Recent News

Western Iowa, February, 2021 — In its ongoing effort to build a stronger local, regional, and statewide economy, Western Iowa Advantage has released free access to SizeUp so that local Iowa businesses can obtain market intelligence to help them forge a pathway to success. “Western Iowa Advantage is a collaborative effor...Continue Reading

Brad Z Ranch will hold its annual production sale Saturday, March 13 at the ranch, located between Guthrie Center and Audubon. Fifty Angus and Angus-Simmental bulls and 20 heifers and cows will be offered for sale during the event at the cow-calf operation owned by Jim and Mary Bradford. The cattle ar...Continue Reading

The cost of installing high-speed broadband access statewide could be nearly twice the $450 million Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed in state matching money through 2025, industry representatives told a Senate subcommittee Monday.  Senate Study Bill 1089 advanced to the full Senate Commerce Committee. Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, chairman of th...Continue Reading

Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Innovation Council, announced the state’s Manufacturing 4.0 plan, a roadmap to help Iowa manufacturers remain globally competitive through a fourth industrial revolution that emphasizes automation and smart technology.   “The state’s Manufacturing 4.0 plan recognizes that Iowa’s manufacturing secto...Continue Reading

The Historic Route 20 Association Inc. announced the designation of Iowa’s Historic Route 20 Auto Trail formally approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation on Jan. 28. The 333-mile historic auto trail follows the original 1926 alignments of Highway 20 across the state of Iowa from Dubuque to Sioux City, th...Continue Reading

Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced two competitive funds available for rural communities with a population under 20,000. Specifically, funding of up to $400,000 has been allocated to the following two funds for current fiscal year (FY) 2021 through FY 2022:    Rural Innovation Grant Program – Provide...Continue Reading

Access to quality child care is a critical workforce issue for Iowa. It has a profound impact on employers and employees alike—and a shortage of child care options in our state has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. ABI has been advocating for child care solutions on behalf of members an...Continue Reading

Mike Winger’s vision is becoming a reality with the opening this week of The Maker’s Brew Cafe on Scranton’s Main Street. The former grocery store has been completely remodeled and updated into an attractive coffee shop with plans to add a cafe later this year. The coffee shop is open no...Continue Reading

It had felt like a long time coming for those who love Mexican food in Lake City. Since the end of July, the City with Everything but a Lake had been without, following the departure of Cielto Lindo, which moved over to Lake View. Read full article.Continue Reading

Joensuu, a city of 76,000 in Eastern Finland, is home to the European Forest Institute, appropriately enough. It’s also the home base of Valamis, a leading IT company specializing in the digitalization of learning. That may not be a new discipline, but it will take on greater urgency as remot...Continue Reading

Availa Bank recently presented a $5,000 check to the Des Moines Area Community College Carroll Campus Expansion project. The check will go toward DMACC’s ongoing mission to modernize its current campus to better serve the needs of students, faculty, staff and the community. DMACC Provost Joel Lundstrom said, “We appreciate Avail...Continue Reading

The year 2020 came with its own share of problems. If there is one thing to learn from living through pandemics and lockdowns, it’s that a lot can change in a year. Many entrepreneurs started last January with high hopes and expectations for their businesses. However, many of those expectation...Continue Reading

If you are planning to open your own small business, the first step is to develop a business plan. The next step is to develop a marketing plan, as all business plans should be paired with a strategy for marketing your products or services. Marketing strategies vary in format, bu...Continue Reading

Volquartsen Firearms is a Carroll County, Iowa success story. Scott Volquartsen, president and second generation co-owner with his brother, Nic, strives to continue what their father, Tom, began in 1986 — designing and engineering rimfire guns to the highest standards using the best possible materials and technologies.  This Carroll County legac...Continue Reading

As we enter a new year, you may be wondering how to include remote workers in your workforce attraction strategy. Government regulations and efforts to slow the pandemic have forced workplaces to embrace remote work options. 88% OF BUSINESSES all over the world authorized their employees to work from home due t...Continue Reading

January 5, 2021 (Des Moines, Iowa) — The Iowa Tourism Office today announced a free digital passport for travelers to discover the beauty of Iowa’s scenic byways and the unique attractions, shops and restaurants along the way, while also qualifying for discounts and prizes. “Iowa’s scenic byways offer both a breathtaking view o...Continue Reading

Iowa has a landscape rich with outdoor opportunities. With lakes and rivers full of fish and wildlife, more than 70 state parks, thousands of county parks and nearly 2,000 miles of bike trails, outdoor recreation abounds. So when COVID-19 began canceling people’s travel plans and summer vacations, many Iowans turned t...Continue Reading

Western Iowa is home to Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, a company where craftsmanship, art, and ingenuity are fueled by tradition, community support, and a skilled workforce. Company founder, Lynn Dobson, grew up on a family farm in Lanesboro. When he decided to open his business in 1974, he rented sho...Continue Reading

As technology constantly and rapidly changes, many businesses find themselves unable to keep up with the advances. The reality is that digitalization promises to change the way that businesses operate, and a 2019 McKinsey Digital Quotient survey found that 93 percent of executives believe that taking advantage of digital technology is essential for accomplishing strategic goals. Digitizatio...Continue Reading

As entrepreneurs, we’re always itching for growth. Although we love looking back at all we’ve accomplished, what truly excites us are the milestones ahead. The problem is that business growth is not constant. There are hiatuses along the way, and if we don’t see the bigger picture, we can get lost in th...Continue Reading

Did you know?? Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 43% of the workforce worked from home at least some of the time according to Gallup data. With the pandemic, that percentage increased and many people have switched to completely remote work. With the switch, many found a certain freedom. In April 2020, people i...Continue Reading

AD: Will more companies be re-shoring or near-shoring as a result of the global pandemic? Jensen: For certain, most companies are closely examining the options available to them to avoid future supply chain interruptions. Part of the challenge of making a decision on a future sourcing direction is that this story isn’t over...Continue Reading