Winn-Worth Betco News

The Future of the Workforce Is a “Better Normal”
Jan 18 2021The world as we all knew it changed earlier this year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seemingly overnight, everything that we used to think was normal had changed, and things that once were deemed impossible for the workplace became the “new normal.” Now, seven months later, most o...

AD: Can you define people analytics for our readers?
Williams: People analytics is described as the method of analytics which can support leaders as they make decisions about their employees and workforce. This method applies statistics, technology, and expertise to large sets of HR data, which should result in better business and managemen...

Another Look at Rural Economies
Jan 15 2021As someone who lives in a city (albeit not a large one), I am perhaps not the most qualified to discuss the topic of rural economies. On the other hand, both my parents were raised on wheat farms in eastern Washington. Consequently, one of the most pressing issues in rura...

Many executives are increasingly weighing the impact of environmental changes and catastrophic weather — which already have devastated communities — on their businesses and future needs. Examples include the millions of acres that have been scorched in California and Colorado this year, and hurricane damage in the Gulf States. Louisiana...

They’re the words Iowa manufacturers have been waiting all year to hear: “Things are looking up.”
Iowa manufacturers expect increased sales, employment and capital investments in the first quarter (January-March), according to the results of the latest ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey.
“The survey results are incredibly positive for Iowa’s economy,” sai...

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives, and each one of us likely has a personal story to tell that underscores that fact. But there are also stories to be told of sweeping changes that virtually all of us have felt. One of those is the altered state o...

AD: How has COVID-19 changed the employee experience in manufacturing, and what facets of this should organizations retain going forward?
Zenk: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees have been experiencing a drastically different work environment. Thousands of manufacturers across the U.S. and around the world were deemed essential during the pandemic...

Rural Relief Small Business Grants
Jan 13 2021Our Rural Commitment. 900 Grants. $18 million.
As part of our continuing commitment to elevate our impact in rural America, LISC is inviting small business owners in rural locations across the country to apply for the LISC-Lowe's Rural Relief Small Business Grants program.
The next grant application period opens on January 26th.
Learn more!

“She looked so good on paper.”
Sound familiar? In your haste to fill an open position to keep your company running smoothly, you make a hiring decision that turns out to be a big mistake.
If this is the case, you are certainly not alone, and the problem isn’t a lack of judgment. ...

Life is hectic for an entrepreneur. When you're in charge, you have to juggle so many things, it's easy to lose track of time or have to reassess your priorities on a daily basis. Perhaps you just need a little help from technology.
We've rounded up some of the top time-savin...

Providing monetary assistance and other forms of relief to those affected affected by the pandemic is important to Iowa State Sen. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, as he heads into the next legislative session. The local lawmaker also wants to bolster economic development and lead conversations about comprehensive tax reform.
Representing Iowa Senat...

Define Your Brand Identity in 3 Steps
Dec 30 2020A brand identity consists of the business values, and how the brand communicates those values through its products and services. It’s what the brand says, how it is visually represented with images and design, and what the brand intends customers to feel when they interact with its products. Essentially, a brand identity is the physicalit...

Though the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended August 8, 2020—with a lack of clarity as to when it might be revived—businesses are still in need of capital.
Though more than 5 million PPP loans have been approved, accounting for $525 billion, according to data from the Small Business Administration (SBA), it’s still no...

Many passers-by on busy U.S. Highway 69 have been curious about large-scale dirt work and building construction that has been ongoing between Forest City and Leland since July.
It is a long-anticipated relocation and expansion of Swanson Trucking, a third generation family-owned trucking business that just keeps growing.
Swanson Trucking was starte...

Winnebago Industries recently reported increased revenues of $793.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.
According to a company release, that is an increase of 34.8 percent compared to $588.5 million for the same period in fiscal year 2020 that included three weeks of Newmar performance.
Company officials touted it...

BEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITES FOR 2021
Dec 18 2020A common question that our team is asked is "Can you give examples of the best economic development websites for 2021?"
Each year, backed by research, conferences, and the latest trends, the Golden Shovel Agency team puts together a list of what we consider to be the best economic development websites...

Winn-Worth Betco Launches Newly Designed Website
Dec 16 2020LAKE MILLS, IA -- Winn-Worth Betco recently launched a newly designed website, created by Golden Shovel Agency, to further strengthen its online presence and economic growth in its two-county region. The new site includes an updated look, organized information for a wide variety of visitors, has an updated jobs/events listin...

Add to that the emotional turmoil resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, an uncertain economic climate and increased recognition of systemic racial injustice, and the state of mental health in America needs attention.
A staggering 61% of Americans experience loneliness and, in the Covid-19 era, just 37% of full-time workers exhibit hig...

December 16, 2020 (DES MOINES) - Today, Governor Reynolds received the latest recommendations from the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa initiative task forces at the Iowa Rural Development Council quarterly meeting. These recommendations came out of the Invest, Grow, and Connect task forces which fielded input from industry leaders, task forc...

It was a Monday morning in mid-March. Schools in California had just gone remote, and Eric Yuan’s daughter was settling in for the first day of her new routine. Then she turned to him and, like kids were doing with their parents everywhere, asked him for help using Zoom.
“She’d never asked me a questio...

Brookings-based Larson Manufacturing has been sold to Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc., for approximately $660 million, according to a release from the Illinois-based home and security products company.
Fortune Brands has signed an agreement to acquire Larson Manufacturing, and the sale is expected to close before the end of th...

After six months of working from home, many of us have settled into new routines and accepted that remote work is here to stay for a while. In speaking with employees in the United States, Australia/New Zealand and Europe at my company, I found that many are experiencing a rang...

The great pumpkin patch
Oct 13 2020Halverson Elementary School kindergarteners and preschoolers usually take field trips to a pumpkin patch each year. This year, the pumpkin patch was brought to them thanks to 130 donated pumpkins from Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch in Austin.
Halverson Elementary School Principal Tonya Franks reads fall poems to students Thursday at th...