 |
| |
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
|
|
|
While economic optimism is still high, results from the Iowa Business Council's (IBC)
quarterly economic outlook survey suggest attracting and retaining a quality workforce remains Iowa employers' top concern.
The workforce issue has been a consistent theme throughout the past year for IBC members, with nearly 70 percent citing either engineering, IT or health care as key job positions they are unable, or struggling, to fill within the state.
"This survey aligns with our 2019 Competitive Dashboard data which measures Iowa's progress in five categories relative to other states; the lack of available and qualified workforce is threaded throughout every category," IBC Executive Director Georgia Van Gundy said in a release. "As an answer to this challenge, the Iowa Business Council has brought together leaders from both the public and private sectors to identify potential initiatives to attract and retain people to our state."
In addition, the IBC will hold its first of four "Vision to Vitality" forums from 4-5:30 p.m. April 2 at Iowa Valley Continuing Education in Marshalltown to discuss barriers and best practices. This year, the series will focus on the need to increase and diversify the state's population and will center around the theme, "Growing a strong, diverse community."
IBC members remain optimistic overall about the economy. Nearly 80 percent of IBC members anticipate higher sales in the next six months and the majority expect their company's employment to increase.
The survey's overall index number from last quarter remains largely consistent and positive (up from 64.8 to 65.5). The overall index number is a numeric measure that gauges business sentiment with any number over 50 indicating a positive perspective of the economy.
|
|
|
|
As the child care crisis deepens in Iowa, Waypoint Services has found a way to help employers recruit and retain workers with children, as well as show appreciation for the support it receives from the business community.
The 125-year-old nonprofit began offering child care discounts to employers with significant numbers of employees needing the service two years ago. It now works with five companies in the Cedar Rapids metro.
"When we started working on this concept two years ago, we wanted to be able to give back and support the community, rather than being the organization out there asking for something all of the time," CEO Jaye Kennedy said.
Waypoint provides child care and services to support women and families in crisis, including domestic violence advocacy services, shelter and housing. Needs are high in all three areas, Ms. Kennedy said, and the nonprofit's frequent asks are not unjustified.
Looking at what Waypoint could do to return the support it receives from businesses, day care assistance became an obvious area.
The organization's licensed child care program, KidsPoint, serves about 536 children and infants at its main facility at 318 Fifth St. SE and a satellite space at 5830 C St. SW; it also offers before- and after-school programs at both centers and at nine Cedar Rapids public schools.
The cost of child care and the shortage of available spaces has become one of the largest impediments to employment for single parents and families of limited means. Iowa has lost 42 percent of its child care operations listed with Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral in the last five years.
"We're at that tipping point," said Chris Kivett-Berry, community project director for Linn County's Early Childhood Iowa program. "Even though the child care industry has been expressing their concern, now it's gone out into the business community, and it's become a serious concern because of the connection between the child care crisis and the shortage of workers."
Read the full members-only story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.
|
|
|
|
For the complete list of this week's Movers & Shakers, see the
April 1 edition of the CBJ.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The University of Iowa's 2019 International Entrepreneurship Summit this Friday will focus on doing business in Africa. CREDIT UI
|
The University of Iowa's Institute for International Business will host a summit April 5 focusing on doing business in Africa.
The International Entrepreneurship Summit, now in its fifth year, offers speakers and experts from different parts of the world a platform to showcase the entrepreneurial opportunities that exist in their countries to Iowa companies, organizations, entrepreneurs, students, UI faculty and staff.
This year's summit focuses on how institutions of higher learning can facilitate international relations and the global economy using entrepreneurship as the focal point through the panelist session and keynote speakers
Sarah Boeving, deputy project director for Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, The International Research & Exchanges Board, and
Dave Okech, former UI Mandela Washington Fellow, CEO of Rio Fish and managing director of SareMillers LTD.
"The sessions are an opportunity for Iowa entrepreneurs to learn more about doing business in Africa and will explore best practices for conducting business there, using entrepreneurship as a tool to boost relations and diplomacy, and unpack the African entrepreneurial ecosystem so Iowans can get involved," UI spokesman Tom Snee said in an email.
Countries that will be represented include Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Kenya, with speakers from each country.
|
|
|
|
The Corridor Business Journal is seeking nominations for its 2019
Coolest Places to Work.
Honorees will be recognized at an Aug. 27 awards banquet and featured in the Sept. 2 issue of the weekly CBJ.
Coolest Places to Work identifies and honors Corridor companies that have created the most engaging and rewarding work environments. Self-nominated companies in Kirkwood's seven-county region will be selected based on the results of a Worker Satisfaction Survey.
The application process is free and open to all companies with a presence in the Corridor. To submit a nomination, visit
www.bit.ly/2019Coolest
. Nominations are due April 4. After the nomination period has closed, the Skywalk Group will email a Worker Satisfaction Survey to employees and management at each company. At least 60 percent of employees must complete the survey to qualify.
Honorees will be ranked in three categories based on total number of employees:
small company (1-20 employees), medium company (21-99) and large company (100+). For more information, contact Lisa Guge at (319) 743-9830 or [email protected].
Honorees will be notified in July. The rankings of the top 24 companies will be announced at the Coolest Places to Work event, Aug. 27 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. The program will feature videos on each company, and the CEO from the No. 1 Coolest Place to Work will share his or her story. For details, visit
www.corridorbusiness.com/events
.
|
|
|
|
April 4
Women of Influence, by the Corridor Business Journal, 5-8 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. The 15th-annual Women of Influence awards identify and honor women who have made a difference as role models and leaders in their fields and community. Tickets: $55, or $550 for a table of 10. For more information, visit
corridorbusiness.com/events.
Shaking the Money Tree, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6-7:30 p.m., Cedar Rapids Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW. This workshop will explore funding sources and how business owners should prepare themselves to take advantage of funding opportunities. Free. To register, visit
conta.cc/2TjNCdM.
April 8
Monthly Meeting, by Iowa Inventors Group, 6:30 p.m., Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, 115 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Jared Adam will present on the formation of limited liability entities. Free. For more information, visit
iowainventorsgroup.org.
April 9
TechBrew, by Technology Association of Iowa, 8-9 a.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. Brian Waller, TAI president, conducts casual interviews with CIOs who share their favorite music, discuss their career path and share what's most important for the Iowa technology community. Free. To register, visit
technologyiowa.org/events.
Building Your Human Firewall, by Kirkwood Corporate Training and ProCircular, 8:30-10:30 a.m., The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. This training program will help employees understand their unique and critical role in security. End users will learn techniques on how to quickly identify and respond (or not respond) to the latest cyberthreats. Cost: $39. For more information, visit
bit.ly/kctcyberescape or call (319) 398-1022.
Marketing Forum, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. This forum is designed to foster the growth and development of marketing professionals. Participants will receive advice and tips, learn from others and grow their professional network. This month's topic is websites and search engine optimization. Free. To register, visit
www.cedarrapids.org.
Business Lunch Roundtable, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. A business topic will be discussed along with networking opportunities. For more information, visit
scorecr.org.
Membership 101, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. Find out how to best utilize your membership and meet other new members. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/2EQrbIa.
|
|
|
|
See and Be Seen
in the
CBJ Book of Lists - THE definitive resource guide for business leaders. Ranked information on Corridor companies by sector, regional market facts and
profiles of the most influential people under one cover.
Don't be left out - Be Seen
!
|
|
|
|
|
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
A pair of Iowa farmers left the field Tuesday for the hill in Washington D.C., to call on lawmakers to end trade disputes in order to prevent further losses. President Trump triggered the trade wars because, he says, he can get a better deal for farmers, manufacturers and consumers. So far, that hasn't happened. That's why some went to Capitol Hill to demand action from the legislative branch.
"I would not encourage my boys to come back to the farm and that's sad because that is our rural communities." said Rebecca Dostal of Traer. She says taking over the family farm no longer guarantees her kids a successful career. Her concerns were echoed by Mark Meirick, a pork producer from Howard County. "We've been below break even on most all commodities," Mr. Meirick told lawmakers. "Milk, corn, beans, hogs, so the bankers are nervous."
State leaders and insurance executives are
still at odds over why UnitedHealthcare is leaving Iowa's troubled Medicaid program.
Now, two-thirds of Iowans who rely on Medicaid will have to make a choice. Their options are between Amerigroup of Iowa or Iowa Total Care, which will join the program in July.
"Frustrating doesn't even begin to explain it," Cindy Smothers says. Her son, Tyler, is one of the more than 400,000 people who will have to switch providers when UnitedHealthcare leaves the program this year.
"We found out on a post on Facebook. Then saw it on the news that evening," Ms. Smothers says of how she found out about the change last Friday. "I had just talked to our case manager, couldn't have been two days before. Not one word mentioned."
She believes even the case worker was blindsided by the news, as UnitedHealthcare told the state Friday afternoon that they would no longer be part of the privatized Medicaid program due to "persistent funding and program design challenges," per a company statement.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
|
|
|
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
There will be multiple rounds of rain over the next seven days. Temperatures will be below normal through Thursday, then well-above normal over the weekend.
A cold front will move through the area this morning and stall out over the state. This boundary will be the focus for rainfall today and tomorrow. Rain will move in after 4 p.m. from west to east. The heaviest rain will likely fall north of I-80. Most of the area will pick up around 0.25 inch with the possibility of up to an inch through Thursday.
If there's over an inch of rain, that could lead to localized flooding and rises on rivers. Along the Mississippi River, the crest is likely late this week into the weekend, and this rain could alter the crest height by a foot with runoff. Stay tuned for updated river flood forecasts.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
