Sen. Chuck Grassley has received the Small Business Council of America’s Special Congressional Appreciation Award. The award has been given only a handful of times during the past 26 years. Grassley received his award for his outstanding leadership and efforts on behalf of small businesses in the country, the organization said. “I’m grateful to receive this award,” Grassley said in a press release. “It’s a no-brainer to work to strengthen small businesses. They create 70 percent of jobs. Their innovation and services are felt every day. Economic recovery and success depend on the ability of small businesses to preserve and create employment opportunities.”

The city of West Des Moines and the Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center are hosting the New Beginnings Seed Capital Award Competition. The competition is meant to address a growing need in the West Des Moines area for entrepreneurs to boost economic development. Awards of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 are available. The deadline to submit an application and business plan is July 1. For more information and to learn who is eligible for the competition, click here.

Iowa Workforce Development has launched a new website to help provide more information about Pathways to Health Care Careers. The project is designed to recruit, screen and provide training and support services to refugees and immigrants with limited English proficiency to help them pursue careers in the health-care industry. The project aims to serve approximately 300 individuals between the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2012. Funding for the project was provided by a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. For more information and to see the new site, go to www.iowapathways.org.

Kathy Towner of Win Communications Inc. and Betsey Qualley of Smitten Kitten LLC are the 2010 winners of two awards from the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Central Iowa chapter. The two will be honored May 26 at the organization’s Women Mean Business Summit. Towner will receive the Women Business Owner of the Year award. Qualley will receive the organization’s first Aspiring Woman Business Owner award. Read more by clicking here.