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BLK & Bold docuseries on sustainability efforts premieres in Des Moines Friday

BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages, a Des Moines-based social impact coffee company, is releasing a new docuseries Friday about its sustainability collaboration with SGS, a testing, inspection and certification company. The docuseries “BLK & Bold: A Journey Rooted in Coffee, Community and Climate” will premiere at noon Friday at the second annual Business for Good Summit…
By Business Record Staff | Apr 30, 2025
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$5.7M invested in water quality projects

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing in 14 urban water quality projects across the state. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig made the announcement alongside local leaders Monday at an event at Legacy Woods in West Des Moines as part of Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week. Using funding from the state’s Water Quality Initiative and other…
By Business Record Staff | Apr 30, 2025
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Economic outlook panel checks in on Iowa economy

At an economic outlook panel held Tuesday by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, statewide economists and a business consultant discussed how tariffs, inflation, interest rates and federal funding changes have affected various industries in Iowa, as well as trends they’re seeing in their work. Some of the uncertainty of the current climate, they advised, can…
By Gigi Wood | Apr 30, 2025
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What you need to know from the CRE Trends and Issues Forum

Downtown housing, conversion of vacant office space, adaptive reuse and challenges facing the commercial real estate market caused by tariffs, interest rates and uncertainty around changes in the state’s property tax structure. Those were among the topics discussed during the Business Record’s Commercial Real Estate Trends and Issues Forum held Thursday, April 24, at the…
By Michael Crumb | Apr 30, 2025
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What’s the valuation of data center properties in Central Iowa? More than $3.75 billion, review shows

The total valuation of data center properties that are either fully developed or are in the process of being developed increased 5.1% in 2025 from 2024, a review of valuations in Polk, Dallas, Madison and Warren counties show. In 2025, the total assessed valuation of the nine properties owned by Apple, Meta and Microsoft in…
By Kathy A. Bolten | Apr 30, 2025
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NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS: Hotel property in Des Moines sold for $2.7 million

MVP Hospitality Iowa Inc., located in West Des Moines, paid Adi Lakshmi Lodging Inc. $2.7 million for property at 4995 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, Polk County real estate records show. The 1.8-acre parcel includes a two-story, 111-unit hotel built in 1971. The property is valued at $2.4 million. The transaction was recorded April 21….
By Kathy A. Bolten | Apr 30, 2025
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Hyper Energy Bar founder accused of domestic abuse, child endangerment

Chris Whalen, owner of Hyper Energy Bar and president of development at Heart of America Group, has been arrested on domestic abuse and child endangerment charges following an incident at his West Des Moines home. According to Iowa Courts online, Whalen is charged with domestic abuse-display or use of a weapon, intimidation with a dangerous…
By Business Record Staff | Apr 29, 2025
Iowa Workforce Development

Iowa awards $3.4 million to support registered apprenticeship programs

The state of Iowa announced $3.4 million in grant awards to existing and new registered apprenticeship programs across the state. Nearly $3 million was awarded to 59 programs supporting 5,133 apprentices and $427,800 was awarded to 17 program sponsors that have created new apprenticeship programs in 19 new occupations. Grant funds will be managed through…
By Business Record Staff | Apr 29, 2025