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Join us for the 2024 Rural Economic Development Summit, featuring keynote speaker Steve Bench discussing rural talent acquisition and retention. Connect with others passionate about the economic future of rural Iowa. Enjoy a complimentary lunch and engage with booth sponsors. The event, FREE to attend, also features a panel interview...
Thirteen businesses will get state money this year from a fund designed to help small-scale meat processors.Iowa Economic Development Authority spokesperson Kanan Kappleman says the grants total more than $970,000. “Eligible projects under the Butchery and Revitalization Fund would include expanding or refurbishing an existing facility or establishing a new...
In North Iowa, Winnebago County offers a rich history, robust economic development, and a vibrant community life. David L. Kingland, a long-time resident and retired CEO of MBT Bank, shares his insights on why Winnebago County is a fantastic place to live, work, and raise a family.Rooted in History: A...
Caleb Renner of Klemme, IA, took home Third Place at the 2024 University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day on June 13, 2024. Ten teams from across the state of Iowa competed in the event which was held at EntreFEST, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Cedar Rapids, IA. A total...
Forest City citizen James Marone is one the latest veterans to receive Winnebago County’s and Forest City’s veteran incentives, providing him and his family a $1,000 relocation grant amongst gym memberships and other certificates for utilities.In 2023, Winnebago and Worth Counties partnered with Home Base Iowa and the State of...
Transform Your Business and Maximize Profits by Focusing on This Customer Retention Factor
Jun 28 2024Whatever business you're in, repeat customers are your best and most profitable customers. That's true if you're a retailer or restaurant, or a franchisor looking to expand your locations. For restaurants and retailers, it means re-defining success. With so many options available to customers, year-over-year sales growth is too short-term...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is partnering with rural Americans on hundreds of clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to clean energy and create jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are funded by President...
USDA Publishes Request for Information on the Production of Biofuel Feedstocks Using Climate-Smart Practices
Jun 26 2024The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information from the public on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. The input is being collected through a Request for Information to establish voluntary...
USDA Announces Enhanced Resources to Support Businesses Interested in Procurement Opportunities
Jun 24 2024The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced resource enhancements designed to simplify and streamline access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to USDA. These substantial updates include the addition of new and targeted contracting information on USDA.gov, along with improved functionality that makes...
USDA and Reinvestment Fund Launch New Program to Increase Access to Healthy Foods in Underserved Communities
Jun 24 2024At the National Rural Grocer’s Summit today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. Funding for the new Food Access and Retail...
Tourism can be a powerful engine for economic development, driving revenue, creating jobs, and revitalizing communities. This article explores various strategies and provides real-life examples of successful tourism initiatives that have significantly impacted local economies.Case Studies in Community InvolvementStay-Cation Success in Los Angeles, CALos Angeles has embraced the trend of...
ChatGPT: 5 Prompts To Analyze Business Metrics
Jun 21 2024Analysis is not a department, it’s everyone’s job. For best results, question every decision, every process and those regular tasks in your business that you’ve always done. Make sure every path you take is the best one to take at any given time. No one sleepwalks their way to success...
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved an award to a $5 million biomanufacturing project in Boone County. The board also approved Butchery Innovation and Revitalization program awards.Mg Biologics to expand operations in Boone CountyMg Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company, manufactures and distributes proprietary animal treatments, including plasma, antibody products...
A New Chapter in Economic and Community DevelopmentHeartland Power Cooperative, a pivotal energy provider in North Central Iowa and South Central Minnesota, has recently welcomed Dave Fox as its new Manager of Economic Development and Community Relations. Heartland Power is deeply integrated into the region's fabric and serves approximately 5,200...
Ramping Up an FDI Attraction Strategy Attracting international investment can seem daunting, especially for economic development organizations (EDOs) new to the endeavor or with limited staffing resources. However, successfully attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to your locale typically provides generous returns. While FDI attraction presents a unique set of challenges, at...
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center conducted the 2024 Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA) on June 3-7. YEA is a free one-week academic camp sponsored by the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, and is offered annually to all North Iowa high school students interested in entrepreneurship. Each participant receives...
The United States dominated global semiconductor production in the 1980s and early 1990s with companies like Intel, IBM, and Texas Instruments leading the way. About 37 percent% of the world’s chip were manufactured in U.S.-located fabrication plants (fabs) in 1990. While most chips and silicon wafers are still designed in...
Site selection seems like a straightforward process. But in reality, it is often complicated by a proliferation of individuals and firms branding themselves as site selectors without the requisite experience or expertise. This saturation has led to a buyer-beware market, where the ease of entry into the profession has diluted...
This Is the Winning Formula for Starting a Successful Podcast, According to a New Analysis
May 29 2024Podcasting is a $25 billion industry, and top podcasts have a lot in common — from length to number of episodes to cover art.Now a new study by software company Podcastle pinpoints these similarities to help new and seasoned podcasters have a better shot at producing a successful show.The U.S.-focused...
Throughout his eight years as a Worth County Supervisor, Mark Smeby has spent much of his time working to lower property taxes and advocate for local farmers and agriculture businesses.Smeby is also a full-time farmer who graduated from Lake Mills Community High School and Iowa State University. In their free...
In the rapidly changing and highly competitive landscape of the tourism industry, the importance of leveraging digital tools and platforms cannot be overstated. With the widespread use of smartphones and other connected devices, travelers now have unprecedented access to information and resources to plan their trips. As such, tourism professionals...
Economic development is intrinsically linked to the strength and adaptability of the local workforce. As economies evolve, it becomes crucial for economic developers to implement strategies that not only address current labor market needs but also anticipate future demands. Let’s dive into practical ways that economic development organizations can support...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is funding 47 projects in 23 states to improve access to reliable electricity and clean drinking water for more than one million people and create good-paying jobs across the nation. The announcement was made during President Biden's Infrastructure...