Iowa Business Report

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report:

Over the past decade, the Winneshiek Energy District has helped create hundreds of local jobs and attract millions of investment dollars, all while saving energy costs.

Despite the pandemic, it's been a record year of investment by the U.S.D.A. Rural Development office, as Iowa state director Grant Menke tells us.

In this week's "Business Profile", we talk with John Mickelson of Midwest Growth Partners about their efforts to invest in, and grow, Iowa businesses.

For more, go to totallyiowa.com and click on the "radio programs" link.   

Presented with support from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org)   

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report:

The pandemic devastated the global economy, but new government funding and programs are helping with retraining and job placement. Ryan West, deputy director of Iowa Workforce Development, gives us details.

And some 110,000 Iowans have returned to work since the early part of the pandemic, making Iowa's unemployment rate again among the lowest in the nation. We connect with Gov. Kim Reynolds about business and industry in Iowa, post-coronavirus.

In this week's "Business Profile", we talk with Mark Hanawalt of United Equipment Accessories in Waverly about generational succession.

For more, go to totallyiowa.com and click on the "radio programs" link.   

Presented with support from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org)   

The way we educate and train leaders in a business is actually done quite poorly, with outmoded ideas and delays in actually providing education at all. Jennifer Mackin is author of "Leaders Deserve Better: A Leadership Development Revolution". Mackin talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on September 24, 2020.      

The third quarter survey of Iowa Business Council members shows a significant increase in positive economic sentiment for the next six months. IBC executive director Joe Murphy talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on October 7, 2020.  

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on small business in this country has been nothing short of devastating...and recovery of that segment is vital to American economic resurgence. Andi Gray is president of Strategy Leaders, a consulting firm that works with small businesses. Gray talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on September 24, 2020.     

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.

In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Scott DeMuth of SERVPRO of Black Hawk County, which has established a strong personal connection with both clients and employees. 

He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-39 in Waterloo on September 18, 2020; this podcast contains the full conversation.     

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.

In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Mike Chapman of Culture House Books, now based in Newton. We discuss how the process of writing and publishing books has changed over time. Chapman is the author of more than 30 books, many of which were published by the company he and his wife Beverly founded. 

He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-38 in Waterloo on September 16, 2020; this podcast contains the full conversation.     

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.

In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet April Samp, co-owner of Sylvan Learning of Iowa about how the well-known company has adapted and expanded its services in the wake of "learning from home" protocols. 

She spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-37 via Zoom on September 1, 2020; this podcast contains the full conversation.     

Failure to communicate clearly can cost businesses time and money. This breakdown between entities within a workplace can be prevented with proactivity, according to Bill Higgs, author of "Culture Code Champions". Higgs talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on September 23, 2020.    

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry surveys its members each quarter about anticipated sales, hiring levels, and issues facing business. The results of the survey for the fourth quarter of 2020, and Iowa's economic/business recovery, are the topics for this conversation between Iowa ABI president Mike Ralston and Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report. The conversation took place via ZOOM on September 15, 2020.