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Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, Landus Cooperative, teamed up with AMVC in 2022 to build a brand new feed mill in Hamlin. Since agreeing on the partnership, both teams have made significant progress toward reaching their common goal. Trey Kellner, Ph.D. from AMVC provided updates on this massive project in Hamlin.How...
Dobson Pipe Organ Builders marks milestone
Apr 9 2024LAKE CITY - A signature business in the community is celebrating half of a century.Dobson Pipe Organ Builders turns 50 this year.Coming up, a recital featuring Bradley Hunter Welch, Organist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Artist-in-Residence of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, will perform at Lake City Union...
Social media emerges as a vibrant stage for connection, a realm where innovative ideas thrive, and communities unite. For economic developers, it offers a fertile ground not just for engagement but for inspiring a collective movement toward growth and prosperity. The challenge, however, lies in cutting through the noise, capturing...
The Enhance Iowa Board awarded over $3,000,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to projects in Iowa communities yesterday, including for improvements to Carroll's Merchants Park.The City of Carroll was awarded $203,000 toward $1,019,000 in renovations to Merchants Park including press box improvements and expansion, bleacher improvements with ADA...
In the dynamic world of tourism, understanding and catering to diverse traveler segments stands at the heart of destination success. The potential audiences for your destination are vast and varied, contingent on the unique attractions and experiences your location provides. For the purpose of this discussion, we’re choosing to hone...
Western Iowa Advantage is celebrating success in the construction industry in Jefferson, Iowa. As the state with the second lowest cost of doing business, it’s no surprise that Iowa is an ideal place to attract and retain construction business owners. Two local business owners, Andy Rowland and Chris Deal, shared...
Employers & HR Professionals: A National Retirement Plan Education Event Coming to Iowa on April 17th
Mar 29 2024In today's business environment, an organization's Retirement Plan holds vital importance, driven by the dual forces of risk and opportunity. Here's a concise breakdown:Mitigating Risks:Fiduciary Liability: Owners and executives can be personally liable, which is a tough reality given the growing web of DOL and IRS regulations and the potential...
VT Industries commemorated the expansion of their Holstein, Iowa, architectural wood door manufacturing plant with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, March 13.The $16 million venture at its Holstein headquarters emphasizes VT’s commitment to their architectural wood door customers and impending growth, as well as the local community and employees.Read the...
63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024
Mar 15 2024Many people dream of starting their own business. Running an enterprise in your home, garage or on the go means you can take more control over your professional goals, set more ambitious financial targets and achieve a more desirable work-life balance.But what if you're ready to start a business but...
SPOILER ALERT: The classic movie Field of Dreams tells the story of an Iowa farmer who hears a voice saying, "If you build it, he will come”, and sees a vision of a baseball diamond. He then mortgages everything to build a baseball field. While he does experience initial financial...
In the quest for sustainable growth and prosperity, rural economic developers face a unique set of challenges, paramount among them being a pervasive issue of infrastructure deficits. These deficits not only stifle economic potential but also hinder the quality of life in rural communities.Understanding the ChallengeInfrastructure in rural areas encompasses...
Quilting for 10 years, Stacie Schmidt is planning to share her hobby with the Carroll Community.On Wednesday, March 6, the Painted Pony Quilt Shop will open for business in Carroll. Initially running out of 201 S. Gault Street in Arcadia, the business will soon be located at 820 W. 8th...
2024 Iowa Travel Guide Now Available
Feb 28 2024The new 2024 Iowa Travel Guide is now available to inspire travelers looking to plan a trip to Iowa. The free 148-page guide can be ordered online at traveliowa.com, by phone at 800.345.IOWA, or picked up at any of Iowa’s Welcome Centers. An online version is also available.The publication includes...
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra made an appearance at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) on February 21. His visit included a tour of rehab services, as well as the obstetrics and emergency departments.Feenstra was impressed with the new equipment and technology that’s been implemented at SMCH, particularly in the obstetrics department...
Registration is now open for Business Horizons 2024, a five-day innovation program for Iowa high school students currently in grades 9-12. Business Horizons will take place July 14-18 on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines. This is the 41st year of the program provided by the Iowa Association...
Praise was welcomed for the efforts of Dale Ullrich and other community members for making Ida County a Home Base Iowa Community. A program was held on Feb. 19 at the Skate Palace including a ribbon cutting to celebrate this feat done by Ida County. To start the program, our...
As the world grappled with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the childcare sector emerged as a critical cornerstone for supporting working families and ensuring the healthy development of young minds. Adequate childcare is a necessity for parents and a vital component of a thriving economy. This narrative delves...
Joey Hoefling, nurse practitioner has been practicing for 11 years, and now has set up practice in Odebolt on Main St. In the past, he has worked on an Indian Health Reservation and then started his own practice. He had been a nurse for 26 years, 10 years in long-term...
In the heart of Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Templeton Regional Center, nestled within the Carroll Campus, emerges as a beacon of hope and opportunity for high school students across the region. Designed to bridge the gap between ambition and accessibility, the center offers a transformative educational experience,...
The rankings on these pages are high-level measures of states’ workforce development climates. They do not reflect which states in a region have the most effective workforce training programs or labor boards or tools for connecting job seekers with potential employment opportunities. Rather they recognize states that performed well in...
As Iowa’s workforce continues to be limited across all industry sectors, state lawmakers will continue to focus on workforce strategies in 2024, including child care, affordable housing and funding for tax incentives to attract and retain companies providing high-quality, high-paying jobs.Child careChild welfare advocates in the state point to the...
WIN Awarded $250K+ Grant From OCIO For Rural Broadband Expansion In Carroll, Crawford Counties
Dec 23 2023Western Iowa Networks (WIN) has been awarded a more than quarter-million-dollar grant from the Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to extend fiber optic infrastructure to rural sites across Carroll and Crawford Counties. This grant marks the eighth consecutive award WIN has received from the OCIO since 2019...
Iowa House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. David Young told greater Des Moines area business and elected leaders Tuesday that the Legislature will have a “vociferous debate” on further action to reduce taxes during the 2024 legislative session.“It’s kind of like tax limbo, you know? How low can you go, and...
Workforce development stands at the heart of any region’s economic vitality. It is the cornerstone on which businesses, industries, and communities build their future. In the age of AI and advanced technology, leveraging AI for workforce development has become an option and a strategic imperative for EDOs.AI in Skills Gap...