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News for News
Wednesday, August 08, 2018In order to bring awareness to the condition of underprivileged children throughout the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key measures of neediness. The data set ranges from share of children in households with below-poverty income to child food-insecurity rate to share of maltreated children. Welfare of Children in Iowa (1=Most; 25=Avg.): 39th– % ...read moreCategories: News
Monday, October 30, 2017It’s uncertain whether the Trump administration can resolve its negotiating differences with Mexico and Canada in regard to NAFTA. What is becoming clear, though, is that a failure of negotiations and a U.S. attempt to withdraw from the agreement would raise big complications and concerns, including for Midlands agriculture. First, there’s considerable debate over how much legal authority a ...read moreCategories: Economic, News, Political
Monday, October 30, 2017GrowthZone, provider of ChamberMaster, the market leader of member management software and services, recently announced the winners of its 2017 Chamber Innovation Awards competition. The competition recognizes innovative programs, events, and ideas that challenge the status quo. Entries were received from a wide array of chamber organizations of all sizes and from across the globe. The ...read moreCategories: Chamber, News, Press Release
Friday, October 27, 2017In early October three ICCE members travelled to Washington, DC to attend the Fall Board of Regents meeting for the US Chamber Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management. Institute is the premier nonprofit professional development program for association, chamber, and nonprofit professionals fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities. ICCE Chair ...read moreCategories: Events & Training, News, Human Interest
Friday, October 27, 2017November 2017Instilling a Corporate CultureBob Harris, CAE I suggest that boards adopt a corporate culture to increase their impact and outcomes. Corporate culture can be described as the beliefs and behaviors that determine how volunteers and staff interact and handle decisions. Some nonprofit boards refute the idea of corporate culture. Association executives ask, “Are you suggesting we adopt ...read moreCategories: News, Chamber, Papers/Research
Friday, October 20, 2017Women make up just 22 percent of CEOs and less than 20 percent of corporate boards of directors. The executive female talent gap is real, and that’s why it’s critical to champion women throughout their careers. Having more women in leadership helps our economy grow strong and our communities become even more vibrant. In Iowa, we’re fortunate to have a public-private initiative called the ...read moreCategories: News, Political, Economic
Friday, October 20, 2017As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of the congressional committees investigating Russian interference in last year's election, Charles E. Grassley is in a better position than most other Republicans in Congress to tighten the screws on the Trump administration. So President Trump raised eyebrows when he telephoned the senior senator from Iowa at the end of August. The topic of ...read moreCategories: News, Political, Economic
Friday, October 20, 2017The National Fund for Workforce Solutions has awarded Central Iowa Works a three-year, $300,000 grant to support efforts in Greater Des Moines to expand opportunities in the retail sector. Greater Des Moines is one of three metro areas, along with Baltimore and Seattle, to receive the grants, which were made possible by a grant to the National Fund by Walmart Stores Inc. The grants will be given ...read moreCategories: Economic, Human Interest, News, EducationFriday, October 20, 2017Iowa Workforce Development expects to collect $1.6 million in new fees from businesses attempting to shirk their unemployment taxes, Radio Iowa reported. The agency has been authorized by legislators to fine businesses $500 if they fail to properly register as employers, and $200 if they send registration paperwork through the mail instead of filing and paying unemployment taxes ...read moreCategories: News, Political, Iowa News
Friday, October 20, 2017Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday a set of programs designed to encourage Iowans to pursue education and career training opportunities beyond high school is her "top priority" going into the next legislative session. Among those programs she's championing is a new scholarship and grant program for Iowans who already have earned at least half the credits necessary for a bachelor's degree in a ...read moreCategories: Economic, Political, News, EducationFriday, October 20, 2017There is a lot of discussion today about some of the tools states, counties and cities use for economic development. Some of the things I hear are inaccurate. As someone who served on the board of the Tax Research Council from the 1970s through the early 1990s, who served for 10 years on the board of the Iowa Department of Economic Development in the 1990s and who today serves on the board of ...read moreCategories: Economic, News, Political
Friday, October 20, 2017Did you know the way a community takes care of its elders and the walkability of a small town has direct correlations to quality of life? On this episode of Did You Know, we visit with Abbie Gaffey, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development Specialist. Abbie shares her expertise in community development along with the findings of a recent rural sociology ...read moreCategories: Community, News, Human Interest
Friday, October 20, 2017In arguing for a bigger slice of the state’s funding pie, Iowa’s public universities have painted themselves as economic engines that launch companies, create jobs, generate resources for scientific exploration and monetize research. A new Board of Regents report backs that up, showing Iowa companies in the 2017 budget year generated $14.1 million in revenue as a “direct result” of research on ...read moreCategories: Community, Education, News, Economic
Thursday, October 12, 2017Last night the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine held an award ceremony for the 20 organizations across the county that are to receive a total of $51,786. “No matter how you define community, each organization represented here today is creating our community, and a definition of home,” Shelly Maharry, associate director of the Foundation, said. “Thank you for your hard work and ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community, Iowa News
Thursday, October 12, 2017An Illinois-based company that owns a candy plant in southwest Iowa plans to close the facility, putting more than 250 employees out of work. Production at the Ferrara Candy Company facility in Creston will end in mid-December. The plant has been making Trolli brand Gummi Bears and other candy for more than 30 years. According to a statement from the company, the “difficult decision” to close ...read moreCategories: Community, Human Interest, News, Economic
Thursday, October 12, 2017Last month, she was in Israel for more than a week on a trade mission with Gov. Kim Reynolds. The month before that, she helped shepherd through nearly $20 million of tax incentives to land an Apple Inc. data center outside of Des Moines. All the while, Debi Durham, one of Iowa’s top development officials, withheld from the public something she had confided in her family: In addition to helping ...read moreCategories: Human Interest, News, Iowa News
Thursday, October 12, 2017At the last Emergency Management Agency meeting on September 21st, Jamey Robinson the EMA/911 Administrator, said that the Mahaska County 911 Communications and dispatch center can now receive text messages during an emergency. Robinson noted this would be crucial for the deaf/mute community, as well as children or others who may not be in a safe position to speak on the phone. Mahaska ...read moreCategories: Community, News
Thursday, October 12, 2017With an election for governor coming up and with courts, universities and the state’s natural resources agency, among others, reeling from steep budget cuts and freezes, Iowa’s generosity in forfeiting tens of millions of dollars to lure more jobs is coming under the microscope. Some state lawmakers are wondering whether Iowa is giving away too much to businesses — giveaways some state ...read moreCategories: Economic, Political, News, Iowa News
Thursday, October 12, 2017Executive Director of the Carroll Chamber of Commerce and the Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC), Shannon Landauer, has been elected to serve as a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) board of directors. “I’m honored to be a part of this statewide organization dedicated to developing the economic base of Iowa, and I’m looking forward to bringing a local, Carroll voice to ...read moreCategories: Community, Iowa News, News, Human Interest
Thursday, October 12, 2017A fifth-grade teacher from Pella has been named the state’s History Teacher of the Year. Rebecca Helland, who teaches at Jefferson Intermediate School, was named by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History after being recommended by an Iowa Department of Education committee. The institute’s mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Education, Fun Facts, Human Interest
Wednesday, October 11, 2017Clinton County joined an Iowa initiative earlier this year aimed at improving economic and cultural vitality for small towns in the county. The Clinton County Board of Supervisors was approached earlier this year regarding the Keep Iowa Beautiful Home Town Pride Program. The program offers a community coach at a two-thirds time schedule. Participants in the program receive a $60,000 grant from ...read moreCategories: News, Chamber, Community, Human Interest
Tuesday, October 10, 2017Rural Iowa is struggling. Towns and schools are shrinking. And farming, rural Iowa's historic economic mainstay, is going through a downturn that's likely to continue through next year, economists say. What can Iowa do? Iowans offered some thoughts Thursday during an event sponsored by The Des Moines Register and the Iowa Rural Development Council at the Clay County Fair in Spencer. The ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Education, Iowa News
Tuesday, October 10, 2017You may have heard of No Child Left Behind but you need to get familiar with the Every Student Succeeds Act. The new law lets states, not the federal government, set the standards to determine whether your child's school is succeeding or not. On Monday Iowa submitted their plan to the federal government that shows how they intend to implement it. Iowa's plan lays out how it will identify ...read moreCategories: News, Education, Iowa News, Political
Monday, October 09, 2017Marion, Iowa – Over 370 people attended the Marion Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on October 4th to get a sneak peek at what’s NEXT for the community. The ImagiNEXT process will engage the greater Marion area in an open, all-inclusive conversation to develop great ideas that reinforce the fact that Marion, Iowa is the best place to raise a family and grow a business. Attendees at ...read moreCategories: Chamber, Press Release, News, Community
Thursday, October 05, 2017The biggest difference between Altoona's newest data center and its biggest data center is pretty simple. "If you were to show up on Facebook's doorstep and say I want to put (my company's information) in your data center — they don't do that," said Jeffrey Springborn, LightEdge Solutions' chief operating officer. "We do that. They're two completely different models." Just off of Interstate ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community, Iowa News
Thursday, October 05, 2017Apple CEO Tim Cook told Iowa officials “we admire what you guys have accomplished” in creating an environment to attract job-creating companies like Apple and Amazon to the state. The head of Apple Inc. stood on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol this summer and delivered the kind of speech that makes some Minnesotans wince. In glowing terms, Apple CEO Tim Cook described how Iowa persuaded ...read moreCategories: News, Iowa News, Economic
Thursday, October 05, 2017The City of Osceola, along with Osceola Chamber Main Street, is attempting to have downtown declared a Commercial Historic District. on the National Register of Historic Places. The Register keeps track of property with historical significance. Whether it’s an architectural style or the site of events responsible for major change, protecting these resources provides communities with untold ...read moreCategories: Chamber, Human Interest, News, Community
Thursday, October 05, 2017The Aug. 21 National Register listing of the Decorah Commercial District is the completion of a three-year project that began with a small state-funded project feasibility grant in late 2014. Decorah Historic Preservation Commission Chair Mark Muggli said the project has involved a good deal of work, but that it has gone smoothly, with no changes in the original project goals, cost or ...read moreCategories: Community, News, Human Interest
Thursday, October 05, 2017Some Iowa industries — manufacturing in particular — could lose workers if federal protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children are removed, state business leaders say. President Donald Trump announced recently he will end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a program implemented under former President Barack Obama. Under DACA, federal law enforcement officials do ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic
Wednesday, October 04, 2017For weeks, Angela Harrington had been getting the same question: when would the Hotel Grinnell open? That answer is now. In an effort spanning at least 10 years, city leaders and Harrington had been trying to figure out how to open a hotel downtown. After the City Hall moved out, things began to fall into place, including an investor partner and some assistance from a state program. “The ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Human Interest, Iowa News
Wednesday, October 04, 2017The governors say the key to producing skilled workers starts in the classroom. They want to see students excel in science, technology, engineering and math, and then go on to receive a higher education. “A coordinated effort with education workforce, economic development, really helping workers get the skills that they need to be successful. Again, help meet the need of business and industry ...read moreCategories: Economic, Iowa News, News, Education
Wednesday, October 04, 2017Like our cellphones, the world is continuously “updating” and advancing further into a more technologically based system. In order to remain up-to-date, Iowa’s STEM advisory council works to connect educators and business leaders across the state to move the state forward through STEM programs. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has become extremely important in today’s ...read moreCategories: News, Education, Economic
Tuesday, October 03, 2017Even as the University of Iowa and Iowa State University look to slow years of record-setting enrollment growth, many of Iowa’s private colleges continue the pursuit for more students — and some in Eastern Iowa are reporting success this fall. Coe College in Cedar Rapids, for one, welcomed 446 new full-time students — the largest incoming class in its history, representing a 6.7 percent jump ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Education, Iowa News
Monday, October 02, 2017Amazon's announcement last week that it would open a second North American headquarters sparked a national competition among states and cities looking to secure one of the largest economic development projects in history. The new headquarters would not replace the current company base in Seattle. But it promises to deliver as many as 50,000 jobs that on average pay more than $100,000 per year. ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Friday, September 29, 2017Driving into the countryside surrounding Washington, it is easy to see this is a community and county that values its agricultural roots. One particularly unique feature that helps highlight those roots is the barn quilt tour of Washington County. A joint project between Iowa State University Extension of Washington County and the Washington Chamber of Commerce, the tour features more than 110 ...read moreCategories: News, Chamber, Community, Fun Facts, Human Interest, Travel
Thursday, September 28, 2017By Amy Gitchell, ChamberMaster As humans, there is one thing everyone has in common: the need to communicate. Regardless of who you are, what you do, or where you live, your existence depends on communication. Master effective verbal and non-verbal communication by keeping the following tips in mind: Don’t rushIt’s important to keep things brief, but not at the expense of getting your ...read moreCategories: Education, NewsWednesday, September 27, 2017The Iowa Transportation Commission approved grants and loans for three rail development projects at its meeting today. DOT Rail Development Manager Laura Hutzell says a rail project in north Iowa to bring freight service to Clear Lake was awarded a loan of $655,000. “It actually goes from Emory, Iowa to Clear Lake, Iowa. There’s a rail line up there that is doing some rehab. There’s a section ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Wednesday, September 27, 2017Omaha, the largest city in Nebraska, sits on the state's eastern border. Head west on I-80 for 45 minutes and you'll hit Lincoln, Nebraska's second largest city. Both cities have burgeoning tech-startup scenes, are raising capital and funding, and are making impressive contributions to the Silicon Prairie as a whole. But what the two cities haven't figured out yet is how to work together to ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Education
Monday, September 25, 2017Five months after Johnson County's first-in-the-state minimum wage increase was nullified by the Iowa Legislature, many employers are still paying higher wages. Peter Fisher, a researcher at the nonprofit Iowa Policy Project, said there is a combination of reasons leading businesses to continue paying higher wages despite the law change. Those could include the social benefits of publicly ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Monday, September 11, 2017The Iowa Tourism Office wants to make it easy for you to connect with our marketing resources. To help with this, an exciting new update was published for members of the Iowa tourism industry yesterday - a refreshed, revamped industry partners microsite. What's New? We have reorganized the content from our previous industry partners pages and made it easier to navigate and find exactly the ...read moreCategories: News, Travel, Iowa NewsThursday, September 07, 2017The Mahaska Community Development Group and Development Partners announced today that Tom Flaherty has been named Executive Director of Mahaska Community Economic Development. Flaherty, who begins Sept. 11, will be responsible for managing development activities to increase business expansion and capital investment in the community. He will also help create an outcome-based strategic plan to ...read moreCategories: News, Community
Thursday, September 07, 2017The Quad-Cities Chamber announced Tuesday it has retained a national executive search firm to begin the search for a new CEO to replace former CEO Tara Barney, who resigned last month. Waverly Partners LLC, will work with a chamber task force to conduct the nationwide search. Waverly Partners is the preferred provider of executive search services of the Association of Chamber of Commerce ...read moreCategories: News, Chamber, Iowa News
Thursday, September 07, 2017One school bond issue on the ballot September 12th will go before voters in seven different counties. That’s the $60-million dollar request by Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids to extend an existing levy. Voters first approved the Kirkwood bond back in 2005. It was renewed in 2012. The request is renewal of a 25 cent per $1,000 of valuation levy on property taxes for voters in Linn, ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Education, Iowa News
Thursday, September 07, 2017The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's director of tourism, Libbey Hohn, was recognized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority for her dedication to the industry. Hohn, who also serves as the Iowa Group Travel Association president and Travel Federation of Iowa president-elect, received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg during a ceremony Sept. 1 in ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Human Interest
Thursday, September 07, 2017With Facebook, Google, Microsoft and now Apple, the blue-chip tech names are starting to stack up in Iowa. The state has attracted billions in new data center investments over the last decade, most recently with Apple's announcement of a $1.4 billion data center planned for Waukee. Data centers deliver big capital investments and fuel short-term employment in construction. But once online, the ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, September 07, 2017After a tornado wrecked McGregor’s historic downtown area in July, most local businesses have recovered and are looking forward to the fall tourism season. Kristie Austin is executive director of the McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce. She says McGregor is ready for the fall tourism season, and it will be very important for local businesses. "The two business buildings that were severely ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Human Interest, Iowa News, Travel
Thursday, September 07, 2017A rail relocation project in Council Bluffs has been named a finalist for a national transportation award. The $23 million project -- which was a part of the larger Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program -- is one of 12 projects nationwide that was named as a finalist for the 2017 America's Transportation Awards sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, September 07, 2017The cities of Center Point and Marion are two of three awarded the 2017 All-Star Community award by the Iowa League of Cities. The League of Cities’ All-Star Community award is meant to honor local governments for innovative efforts, according to the League of Cities website. Center Point was given the award for the city’s library expansion and new community center. Marion was awarded for the ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Iowa News
Thursday, August 31, 2017Ground breaking step into the futureEW Nutrition invests in new manufacturing facility in Adel, Iowa, USAHigher production volume and new production linesAdel, Iowa August 2017: With the official ground breaking ceremony for a new production plant EW Nutrition USA continues its successful development from the previous years. On WednesdayAugust 23, 2017 the construction phase for the new ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Press ReleaseThursday, August 31, 2017Beginning Jan. 1, unemployment insurance taxes for Iowa employers will decrease an average of 25 percent on 2018 wages, according to Iowa Workforce Development. The agency said the decrease is a result of the strength of the unemployment insurance trust fund, unemployment contributory wages and target levels of the unemployment insurance contributory wages.See the full article on ...read moreCategories: News, Economic
Thursday, August 31, 2017With competition for talent at a fever pitch, companies like Grinnell Mutual, Hy-Vee Inc. and others are adding perks to attract and retain highly sought after tech workers. The pool of qualified applicants is smaller than the growing number of tech jobs in Iowa and across the nation. LOOK INSIDE: Hy-Vee's new offices are unlike anything you've ever seen Computer-related jobs account for ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, August 31, 2017In exchange for nearly $208 million in state and local tax breaks, the technology giant Apple has agreed to build two new data centers on 2,000 acres of Iowa land — a project that would create just 50 permanent jobs. This isn’t a deal about workers, though. At least, not directly. At a time when government officials are partnering with companies to boost employment, Apple’s agreement with ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, August 31, 2017It’s changed the face of central Cedar Rapids, driving post-flood development in the New Bohemia and Kingston neighborhoods with new and reclaimed properties. In Iowa City, its backers see it as a way to downtown vitality. “From a community’s point of view, you get a more broad-based neighborhood,” said B.J. Hobart, managing member and co-owner of Hobart Historic Restoration of Cedar ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, August 31, 2017The Iowa Economic Development Authority board recently approved direct financial assistance and tax benefits to five companies that will result in 62 new jobs across the state. Earlier this month, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board awarded direct financial assistance and tax benefits to five companies for job creation and expansion projects. These awards will assist in the ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community, Iowa News
Thursday, August 31, 2017MILFORD, Iowa — GrapeTree Medical Staffing plans to add 200 to 300 jobs as part of a $20 million expansion of its Milford headquarters. Gov. Kim Reynolds joined company officials Tuesday night for the announcement, which comes a week after GrapeTree was named one of the fastest growing private companies in America by Inc. magazine. In a release, said the company is excited to expand in ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community
Thursday, August 31, 2017Iowa City-based IDx knows the importance of keeping tech talent in Iowa. The medical device company is entering into clinical trials for their AI technology that automates the detection of diabetic retinopathy in diabetes patients. If the trial is a success and IDx becomes a leader in AI medTech, they’re going to have to scale up their team of 20. As they look ahead towards the possibility of ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community
Thursday, August 31, 2017From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website FreeEnterprise.com This month, we’re introducing some of America’s most inspiring entrepreneurs by interviewing all 18 finalists for this year’s Dream Big Small Business Awards. The awards program honors the achievements of some of our nation’s most remarkable small business owners and celebrates their contributions to the American economy. We’ll be ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community, Iowa News
Thursday, August 24, 2017In the hunt for a new Toyota manufacturing plant, Iowa officials submitted several potential sites for the Japanese automaker to consider. But many signs point to one eastern Iowa location. Earlier this month, Toyota and Mazda announced plans for a giant, joint-venture factory, immediately sparking a competition among states hoping to land the $1.6 billion project, 4,000 jobs and satellite ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Iowa News
Thursday, August 24, 2017Spirit Lake has been the home of Indian athletics for generations. Now, a local manufacturing plant aims to make Spirit Lake the home of Indian Motorcycles. Amid the noise of outside construction and factory production, the newly opened Experience Center on the eastern side of the Spirit Lake Polaris plant is a calm showcase for the Indian Motorcycle brand. Spirit Lake became the main assembly ...read moreCategories: Chamber, Economic, News, Community
Thursday, August 24, 2017Sukup Manufacturing Co. will open an office location in the Iowa State University Research Park in Ames, Iowa, U.S. The office will be open after Sept. 1. “Sukup Manufacturing has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, which has created the ideal time to grow in locations,” said Charles Sukup, company president. “We view opening this new office in Ames as an opportunity to capitalize on ...read moreCategories: News, EconomicWednesday, August 23, 2017The Story County Consortium, which consists of the seven school districts of Story County and Boone Community Schools, has worked in cooperation with DMACC, the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission and multiple Story County businesses, to develop and establish shared STEM related programming for high school juniors and seniors. The SCALE Program will be offering high ...read moreCategories: News, Community, Economic, Iowa News
Wednesday, August 23, 2017Dan Koenig, president and CEO of the San Angelo, Texas, Chamber of Commerce has been named president and CEO of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. Koenig replaces former Chamber President and CEO Bob Mundt, who resigned after 25 years of service in April to accept a similar position with the Fox Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce in Appleton, Wisconsin. “Dan brings extensive chamber ...read moreCategories: Chamber, News, Iowa News
Wednesday, August 16, 2017Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a press release there have been a record amount of new business filings during the recent fiscal year. In Ottumwa, the news has been mixed: Two major retailers left town during the past 12 months. Department stores and other big chains have closed locations around Iowa. But there were multiple smaller stores that opened here. "It's the small ones that ...read moreCategories: News, Economic, Community, Iowa News
Wednesday, August 16, 2017A plan to help beautify downtown Mason City with a Frank Lloyd Wright theme has the "backing" of Iowa Arts Council, the Mason City Chamber of Commerce and a downtown business. And the backing takes on more than one meaning because the beautification involves the back of a building — Brick Furniture — which will soon be adorned with a mural bearing a Frank Lloyd Wright style of design. Chamber ...read moreCategories: Community, News, Iowa News
Wednesday, August 16, 2017When it comes to raising children location is important. Parents want their children to have the opportunity to attend the best schools and also to enjoy their childhoods and make friends. But many places with the best schools and the best economic opportunities tend to be the least affordable. SmartAsset considered these and other metrics to find the best places for children in 2017. Key ...read moreCategories: Community, Papers/Research, News, Iowa News
Monday, August 14, 2017After many years of exodus from downtowns, communities of all sizes are re-envisioning their core retail, cultural, historical and housing districts and pouring resources into revitalizing the city centers. Why? Because a lively downtown is a major quality of feature, and continues to be the heartbeat of a healthy community.The Boone County Chamber of Commerce staff is spending much of our time ...read moreCategories: Economic, News, Iowa News
Monday, August 14, 2017Marion was named a 2017 All-Star Community by the Iowa League of Cities for the Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts at Lowe Park. Judges determine winners based on innovative efforts in areas such as urban renewal, development, preservation, collaborative efforts or quality of life improvements. Marion was among three of Iowa's 945 cities to garner such recognition. Read the full ...read moreCategories: News, Human Interest, Community, Iowa News
