WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2, 2017  |  IN THIS ISSUE  
Story1Whirlpool kicks off hiring blitz in Amana 

A hiring blitz is underway at Whirlpool's Middle Amana plant, with the company hoping to hire 500 employees over the coming month.
 
The goal is to launch a third shift on one of the plant's three major refrigerator assembly lines by September to meet growing demand for French door units, according to Amana HR Director Chris Rice. Once that shift is live, two out of the three major assembly lines at the plant will be running 24 hours a day.
 
The new shift will account for about 200-250 of the employees needed; the rest will help meet increased product demand on other product lines and help with seasonal work. If the company is successful, the Amana operations will grow to employ around 3,200 people.
 
Mr. Rice noted that the rapid ramp-up will be a challenge, considering the region's extremely low unemployment rate. The company is partnering with Kelly Services of Cedar Rapids to help it recruit full-time hires, and Mr. Rice expects his team to have to speak to "several thousand people" over the coming weeks to meet the hiring goal.
 
"I'm confident and scared at the same time, but we're seeing a lot of good traffic, with people coming in or calling, and the volume continues to increase," he added.
 
The hiring blitz comes as consumers continue to gravitate towards higher-priced, premium refrigerator models, regardless of brand. New tech advances such as Wi-Fi-connected refrigerators and "door-within-the-door" configurations are driving refrigerator sales, and requiring more employees to build them. 
 
Whirlpool cited "very strong unit volume growth" in its second quarter earnings, released last week, and said that it expects full-year unit shipments in the U.S. to increase by 4-6 percent. Whirlpool's North America unit reported second-quarter sales of $3 billion, up from $2.8 billion in the same quarter last year.
 
Whirlpool's Amana plant manufactures all of the "bottom-mount" refrigerators sold by the corporation's five appliance brands, producing about 5,000 units a day.
Story2Washington voters approve hotel/motel tax 

Hotel and motel guests in the city of Washington will see a 7 percent tax on their bills starting next January after voters in the city overwhelmingly approved the measure in yesterday's special election.
 
Seventy-five percent of city voters supported the tax, which will add about $5 to the average room bill per night, according to an FAQ posted online by advocates. That same site estimates that the tax will raise $30,000-$40,000 per year, based on the city's current room sales.
 
Washington twice before tried to institute a room tax in 2001 and 2009; supporters estimated that the city has lost out on nearly $500,000 in funds during that time.
 
Supporters said that Washington was the only city of its size in Iowa without a tax, and noted that all nearby communities have one in place, including Riverside, Iowa City, Fairfield and Mount Pleasant. Iowa communities made $55 million in 2016 from the generated revenue in 2016, according to data provided by the committee.
 
According to state law, at least 50 percent of the revenue generated must go to tourism. In Washington, half of the money will go to promoting tourism and the city, while the other half will go toward community projects and improvements.
Story4Loan growth drives record quarter at Bankers Trust 
 
Increased loan volumes in all markets helped drive Bankers Trust to a record second quarter as part of its centennial year, the Des Moines-based bank announced this week.
 
Consolidated earnings for the three months ending June 30 were $11.1 million, the highest in the company's history, it said in a press release. Cumulative earnings for the first six months of the year were $22.1 million, a 33 percent increase over the same period last year.
 
The bank also picked up nearly $200 million in assets since the end of 2016, bringing its consolidated assets to $4.3 billion. That makes Bankers Trust one of the top 250 banks in the United States, as measured by asset size.
 
Loan volumes grew by $155 million in the first half of the year, and the bank ended the second quarter with a $3.5 billion portfolio. Deposits stood at $3.2 billion at mid-year, an increase of $150 million thanks to a record number of new checking accounts, according to the bank.
 
"Bankers Trust continues to outpace the industry when it comes to loan growth, without sacrificing asset quality," Bank President Don Coffin said in a press release. "The expansion of Bankers Trust in all markets - Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Phoenix - has exceeded expectations while asset quality remains exceptionally strong."
 
Bankers Trust is largest and most profitable bank based in the state, with 2016 earnings of $39.9 million. It has branches in the Des Moines metro, Ames, Cedar Rapids and Phoenix.
Story4Companies looking to open layouts for well-being, recruitment 
 
Inside Pearson's Iowa City office
The open office trend is certainly nothing new, but how companies are looking at it might be.
 
The movement away from cubicles and toward airy, open spaces took hold more than a decade ago as companies looked to boost collaboration and productivity. Walls were knocked down, privacy panels were thrown out and ping-pong tables proliferated, all in the name of supercharging creativity and team chemistry.
 
As the open office trend has matured, companies, including those in the Corridor, are also realizing it has the potential to impact employees' happiness and general well-being.
 
Educational publisher Pearson recently underwent an 18-month renovation and update of its building at 2510 N. Dodge St. in Iowa City. There's not a cubicle in sight, and natural light fills the space, reflecting off brightly colored accent walls inspired by Iowa's vistas.
 
Workspaces have also been organized into "neighborhoods," according to Mary Beth Hayes, a senior project manager of client services with the company.
 
"It opens up your network of emotional substance, and educational and intellectual substance to a broader audience," Ms. Hayes said. "If you have a question, you are able to just turn and see somebody's face, rather than having to pick up a phone and not know what they look like and hope that you get an answer."
 
Read the full members-only story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.
Story5UI Center for Computer-Aided Design adds VR business unit
 
An illustration of virtual reality found on CCAD's VARBU website.

The University of Iowa Center for Computer-Aided Design has introduced an new virtual and augmented reality business unit (VARBU), which will provide VR services to area researchers and innovators.

VARBU's services include 3-D modeling, VR software programming, project management, service consultation, system integration and device development. In a press release, UI officials said it will assist faculty and staff members who have a research project that requires special visualization, those requiring quick VR or AR project development, and those interested in trying new equipment before they purchase.
 
VARBU is the latest addition to the Center for Computer Aided Design. The center currently houses the Virtual Reality Portal, a six-wall system for visualization and virtual interaction. It also is home of the IDEA lab, a 100-SLR camera dome setup for reconstructing human avatars, and the Motion Capture Lab, a facility for tracking and analyzing virtual human motion.

To learn more about VARBU, visit the CCAD website or contact Jenny Simpson at [email protected].
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EventHeadlinesShort-Term Event Planner
 
Aug. 2 
Siren Wednesday , by ImpactCR and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 5:30-7:30 p.m., WineStyles Tasting Station, 4201 42nd St. NE, Ste 170, Cedar Rapids. Siren Wednesdays are after-work social events at Economic Alliance member establishments for young professionals to network with each other in a relaxing environment. Free for members. Register at bit.ly/2sLBp94 .
 
Aug. 3
Wake Up Marion , by the Marion Chamber, 8-9 a.m., Community Savings Bank, 1295 Blairs Ferry Road, Marion. Join for coffee and an opportunity to visit with other chamber members and Community Savings Bank. Free. Register at bit.ly/2tAseY5 .
 
College President Reception , by the Uptown District, 4:30-6 p.m., Shores Event Center, 700 16th St. NE, Cedar Rapids. The Uptown District will host a reception for Coe College President David McInally and Mount Mercy University President Laurie Hamen. Open to all. Remarks will be made by each president at 5 p.m., refreshments provided with a cash bar. Free. For more information, call Scott Crosby at (319) 310-6111.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
A 117-year-old farmhouse on the northwest side of Cedar Rapids is now an Airbnb, courtesy of a local nonprofit. Matthew 25 has been known for its work in flood-affected areas of the city. Their property at 411 G Ave. NW will now be able to host up to five people in two bedrooms, while trying to provide guests with perspective of the neighborhood's journey from the flood of 2008. "We just hope that people would see how this place is expanding and growing," Matthew 25 development/communications coordinator Eden Youngberg said on Tuesday. Reservations can be made at the farmhouse for $40 per night.

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division is reminding bars and restaurants they cannot serve drinks in solid copper cups. Iowa adopted the FDA's code prohibiting copper from coming into direct contact with foods that have a pH level below six. That includes fruit juice, wine and Moscow mules - typically served in a copper mug. High concentrations of copper are poisonous and can cause foodborne illness. Cups lined with another metal such as nickel or stainless steel are allowed.
 
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

Fall-like conditions are on the way later this week, but before that we'll be experiencing a warm day today and thunderstorms tomorrow. The front last night stalled out and will slowly lift north, bringing in the moisture that will be present today. Highs will be rising into the mid to low 80s with partly cloudy skies, but we could see an isolated shower or rumble of thunder this afternoon. A cold front will be approaching the area this evening which will bring in some additional cloud cover. Because of this temperatures will stay warmer as lows will drop down into the mid to low 60s. Early Thursday morning, showers and thunderstorms are likely throughout Eastern Iowa. By the afternoon, the cold front will pass by and pull in cooler drier air that will be making the end of the week feel like fall. Temperatures will only reach the upper 70s with comfortable humidity levels.