Christopher Littlefield was promoted to chief executive officer at Des Moines-based Aviva USA on Wednesday, and will lead the company’s fixed indexed annuity and life insurance businesses. Littlefield was chief operating officer at Aviva USA from February 2008 to September 2009. He has been with the company since joining AmerUs Group Co. in January 2006 as executive vice president. Littlefield takes over for Thomas Godlasky, Aviva’s North American chief executive, who had also served as head of operations in the United States.

The 988 home contracts written in August were the most in any month since 2006, said Kurt Schade, president of the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. Nine hundred sixteen contracts were written in July 2009, while 760 were written in August 2008. There were 775 contracts closed in August at an average sale price of $164,863, down slightly from last month’s price of $165,295. Homes were on the market for an average of 93 days, the lowest number of the year. There are 5,692 active listings, down from 6,191 listings in August 2008.

More than $11.3 million in funding will be distributed to 85 community foundations across the state, Gov. Chet Culver and officials from the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the Iowa Council of Foundations announced Wednesday. Each of the 85 foundations will receive approximately $129,000; each will grant 75 percent of the funds to charitable projects and place the remaining 25 percent in a permanent endowment fund to attract additional donations. See the list of communities here.

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Director of Research and Commodity Services David Miller testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Miller discussed ways to structure and streamline the carbon credit program so that it can be an incentive to farmers and benefit the soil. The committee was meeting about proposed global-warming legislation and a cap-and-trade system. See the full release here.

A ceremony in remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be held by the city of Des Moines at 9 a.m. Friday at the Long Look Garden at City Hall. Mayor Frank Cownie will read a proclamation designating Sept. 11 as a national day of service and will urge citizens to commit to community service on that day.

Students at Des Moines Area Community College, can earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa without leaving its campus thanks to a new partnership between the schools this fall. Students who complete their associate of arts, associate of applied sciences or associate of science degree can continue to take University of Iowa classes in the fall and spring semesters. Read the full release.



Applications are currently being accepted for the 2010 Diversity award by the Greater Des Moines Partnership Diversity Committee. The award recognizes businesses and organizations throughout the region that have taken significant steps to advance the diversity of their work forces. Applications and guidelines are available at www.desmoinesmetro.com/inclusion. Submissions are due Oct. 9.

That’s some expensive ham. The U.S. Department of Agricultural’s Marketing Service spent $24.3 million of the federal stimulus package money on pork. No, it wasn’t for a feast, but rather to help support food banks as part of a $150 million effort to feed the record numbers of hungry Americans during the recession. See six more surprising stimulus uses at CNNMoney.com.