Ray Hansen, a consultant for the Iowa Small Business Development Center has been awarded the Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa Award. According to a news release, the award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or professional and scientific staff for achievements in advancing economic development in Iowa. Hansen serves as a Small Business Development Center consultant and co-designer of a new business incubator, “Rural Business Innovators.” According to the release, Hansen has been a member of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach team since 2000. He also has been a liaison to community colleges and served as director of the ISU Value Added Ag and Rural Development Program. He also has worked for state and national grain associations, in agronomic sales and service and as a high school teacher. The web-based Rural Business Innovators program was designed by SBDC to improve access to resources for rural entrepreneurs to help create wealth in rural Iowa. The SBDC is an outreach program of the ISU Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations.