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Economic Development

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Des Moines company selected to travel to Netherlands with USDA trade delegation

Alexis M. Taylor, U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, will lead the department’s first regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands with a delegation of more than 50 businesses, …

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Supply chain disruptions, labor continue to concern supply chain managers in monthly survey

Iowa’s economy contracted in March, according to a monthly survey of supply chain managers who indicated that supply chain disruptions and labor shortages were among their top concerns in the months ahead.

According to Creighton …

minority population report

New report looks at economic needs of Iowa’s minority population

The racial and ethnic makeup of Iowa is changing, and by 2045 nearly 22% of the state’s population is expected to include minorities and mixed-race individuals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A need exists …

Soybean Harvest northern Iowa

Iowa Leading Indicators Index records a decrease in February

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index decreased 0.1% to 108.3 in February from 108.4 in January. The monthly diffusion index increased to 43.8 in February from 37.5 in January.

The six-month diffusion index and six-month annualized …

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Black & Brown Business Summit pitch competition finalists announced

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced seven finalists for the 2023 pitch competition presented by Bank of America at the third annual Athene Black & Brown Business Summit. The finalists were selected …

Joe Murphy

New normal: IBC members optimistic despite ongoing economic uncertainty

Iowa companies remain optimistic despite ongoing worries about hiring workers, according to the Iowa Business Council’s Economic Outlook survey for the first quarter.

The results of the survey, released this morning, showed that the overall …

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Struggling ag sector contributes to decline in Iowa’s GDP

Iowa’s gross domestic product declined by 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2022, largely behind weak performing agriculture and financial sectors.

The decline followed growth in the third quarter, an increase that followed three straight …

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Val Air Ballroom awarded historic tax credits for renovations

The Val Air Ballroom will get more than $3.4 million in tax credits from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for renovations. Business Record file photo.

The renovation of the Val Air Ballroom is one of …

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A Closer Look: Jenae Sikkink

It doesn’t take long to hear the passion in Jenae Sikkink’s voice as she talks about her role as senior vice president of talent development at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Sikkink joined the Partnership …

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Partnership announces new hires and promotions

Renae Mauk

The Greater Des Moines Partnership recently announced news hires and promotions. Renae Mauk was appointed as the new senior director of downtown development, with a focus on implementing the Downtown DSM: Future Forward Vision Plan …