Back to Business Iowa

Himar Hernandez y Victor Oyervides dialogan sobre los diferentes recursos para negocios disponibles de la comunidad Latina en Iowa. Estos recursos incluyen asistencia técnica directa, talleres de Modelo de Negocio en español e información sobre préstamos disponibles a través del Estado de Iowa.

Iowa State University professor and economist Dr. Peter Orazem discusses his recent research into the minimum wage and its effects on firm entry and exit. He also discusses his research on firm entry and exit during the COVID-19 era and some predictions about the future state of business bankruptcies.  

SBDC Iowa regional director Kimberly Tiefenthaler and SBDC business counselor Darcy Swon speak to host Steve Adams about their experiences working with small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the COVID-19 crisis. They also speak about a new program they have developed called "Innovate U," which allows DMACC students in Carroll to experience the process of starting a new business over a six-week period. 

Matt Everson, Iowa state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), walks us through the results of their recent January 2021 survey. Among other things, it measures small business owners' outlook toward future business conditions—a metric known as the "Optimism Index." 

Lisa Bates, state specialist with the Community and Economic Development Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discusses her upcoming event for leaders and planners in retail businesses development, where they will learn strategies to implement in their local communities. 

Aubrey Alvarez, Executive Director of Eat Greater Des Moines, and Matt Unger, CEO of the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC), speak about the work their respective organizations do to combat food insecurity in Iowa, how they have been affected by COVID-19, and suggest ways in which other Iowans can help this winter. 

Jessica Dunker, President and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, returns to the program to speak about the state of the restaurant and bar industry, one of the hardest hit by this pandemic. Listen to Ms. Dunker speak about the dire situation facing many of these small business owners as we enter the winter and what you can do to help. 

Dawn Oliver Wiand, Executive Director of the Iowa Women's Foundation, speaks to host Steve Adams about her organization's work to help Iowa's women achieve self-sufficiency through access to quality, affordable childcare.

Today's guest is Jillian Herink, Executive Director of the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children, a non-profit organization which promotes high quality education for children from birth to age 8 by connecting practice, policy, and research. Ms. Herink connects the importance of quality childcare with creating and sustaining a healthy economy in Iowa.

Today's guest is Ryan Page, Childcare Regulatory Program Manager and Team Lead for the Childcare Bureau under the Division of Adult, Children, and Family Services within the Iowa Department of Human Services. She speaks with host Steve Adams on the status of childcare in the state—especially the effect the pandemic has had on service providers and the various resources the state provides to this critical industry.