https://www.winn-worthbetco.com Winn-Worth Betco News Feed Tue, 19 May 2026 05:51:27 +0000 en-US https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67451/strong-entrepreneurial-spirit-in-forest-city-ia-forged-the-past-&-now-the-future https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67451/strong-entrepreneurial-spirit-in-forest-city-ia-forged-the-past-&-now-the-future Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Every community has a story to tell and a history, allowing the memories of the past to be cherished while a course for the future is plotted. Forest City, IA, is a charming community in Winnebago County with a rich heritage as a former industrial hub with strong educational roots... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67450/winnebago-county-ia-combines-natural-resource-conservation-with-recreation-economic-development https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67450/winnebago-county-ia-combines-natural-resource-conservation-with-recreation-economic-development Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Natural resource management is important in Worth County too - read about how local leaders balance economic opportunity with conservation.When Chris Barber thinks about just how much the landscape of Iowa has changed over the last 200 years, his passion for preserving the region’s natural grandeur is only reinforced.Barber, Director... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67448/responsible-natural-resource-management-fosters-economic-growth-in-worth-county-ia https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67448/responsible-natural-resource-management-fosters-economic-growth-in-worth-county-ia Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Natural resource management is important in Winnebago County, too - read about its economic impact there.When it comes to managing natural resources, local leaders face a balancing act. On one hand, leveraging those resources can yield significant economic benefits, but conservation is key to ensuring residents and visitors alike can... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67380/a-fullcircle-honor-michaelis-receives-first-home-base-iowa-community-champion-award https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67380/a-fullcircle-honor-michaelis-receives-first-home-base-iowa-community-champion-award Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 What began more than a decade ago as a vision to better serve veterans across Winnebago and Worth counties came full circle on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when Melissa Michaelis, Executive Director of Winn-Worth Betco, was surprised with the very first Home Base Iowa Community Champion Award.The award was presented... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67370/the-city-of-fertile-becomes-a-designated-home-base-iowa-hbi-community https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/67370/the-city-of-fertile-becomes-a-designated-home-base-iowa-hbi-community Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The City of Fertile is proud to announce that it has officially joined more than 125 Iowa communities and counties in becoming a designated Home Base Iowa (HBI) Community—a meaningful commitment to honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans and active service members.Home Base Iowa is a statewide initiative that connects... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67395/top-8-announced-in-2026-coolest-thing-made-in-iowa-competition https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67395/top-8-announced-in-2026-coolest-thing-made-in-iowa-competition Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The competition to crown the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa continues as the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) today announced the Top 8 products advancing in the statewide contest, presented by Nicolet National Bank.  After another round of public voting, eight products remain in the bracket-style tournament... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67393/iowa-gas-stations-receive-rural-development-grants-for-renewable-fuel-infrastructure https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67393/iowa-gas-stations-receive-rural-development-grants-for-renewable-fuel-infrastructure Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 U.S.D.A. Rural Development recently approve around four million dollars in grants for stations to add infrastructure for renewable fuels.The Iowa director of Rural Development, Mike Sexton, says the funding is for those stations that don’t have the resources of larger chains. “We still have a lot of mom and pop... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67394/building-iowas-workforce-through-workbased-learning https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67394/building-iowas-workforce-through-workbased-learning Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Work-based learning is one of the most effective ways to build Iowa’s future workforce, connecting students to real career pathways while helping employers develop talent early. Through hands-on experiences like job shadows, internships, company tours, and classroom engagement, employers play a direct role in shaping the skills and awareness students... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67403/home-prices-are-falling-in-these-89-housing-marketssee-whats-behind-it https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67403/home-prices-are-falling-in-these-89-housing-marketssee-whats-behind-it Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Based on our analysis of the Zillow Home Value Index, U.S. home prices are up just +0.8% year over year between March 2025 and March 2026. That marks a deceleration from the +1.2% growth rate a year earlier—though national year-over-year home price growth has recently stabilized, ticking a tad higher... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67401/7-ai-tools-that-run-your-entire-oneperson-business-while-you-sleep-no-staff-no-code https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67401/7-ai-tools-that-run-your-entire-oneperson-business-while-you-sleep-no-staff-no-code Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Most entrepreneurs are still wiring together five different apps and hoping nothing breaks at 2 AM. But AI has moved past automation into autonomy — tools that don’t just assist, they plan, execute and report back without supervision. PwC’s 2026 AI Performance study found that 74% of AI’s economic value... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67404/what-san-franciscos-ai-billboards-say-about-the-state-of-the-industry https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67404/what-san-franciscos-ai-billboards-say-about-the-state-of-the-industry Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Here in San Francisco, we live in a bubble, and we know it. While much of the rest of the country sees the city through the lens of Fox News cameramen searching out homeless encampments, we actually live in a very beautiful, very wealthy, and, currently, very AI-obsessed place. Traditionally,... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67405/bouncing-back-is-a-myth-heres-what-real-resilience-looks-like https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67405/bouncing-back-is-a-myth-heres-what-real-resilience-looks-like Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 When Maria looked at herself in the mirror for the first time after her mastectomy, she stood very still.One hand rested on the bathroom counter. The other hovered near the flat space where her breast had been. The scar was raw and angry. The loss was quiet but enormous. Her... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67398/is-remote-work-even-remotely-working https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67398/is-remote-work-even-remotely-working Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 As hybrid policies become the norm, some workers are falling through the cracks.Six years after the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces around the world are still settling into the new normal of workplace arrangements. While some companies continue to operate virtually, most employers now expect at least some... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67402/a-pulse-check-on-the-state-of-site-selection https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67402/a-pulse-check-on-the-state-of-site-selection Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 If there’s one unmistakable takeaway from the 2026 site selection landscape so far, it’s this: investment activity remains strong, but certainty is harder than ever to secure.At the Site Selectors Guild’s 2026 Spring Conference, Guild Members gathered for a timely pulse check on the state of site selection, grounded in... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67399/the-surprising-things-workers-want-more-than-higher-pay https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67399/the-surprising-things-workers-want-more-than-higher-pay Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 A fair salary is important for a great work experience, but other factors are also critical. In fact, many workers would trade a 10% raise for other key workplace benefits, a survey of 3,200 people by Reward Gateway finds.1. Well-being: 58% of people care less about a 10% pay raise... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67186/kensett-represented-at-dubuque-conference-for-economic-development https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67186/kensett-represented-at-dubuque-conference-for-economic-development Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Last week at the Iowa Rural Summit, the room buzzed with the kind of energy only small towns seem to generate. Among the panelists for the breakout session “Hitting Above Their Weight: Towns Under 1,000 That Rock” was advisory board member Corey Pulju, sharing stories that felt both familiar and... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67185/applications-now-open-for-the-2026-john-pappajohn-iowa-entrepreneurial-venture-competition https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67185/applications-now-open-for-the-2026-john-pappajohn-iowa-entrepreneurial-venture-competition Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The 2026 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition application portal is now open. The annual statewide competition will award a total of $100,000 in cash prizes to early-stage Iowa startups and entrepreneurial ventures that intend to scale operations in Iowa. The John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition contest is intended... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67397/40th-annual-corporate-and-22nd-annual-consultant-site-selection-survey-results https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67397/40th-annual-corporate-and-22nd-annual-consultant-site-selection-survey-results Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 For decades, the bedrock question of corporate site selection was some version of the same calculation: where can we do this most cheaply? Labor arbitrage, tax incentives, real estate costs — the disciplines of location strategy were largely organized around the pursuit of the lowest delivered cost. That era is... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67130/natural-disaster-preparedness-worth-a-communitywide-effort https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67130/natural-disaster-preparedness-worth-a-communitywide-effort Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 In north-central Iowa, natural disasters pose a regular threat. Robust preparation and response to hazards such as severe thunderstorms and flooding, blizzards and extreme heat and drought are critical. Calculated planning, coordination, and action can truly be the difference between life and death. Communities such as Worth County, IA, recognize... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67129/alliant-energy-jumpstarts-regional-economic-development-in-winnebago-&-worth-counties-ia https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67129/alliant-energy-jumpstarts-regional-economic-development-in-winnebago-&-worth-counties-ia Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 There are many strategies for spurring regional economic development, but those plans stand little chance of making headway in the absence of reliable, affordable energy. Access to energy is a community’s lifeblood, ensuring that residents and businesses of all stripes can flourish, while helping to craft a stable environment for... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67138/home-base-iowa-welcomes-air-force-retiree-timothy-bacon-and-his-family-to-forest-city https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67138/home-base-iowa-welcomes-air-force-retiree-timothy-bacon-and-his-family-to-forest-city Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Forest City, Iowa — Forest City is proud to welcome Timothy Bacon, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, as its latest Home Base Iowa recipient. With more than two decades of military service, Bacon brings with him a legacy of dedication, leadership, and commitment to family and community.Originally from Tulare,... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67400/a-successful-career-needs-a-strong-networkheres-how-to-build-one https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/67400/a-successful-career-needs-a-strong-networkheres-how-to-build-one Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000 If you want to advance your career, you’ll need to build a strong network. The statistics make the case: 54% of people report getting their job through a connection, according to a 2025 survey by MyPerfectResume. Despite this, just 10% of people reach out to contacts during their job search.This... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/66893/march-2026-entrepreneur-of-the-month https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/66893/march-2026-entrepreneur-of-the-month Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Stephanie Lorenson of North Iowa Wellness Clinic in Lake Mills, Iowa as the March 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.With more than 25 years of experience as a nurse practitioner, Stephanie Lorenson has seen firsthand what... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/66678/downtown-revitalization-efforts-keep-iowas-communities-thriving https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/p/item/66678/downtown-revitalization-efforts-keep-iowas-communities-thriving Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Downtowns are more than economic centers. They serve as the heart of a community, welcoming residents and visitors while highlighting local shops, amenities, cultural attractions, and more. In Winnebago and Worth counties, Iowa, downtown areas combine the charm of small-town life with historic preservation and modern development.Communities like Northwood and... https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/66686/the-city-of-manly-shows-their-support-for-iowa-veterans-by-becoming-an-hbi-community https://www.winn-worthbetco.com/news/blog/p/item/66686/the-city-of-manly-shows-their-support-for-iowa-veterans-by-becoming-an-hbi-community Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000 The city of Manly has joined more than 125 other Iowa entities who have chosen to show their support for Iowa Veterans by becoming an HBI community. Home Base Iowa is a one-of-kind program designed to connect veterans and service members with more than 2,300 businesses statewide who have pledged...