Buddy, Apple Creek Kennel's mascot, shows off the shower space at the facility's new dog spa following a ribbon cutting Monday. CREDIT APPLE CREEK KENNEL
Dogs and the people who love them have a new place for pampering with the opening of a new spa for canines at Apple Creek Kennel in Marion.
The business, located at 650 51st St., celebrated the 325-square-foot addition with a ribbon cutting July 20 featuring its mascot, Buddy.
"Dogs can get everything from nail trims to full grooms," said owner Nikee Woods of the spa, which provides seven-day-a-week services for dogs from Yorkies to Great Danes. "Those can be scheduled as spa only appointments or along with their boarding or daycare stay."
Spa services range from a basic bath, including brushing, towel dry and ear cleaning to "pawdicures" complete with nail polishing and blueberry facial scrubs.
The expansion comes on the heels of a change in ownership this past January. Apple Creek Kennel was started by Mary and Stan Pfoff and has been in business at its current location since 2012. In January 2020, the business was purchased by the Pfoffs' niece and nephew, Nikee and Brad Woods, who are continuing the Pfoffs' dream of superior "24/7/365" pet care.
In addition to spa needs, Apple Creek Kennel provides a safe home away from home for owners needing to board their pet for an extended trip. Doggy daycare is available to offer social play during the day.
Almost Famous Popcorn, located in Cedar Rapids' NewBo District, was one of five Iowa small businesses honored in this year's Main Street Open 4 Business contest. CREDIT ALMOST FAMOUS
Cedar Rapids' Almost Famous Popcorn was awarded $10,000 in this year's Main Street Open 4 Business contest, which honored five Iowa businesses, including top prize-winner, Pressed, a boutique located in Spencer.
Almost Famous plans to partner with local companies to design, build and install a product wall to hold popcorn, drinks and other Iowa-made treats. The NewBo District popcorn emporium was among five businesses from Main Street Iowa communities across the state to compete in the final round of the contest, which began in May with 19 applicants. All five businesses received awards of $10,000, with Pressed receiving the top $20,000 prize.
"We don't typically award everyone, but this year is anything but typical so everyone is going home a winner," said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority, in a release. "Our competitors have done not only what it takes to survive the extraordinary economic impact of the past few months, they also have dared to dream big. These small businesses exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment that is evident in our Main Street communities statewide."
Also receiving $10,000 grants were
Cutting Edge Archery in Elkader, Dungeons & Dodgers of Fort Dodge and Unique Memories by Rachel of West Union.
"Main Street Open 4 Business has never had such powerful meaning as it does this year during this time of economic uncertainty and small business challenges," said Main Street Iowa Coordinator Michael Wagler. "Each of this year's applicants are demonstrating inspiring examples of small businesses innovating in the face of adversity and working to expand their operations to better serve and support their local communities."
This is the sixth year of the Open 4 Business contest, which is open to businesses located in the 55 Main Street Iowa districts across the state. The grants are administered through IEDA's Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will assist with business expansion projects for each of the businesses.
For more information about the Main Street Iowa Open 4 Business program, contact Robin Bostrom, Main Street Iowa business specialist, at (515) 348-6176 or [email protected].
New Iowa business filings remain strong in FY2020
This graph shows the number of new businesses filed in Iowa from 2011-2020.
Secretary of State Paul Pate has announced Iowans registered the second highest amount of new business entities in state history during the 2020 fiscal year with 24,481 new businesses registered with his office between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. The mark is just shy of the record high of 24,720, set in fiscal year 2019.
"This data shows that despite the pandemic, there was substantial economic activity in Iowa over the past 12 months," Mr. Pate stated in a press release. "I'm proud of the work my staff put in to help new businesses launch."
Since mid-March, when the pandemic was beginning to significantly impact the state, 94% of new domestic businesses in Iowa were created using Fast Track Filing. The system implemented by Mr. Pate in 2018 expedites the registration process, allowing same-day service. Mr. Pate's office has added six new business filing types to the Fast Track system since March.
A list of active Iowa business entities is available here.
Downtown Iowa City's Annual Sidewalk Sales have been an Iowa City tradition since 1968, but this took on new significance for stores like Ten Thousand Villages, a Ped Mall shop specializing in fair-trade merchandise that's experienced a drop in customers over the last few months.
"Shopping outside is ideal for this kind of situation because you can be in open air and people can spread out, and we can spread out our product so it's not so cramped in the store," Cassidy Bell, director of Ten Thousand Villages told KCRG-TV9, adding the sales brought out a volume of customers that she hadn't seen in a while.With the Downtown Block Party and other summer events called off this year, Ms. Bell said having this one at least brought some sense of normalcy back, even if the reminders are still there that these aren't normal times, like signs on store doors asking customers to wear masks. "If things carry on for a long time or if we're still in this kind of situation next summer, this might be a nice thing to be able to do and make it more of a weekend event," she said. Read the full story and watch the video here.
Consulting: What to know about the Main Street lending program
In this week's consulting spotlight, Robin Jackson Miller of Terry Lockridge & Dunn outlines the details of the Main Street New Loan Facility intended to support businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.
Robin Jackson Miller
The Federal Reserve of Boston and the U.S. Treasury have established a series of Main Street Program loans to assist businesses with cash flow during the pandemic. These are very different from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The SBA is not involved with the Main Street lending program. Also, unlike the PPP loans, the borrower's financial condition will be factored in. Currently, interested lenders are registering to become eligible lenders for the Main Street lending programs. Once the program is operational, small and medium-sized businesses can apply for a loan by contacting an eligible lender.
The Main Street New Loan Facility (MSNLF) is available to eligible borrowers with a business that was established prior to March 13, 2020, is not an ineligible business (non-profits are not eligible for a MSNLF), has either 15,000 employees or less, or 2019 annual revenues of $5 billion or less. The business must be created in and significantly based in the U.S. and not participate in any of the other Main Street Lending programs. Even if you received PPP money, you may still apply for a MSNLF loan.
The minimum loan size has been reduced to $250,000. The maximum loan size is dependent upon your other business debt/available lines of credit and your 2019 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), but cannot be more than $35 million. It cannot be subordinated to any other business debt, but the loan can be prepaid without penalty.
The MSNLF has a five-year maturity with principal payments deferred for two years and interest payments deferred for one year (unpaid interest will be capitalized). The principal will be paid back 15% at the end of the third year, 15% at the end of the fourth year and a balloon payment of 70% at the end of the fifth year. The loan will have an adjustable interest rate of LIBOR (1 or 3 month) plus 300 basis points. You may also be required to pay loan fees to obtain the funds.
If the COVID-19 shutdown didn't kill your business,
trying to reopen might, the Seattle Times reports.
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Short-Term Event Planner
July 24
Cybersecurity Intern Series: Interviewing and Networking Tips for Security Roles,by the Technology Association of Iowa, 1-2 p.m., online. The session will focus on recruiting tips and networking. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/38XVwCZ.
July 28
Hiawatha Business Summit, by Hiawatha Economic Development Corp., city of Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8 a.m., online. Mary Lund, manager of Stillwater Coffee, will present "Windows of Opportunity - How to See Chaos as an Opportunity to Innovate." Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2YLKfCB.
July 29
Iowa Fraud Fighters - Shield Your Savings Series, by Iowa Insurance Division, noon-1 p.m., online. This webinar is for family members or caregivers of Iowa seniors and provides tips for caregivers to recognize the red flags of Medicare fraud and investment scams. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/3gBQX41.
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9 a.m., online. Join for community connections and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC.
Headlines from KCRG-TV9
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Thursday requiring the entire county to wear face masks when social distancing is not possible.
This is despite the governor's office saying the decision is not within city leader's powers. But the board of supervisors said it's better than inaction. The board of supervisors says their vote does not have the same power as a mayor and is not enforceable. But all board members approved the resolution that was recommended by the Johnson County Board of Health. The resolution includes examples of public spaces like grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores. It says the mandate would also include outdoor settings where people are within six feet of each other, as well as public transportation. The resolution has some exceptions. Kids younger than 2 and those with certain medical conditions will be exempt, as well as anyone who has been told by a medical professional not to wear a covering.
A Coralville man was arrested after allegedly shooting someone and fleeing the scene after an argument over a drug deal at the Hawks Ridge apartments in Iowa City in December 2019.
An Iowa City police criminal complaint said 28-year-old Rafael Brown admitted in an interview to shooting the victim at 201 Hawks Ridge Dr. in Iowa City. However, he said he did so in self-defense. He also denied being there for a drug deal. Officials said Brown drove a co-defendant to Hawks Ridge apartment complex to sell 6 THC cartridges and 2 ounces of marijuana for $660 to the victim and the victim's friend. After an argument about the payment for the drugs, the defendant, from the driver seat, shot the victim, who was standing at the passenger side window, through the arm and into the torso. Officials said the victim's injuries required surgery and about a week and a half long hospitalization. Investigators later issued a search warrant and found the gun that was used in the shooting at Brown's home. They also searched Brown's phone and found numerous texts about buying and selling drugs before and after the shooting took place. There were also many photos of Brown with guns, large amounts of cash and several photos of him holding large amounts of marijuana. Brown faces charges of controlled substance violation and willful injury, causing serious injury.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast
Wonderful weather continues today with plenty of sunshine and highs into the lower 80s in many areas. Parts of northeast Iowa may have a day in the 70s. Enjoy another day of lower humidity as that will greatly ramp up Friday into the weekend. As that front pushes by, it may possibly generate an isolated storm on Saturday though it looks like the better chance of rain may occur Sunday into early Monday with the passage of a cold front.
Apple Creek Kennel adds space for new dog spa in Marion
