urbandale and Waukon are the newly designated 2026 Iowa Thriving Communities for 2026, the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Economic Development Authority recently announced. Now in its third year, the …

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Mid-America Business Conditions Index dips below growth neutral for July

After six straight months of above growth neutral readings, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, sank below the 50.0 growth neutral threshold …