AABP EP Awards 728x90

Retail and Business

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Optimae LifeServices to offer statewide employee training as NADSP member

Optimae LifeServices announced it will provide nationally recognized employee training to its direct support professionals and front-line supervisors this year as a partner with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. Optimae’s partnership with NADSP began five …
By BPC Staff | Feb 9, 2021
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Iowa farm bankruptcies up 26% in 2020

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa had 34 farm bankruptcies in 2020 — a 26% increase from the previous year and the third-highest state total, behind Wisconsin and Kansas. The overall number of farm bankruptcies in the United …
By BPC Staff | Feb 3, 2021
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Convention center, hotel project proposed in West Des Moines

A convention center with attached hotels is proposed on 5.5 acres at Stagecoach Drive and Market Street in West Des Moines. The project, which would include a five-level parking structure with more than 1,000 spaces, …
By KATHY A. BOLTEN | Feb 1, 2021
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March 30: Grant Writing 101 Workshop

Host: ISU Extension and Outreach
About: Grant Writing 101 will be presented by Jane Nolan Goeken and Eric Christianson, Community and Economic Development Specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. Both have extensive experience writing and …
By BPC Staff | Jan 29, 2021
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Palmer Group names Lorenz executive vice president

Chris Lorenz has been promoted to executive vice president at Palmer Group, the employment firm announced today. Lorenz moved into the newly created position Jan. 4. The creation of the role is part of the …
By BPC Staff | Jan 26, 2021
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Raygun owner Draper joins in small business support for national $15 minimum wage

A prominent Des Moines small business owner is siding with federal minimum wage advocates who say that “raising wages is good business.” Mike Draper, owner of Raygun LLC, a popular clothing, home goods and printing …
By BPC Staff | Jan 26, 2021
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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Baby boomers are fastest-growing category of online shoppers

I can attest that those of us with more “life experience” are buying more online, but this story from the Washington Post helps back up my assertions. As more people have turned to the internet to buy …
By MICHAEL CRUMB | Jan 25, 2021
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Iowa consumer complaints up 24% in 2020, according to attorney general

Des Moines Register: Complaints of fraud, price-gouging and other consumer scams increased in Iowa last year. Iowans filed more than 4,000 consumer complaints with the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division in 2020, an increase of …
By BPC Staff | Jan 22, 2021
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SBA: 60,000 Paycheck Protection Program loans approved in initial week

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Tuesday that it approved approximately 60,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan applications submitted by nearly 3,000 lenders, for over $5 billion, in the first week that it was reopened, Jan. 11-17. The …
By BPC Staff | Jan 20, 2021
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Updated guidance released on financial assistance grant state tax exemptions

The Iowa Department of Revenue has released updated guidance on the Income and Franchise Tax Exemption that was enacted in June 2020 as part of the Iowa Small Business Relief Program. The updated guidance explains the tax …
By BPC Staff | Jan 19, 2021