Posts Tagged ‘business’
Author: rachellethomas Published: September 20th, 2010
Five cities in Iowa made Forbes’ “America’s Best Small Cities for Business and Careers”, with Iowa City taking the number two spot on the list. Iowa City’s strong showing was traced to its well-educated labor force since it is home to the University of Iowa, where 47% of adults have a college degree, the third-highest among small metros.
The list by Forbes was comprised of smaller cities that offer low business costs and strong employment prospects.
From Forbes.com:
Iowa was the clear standout in the ranking with five metros in the top 20 including Iowa City, which ranked No. 2 (Des Moines nabbed the top spot on out the list of bigger metros). Other leading Iowa metros include No. 13 Waterloo, No. 14 Sioux City, No. 15 Dubuque and No. 17 Ames. They share some similar characteristics like business costs at least 16% below the national average and crime rates that fare at least 16% lower. These metros are all home to top-ranked colleges that churn out a steady crop of highly educated labor. Employment in Dubuque is expected to increase 4.2% annually over the next three years, better than any other metro area (big or small) in the country
Read the full article:
http://www.forbes.com/2010/09/13/best-small-cities-for-business-beltway-best-small-cities.html
Tags: business, Economy, Forbes
Category Featured, Jobs & Economy, Recent News |
Author: admin Published: July 16th, 2010
The Iowa Department of Economic Development awarded five Iowa companies, located in Coralville, Fort Madison, Iowa City, LeClaire and Sioux City, a Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program grant. The grants were awarded to support increased production and business growth in Iowa.
Fort Madison
Siemens Energy, Inc., in Fort Madison recieved $180,000 to support the extension of rail spur to service Siemens. This $1,350,000 project will extend an existing rail spur to provide capacity for an additional 15 rail cars. The improvement is anticipated to expand the number of blades Siemens could competitively produce by 660 annually and increase current competition distribution radius by 1,500 miles.
LeClaire
Mississippi River Distilling Company, in LeClaire, is a start-up company that plans to be the first micro distillery in Iowa to focus specifically on the production of small batch, handmade vodka, gin and bourbon manufactured from locally grown grains. The Board approved a $95,000 award from the value added agricultural component of the GIVFAP to assist with the costs related to the production of the liquors.
Coralville
J & J Solutions, Inc. of Coralville is a start-up company launched in 2008. They manufacture medical devices that optimize the safe handling of hazardous medication, such as chemotherapeutics, used to treat cancer patients. The Iowa Economic Development Board approved an award of $250,000 from the entrepreneurial component of the GIVFAP to support the development of this new product. The company expects to create 15 new jobs and retain three to support this new product line.
Iowa City
Responsible Transportation of Iowa City is a startup company that has been awarded $25,000 for technical assistance from the entrepreneurial component of the GIVFAP to conduct a feasibility study, plan for plant development, perform export analysis, engineering building design, and website design for their new company. The company intends to become the first pound for unwanted horses serving the Midwest.
Sioux City
Industrial Design Fabrication & Installation, Inc., (IDFI) currently located in Moville, is looking to lease a larger building in Sioux City to accommodate the company’s expansion, including additional equipment and employees. The Board approved an award of $125,000 from the GIVFAP and Enterprise Zone tax benefits to support the creation of nine new and 16 retained jobs.
Tags: business, business growth, Economy, IDED, iowa companies
Category Environment, Jobs & Economy |
Author: admin Published: July 15th, 2010
Iowa was ranked #1 for “Cost for Doing Business” because of it’s low tax burden, including individual income and property taxes, and business taxes on company’s who are considering locating their business in Iowa. CNBC also took into consideration the cost of wages and state workers’ compensation insurance, as well as rental costs for office and industrial space. This is the second consecutive year that Iowa has received the top spot in the “Cost for Doing Business” category from CNBC’s rankings.
Over all Iowa ranked #6 in CNBC’s 2010 Top States for Business, for having low business costs, an upturning economy and an over all friendliness to business.
To see all the rankings visit: http://www.cnbc.com/id/37516043/.
Tags: business, cnbc, Economy
Category Featured, Jobs & Economy |
Author: deanfiihr Published: June 22nd, 2010
Des Moines was recently named number seven in Kiplingers “Ten Best Cities for the Next Decade” based on it’s growing workforce, low-cost housing and family friendliness.
From Kiplinger:
“A likely worker shortage sparked by retiring baby-boomers has lit a fire under Des Moines’s civic leaders. The city is working to lure back young Iowans and attracting global talent by developing its downtown and promoting the jobs available in the many industries that flourish there. Other big draws: low-cost housing, plus the city’s long-touted reputation for family-friendliness and a “19-minute commute.”
For more information regarding Iowa’s newest ranking visit:
http://content.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/10-best-cities-2010-for-the-next-decade.html?topic_id=40
http://content.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/best-cities-2010-des-moines-iowa.html
Tags: business, business climate, des moines
Category Jobs & Economy |
Author: deanfiihr Published: April 14th, 2010
According to Forbes Magazine, Des Moines is the best place for business in the country:
The Great Recession ravaged almost every big city across the United States in 2009. Home prices were down in 182 of the 200 largest metro areas, while household incomes fell in 94% of these areas. The employment picture was even tougher: only four areas posted positive job growth with a paltry gain of just 4,300 positions created–combined. The other 196 metros together lost 3.5 million jobs last year.
The worst may be over, but businesses on both coasts still face outrageous costs and indebted state governments with budget shortfalls that will have to be filled from the flesh of local firms. Those problems won’t be resolved anytime soon.
What to do? Our 12th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers has an answer: Move to Middle America.
The top of this year’s list is filled with cities in so-called flyover states, areas with reasonable business costs, strong economic outlooks and a solid quality of life.
Leading the way is Des Moines, Iowa, which grabbed our top spot after ranking seventh last year. Iowa’s capital has 562,000 people in the metro area and features business costs 15% below the national average (living costs are 10% below the national average). It has an educated labor supply as 33% of adults have college degrees (ranking 46th among the 200 largest metros) and 92% possess high school diplomas (ranks 19th).
The financial industry has set up shop in Des Moines, with Wells Fargo and Principal Financial being the largest employers in the area with 19,000 employees between them. Other big employers include insurers Nationwide Insurance and Marsh & McLennan.
The economic outlook is bright in Des Moines as well. Employment is expected to increase at a 2.7% annual clip over the next three years, 10th best in the country. Meanwhile, household incomes are projected to rise 2.9%, which ranks 11th.
Des Moines city manager Richard Clark points to the area’s quality of life as a big draw for corporations. Housing is affordable with a median home price of just $149,000, one-quarter the price of a home in the San Francisco area. Commute times, according to the Census Bureau, average 19.8 minutes, one of the fastest in the U.S.
Getting outside is easy, too. Des Moines designed a system of more than 300 miles of trails in and around the city for running, walking, biking or in-line skating. A 4.4-acre public park and sculpture garden opened downtown in September. Local venture capitalist John Pappajohn and his wife Mary donated $40 million of sculptures to the project from their personal collection. The park is surrounded by the offices of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nationwide and ING.
Tags: business, des moines, Forbes Magazine
Category Featured, Jobs & Economy |
