Flood-related business slowdowns and a slump in the housing market resulted in an increase in Iowa’s unemployment rate for July. Iowa Workforce Development reported today that the rate increased to 4.3 percent last month from 4 percent in June. Unemployment stood at 3.8 percent of the workforce in July 2007.

Storm Lake-based Meta Financial Group Inc. reported a loss of $0.4 million, or 16 cents per share for the third quarter of 2008 compared with net income of $2.6 million, or 96 cents per share, for the third quarter of 2007. Year-to-date earnings for the nine months ended June 30 are $1.9 million, or 72 cents per share compared with 2007 results of $0.6 million net income, or 23 cents per share.

BioForce Nanosciences Holdings Inc. reported record revenue and gross profits for the three- and six-month periods ending June 30. The Ames company said revenues for the quarter were $211,723, a 15 percent increase from the same period in 2007. Gross profits for the quarter were $50,315, a 73 percent increase from the year-ago period. Net loss per share was 4 cents, compared with 5 cents in the second quarter of 2007. The company reported these six-month figures: Net revenues of $615,290, a 13 percent increase from the year-ago period; gross profits of $239,657, a 17 percent increase; and a net loss on common stock of 7 cents per share, a drop of 1 cent per share from a year ago.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will host an informational seminar on the federal government’s online system to confirm the legal work status of new hires. Called E-Verify, the system was created by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The seminar will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 27 at the Partnership office, 700 Locust St. Suite 100, Des Moines.