Iowa was one of the top four states to increase nonfarm payroll employment last month, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report released today. Of the 19 states that added jobs in November, Iowa and Arizona tied with 4,300. Iowa also had the second largest month-over-month percentage increase in employment in November from October, at 0.3 percent. Alaska was No. 1 with an increase of 0.5 percent. According to the report, Michigan recorded the highest seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate at 14.7 percent in November. All states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant increases in their jobless rates on a year-over-year basis. Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate changed to 6.7 percent last month from 4.3 percent in November 2008. There were 113,100 unemployed Iowans last month, compared with 72,800 in November 2008. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 10 percent in November from 10.2 percent in October, as employers cut the smallest number of jobs since the recession began.

Marsh Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire HSBC Insurance Brokers Ltd., a subsidiary of HSBC Bank. Marsh, using a combination of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. stock and cash, will pay 135 million British pounds ($217 million) for HSBC, one of the largest financial institutions in the world. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. Marsh is also forming a Preferred Strategic Partnership (PSP) with HSBC, which will give Marsh preferred access to provide insurance brokerage and risk management services to London-based HSBC’s corporate and private clients. “We are particularly excited by the opportunities available to us through the PSP with HSBC,” said Dan Glaser, Marsh Inc.’s chairman and CEO. “It will enable us to leverage HSBC’s global network and banking relationships to generate new business.”

The board of directors of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino approved at its year-end meeting $3.9 million in funding to more than 210 Central Iowa nonprofit projects. The funds will be distributed through two grant programs. The Community Betterment Grant Program awards funding to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a need in one of four areas: arts and culture, economic development, education, and health and human services. The Legacy Grant Program is designed to help fund more sizable and concrete projects in Central Iowa. In total, the two grant programs received more than 550 applications requesting a total of $28.29 million in funding. In May, applications for the 2010 grant programs will be available on Prairie Meadows’ Web site, www.prairiemeadows.com.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership on Wednesday unveiled its 2010 state legislative agenda. Developed in conjunction with its investors and affiliate chambers of commerce from Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties, the Partnership’s 2010 agenda is focused on statewide economic development policies that enhance innovation, infrastructure, human capital and quality of life. Its priorities include initiatives to promote fiscal responsibility and the reinvention of state government; the preservation of economic development and redevelopment incentives and tax credits to create and retain high-quality jobs; solutions to improve Iowa’s education system to support the workforce needs of Iowa’s economy; and market-based solutions to health-care reform, such as wellness incentives. To view the entire agenda, click here.