Winn-Worth Betco News

MASON CITY, Iowa— The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the Venture School Launch Day competition on Thursday, November 16, 2023. The Fall 2023 Venture School cohort competed in person after attending classes virtually for 7 weeks of training, customer discovery, and developing their business model alongside local entrepreneur coaches...Continue Reading

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center hosted the Everyday Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Everyday Entrepreneur Program is sponsored in conjunction with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), helping to provide access to entrepreneurial education and funding for students to take their businesses from...Continue Reading

Businesses are not static entities; they evolve, grow, and adapt to changing environments. Business owners must envision and plan for the future to ensure long-term sustainability. This includes preparing for transitions such as ownership changes, exits, or successions. Business Transition Planning is critical in safeguarding your business, family, and key...Continue Reading

Fresh from winning its 11th consecutive Governor’s Cup for total capital investment projects earlier this year, Texas is finishing 2023 with top billing in Site Selection’s annual ranking of state business climates. The ranking is based on 10 criteria, including a survey of corporate site selectors, qualified projects logged in...Continue Reading

The entrepreneurial journey often begins with an idea, passion, and, quite frankly, a limited budget. While the digital age has ushered in numerous opportunities for aspiring business minds, capital remains a primary concern for many. But worry not because the current market landscape is brimming with low-cost startup ideas that...Continue Reading

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center & SBDC is hosting several days of events in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week on November 13-19, 2023. Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) inspires millions every year to explore their potential while fostering connections and increasing collaboration within their ecosystems to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, November 1, 2023 - Today, President Biden will travel to Northfield, Minnesota to visit Dutch Creek Farms to lead his Administration’s Investing in Rural America Event Series and highlight investments from the Biden Administration in Rural America. During the visit, President Biden will announce over $5 billion in new...Continue Reading

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Reynolds announced a new $6.5 million investment in communities to bolster tourism and quality of life through Destination Iowa. The grant initiative, which launched in 2022 with federal funding, became a state-funded initiative following approval from the Iowa legislature this year.  “Destination Iowa has inspired...Continue Reading

Lake Mills was ripe with spooky deals throughout its annual Ghouls Day Out on Oct. 21. Shoppers hit the streets for the Halloween-themed event for the chance to win baskets put together by participating businesses.Shoppers started at Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation, which puts on the event, and received their...Continue Reading

One Buffalo Center resident proves you CAN have your cake and eat it too.Hannah Main is not only a veterinary technician for the Forest City Veterinary Clinic but also the owner of Wiggle Butts Dog Grooming in Buffalo Center, allowing her to pursue both her passions.Recognizing the need for dog...Continue Reading

Michaelis and Stone attend the Altoona ConferenceMelissa Michaelis, executive director of Winn-Worth Betco, was one of several economic development professionals to attend the Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) Partners Forum in Altoona last week.IADG aims to assist businesses and communities throughout the state to reach their project development goals, and...Continue Reading

DES MOINES – Today, Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced that more than $470,000 in grants have been awarded to rural communities through seven Empower Rural Iowa Grant programs. The grant awards will support rural initiatives including childcare, housing and leadership development.  “Rural communities are at...Continue Reading

Brownfield sites are often associated with contamination and environmental hazards. Whether real or perceived, contamination may require costly cleanup efforts to make them viable for redevelopment.The level of contamination may vary depending on its previous use. “Old housing development, a commercial dry cleaner, railroad lines, kerosene soaked pilons on docks/piers,...Continue Reading

The modern job market is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, shifting demographics, and changing economic landscapes. As a result, many regions across the globe are facing significant shortages in the workforce, posing challenges to economic growth and development. However, with the right strategies and initiatives, economic developers can play...Continue Reading

The word “blacksmith” may flood one with images of Medieval times, swords and large, burning forges, but really, smithing is an art thriving in our neighbor’s yard.From ornaments to flowers to custom orders, Eric Wolsing can craft it all. Wolsing’s business, Oak & Anvil Works is an operated steel fabrication,...Continue Reading

It has been a continuous refrain since the pandemic upended many understandings about how the American economy is supposed to work: Across widely varying fields of work, there just aren’t enough people to fill all the available jobs.The reality, though, is that while the pandemic may have exacerbated the problem...Continue Reading

Allison Shapira doesn’t shy away from using her voice: A self-proclaimed extrovert, the founder of a public speaking training firm and a former opera singer, she’s rarely had trouble knowing how to speak up. But even Shapira makes mistakes when it comes to that nuanced yet high-stakes act of virtual...Continue Reading

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Google’s apps and services are absolutely overflowing with buried treasures.More than any other tech company, Google loves tucking interesting options and features into out-of-the-way places. Some of the best elements of Gmail, Google Calendar, and other popular productivity tools are almost completely...Continue Reading

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most talked about subjects of the year, anticipated to touch almost all facets of modern life. Hotly debated from dinner tables to Hollywood to the halls of Congress, synthetic data will completely overtake real data in AI models by 2030, according to market...Continue Reading

From supplying paint to volunteers, sprucing up their hometowns, to building affordable homes in rural communities and filling employer and worker needs for child care, Iowa’s private enterprises are joining hands with government agencies, nonprofits and volunteers to make a difference. ABI members are at the forefront of private-public partnerships...Continue Reading

October 5, 2023 (MARION, IA) – Shop Iowa, a statewide e-commerce marketplace initiative of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), has announced the second annual ‘Shop Iowa Day’ on October 11, 2023, a day to celebrate Iowa retailers. This dedicated shopping day spotlights small businesses across the state on the...Continue Reading