THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 2019  |  IN THIS ISSUE  

ACT has acquired American College Application Campaign (ACAC), a national initiative that seeks to increase the number of students from low-income families and first-generation college students that pursue a post-secondary degree.
 
The acquisition from the American Council on Education was announced by the organizations on Wednesday. Following the transfer, ACAC will be overseen and expanded by ACT's Center for Equity in Learning, which has supported the ACAC program for several years.
 
ACAC is operating in 50 states and its national reach exceeded 500,000 students in 2017, generating more than 800,000 applications. The program's strategy is to accelerate expansion efforts and deepen state-level impact in the years ahead.
 
"ACAC is a perfect fit for ACT and our mission," ACT CEO Marten Roorda said in a release. "We are committed to increasing college access among underserved students, particularly with the work of our Center for Equity in Learning , and becoming the home of the ACAC initiative will help us expand and accelerate our efforts. It will also enable us to serve and empower more students in their college and career journeys as we transition into a learning, measurement and navigation organization."
 
ACT will be able to support ACAC's continued success by analyzing and supporting the use of data to help improve and expand the campaign in the future.

Terms of the deal have not been released.
 
The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office is making a major bid for a large multi-week sporting event series, just a few months after launching the office to temporarily fill the void left by the closing of GO Cedar Rapids.
 
A presentation will be made at the end of January to host the USA Roller Sports 2020 Indoor Speed, Figure Skating and Rink Hockey National Championship, a series of events scheduled for July 2020.
 
VenuWorks of Cedar Rapids Executive Director Michael Silva addressed the Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday to explain the progress of the new tourism office that was organized in a few days after GO Cedar Rapids folded because of financial losses associated with the NewBo Evolve Festival. VenuWorks was placed under contract to manage the city's tourism program.

Mr. Silva said winning the multi-week event would mean 7,000 out-of-town visitors and 10,806 hotel overnights, with some $10.1 million in direct spending.
 
"We know we are up against two other Midwest cities for this but we think we put together a pretty competitive bid," Mr. Silva said.
 
In the past, Cedar Rapids has bid mainly on smaller events with 1,000-1,500 participants, Mr. Silva said, and had to put up bid fees of $25,000 or less for rights to bid. Because the USA Roller Sports event is much larger, he said the bid fee is $200,000, but is payable only if the city wins the rights to host the event.
 
City Council members voted to authorize financial backing for the bid.  In the three months since VenuWorks took over the city's tourism operations, Mr. Silva said the new organization has hired five staff members, drawing from the pool of former GO Cedar Rapids staff left unemployed, and has received commitments from 13 lodging properties to collect a $2 optional destination marketing fee from room billing that is used to support the Tourism Office's marketing efforts.
 
A new web site was launched Jan. 4, and a new office will be set up soon on the first floor of the Doubletree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Center, where it is currently located in upper floor space.
 
Under a new agreement with the Prospect Meadows baseball complex set to open this year in Marion, Mr. Silva said Cedar Rapids Tourism will be the exclusive housing provider for USAAA baseball and other events to be held at the complex next year. The office has eight new convention or meeting bookings in its pipeline, totaling 5,985 room nights.

Hundreds of experts will be on hand at the 2019 Home Show planned Feb. 8-10 at the Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E. Ninth St., Coralville.

The Home Show is an opportunity to see the latest trends in new-home construction and remodeling projects, kitchen and bath design, interior design, landscaping, home security, furnishings, energy-saving technologies and more. Other highlights include:
  • Ask the Experts Booth. Iowa City HBA members will staff booth No. 1 throughout the show to answer visitors' questions about home projects or help hone their vision.
  • Love Iowa Products. A variety of items manufactured in Iowa will be available for those who value buying local, including several in a "Love Iowa" display.
  • Scavenger Hunt. Show goers who complete The Home Show scavenger hunt will be entered to win $500 voucher good at an HBA-member vendor of their choice.
  • Kids Activities. There will be a Kids Zone and a Kids Prize Raffle so attendees can bring the whole family.
  • Prize Drawings. Giveaways happen on the hour Feb. 10. Sign up is at the Ask the Experts booth
Show hours will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb 8; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10.

The event is presented by The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association (HBA), Collins Community Credit Union and Lepic-Kroeger Realtors. Tickets cost $7 for adults and covers all three days. Kids 14 and younger free. Parking is also free, courtesy of Window Depot. Approximately 2,000 visitors come to The Home Show each year.

Kirk Norris (top) and L. Casey Chosewood 
The  registration deadline is rapidly approaching for the  CBJ's 2019 Health Care Summit, to be held Feb. 8 at the Cedar Rapids Marriott.
 
The half-day event will examine the business case for Total Worker Health - healthy employees,  healthy  bottom line .

Kirk Norris of the Iowa Hospital Association will kick off the morning with a keynote address. Mr. Norris has been president and CEO of the IHA, a membership organization that represents all 118 of Iowa's public and private hospitals, since 2002.

Following Mr. Norris's speech, a panel of local hospital CEOs will provide insight into challenges and opportunities facing their industry. McCrossen Consulting President Scott Fisher will moderate the discussion. Panelists include:
  • Eric Briesemeister of UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center
  • Tim Charles of Mercy Medical Center
  • Suresh Gunasekaran of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  • Judith Johnson-Mekota of Iowa City VA Health Care System
  • Sean Williams of Mercy Iowa City
The remainder of the program will focus on areas of Total Worker Health that are often overlooked but impact employees' well-being and engagement. Speakers include:
  • Emotional Health - Nataliya Boychenko of Holmes Murphy
  • Sleep Health - Lisa Gleason of Eastern lowa Sleep Center
  • Family Caregiving - Kathy Good of Family Caregivers Center of Mercy
  • Financial Well-Being - Cory Jackson of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Substance Abuse - Lisa Lahr of Mercy Family Counseling
  • Behavioral Health - Alyssa Turk of UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's
L. Casey Chosewood, director of the Office for Total Worker Health at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will bring these six concepts together during the luncheon keynote. Mr. Chosewood will discuss the value of integrating programs, policies and practices around Total Worker Health, leading to healthier employees and a healthier business.
 
Tickets are $50 per individual and $450 per table of 10. For more information or to register, visit  www.corridorbusiness.com/events or call (319) 665-6397, ext. 311. Registration closes Feb. 1.

Holmes Murphy recently announced the creation of the Holmes Murphy Foundation for its philanthropic and charitable-giving initiatives.

This newly-formed foundation will oversee all philanthropic and community engagement efforts, companywide.  It is primarily focused on the following causes: health and at-risk, education, and arts and culture.

"Through this foundation, we are creating an investment strategy that incorporates input from our communities, clients and employees across all Holmes Murphy locations," said Craig Hansen, Senior Vice President, Holmes Murphy who is leading this effort. "We are excited about this change and to further demonstrate our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve."

Holmes Murphy currently contributes more than $1.3 million in charitable donations and logs more than 10,000 volunteer hours annually. Creating the foundation will help maximize and broaden Holmes Murphy's community efforts with the establishment of four giving channels - Community Grants, Direct Giving, the Employee Match Program, and Volunteer Time Off (VTO).

"At Holmes Murphy we believe everyone deserves to be healthy, receive proper education, and be able to surround themselves with arts and culture," Dan Keough, chairman and CEO of Holmes Murphy, said in a release. "All three of these important causes help shape more productive and vibrant communities, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute."    

A corporate giving committee made up of employees from multiple Holmes Murphy locations has created a process for receiving charitable requests from its communities, clients and employees. Susan Hatten, senior manager, corporate community engagement for Holmes Murphy, is managing the foundation.
 
Jan. 24
Business Law Bootcamp , by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6:30-8 p.m., Linn Area Credit Union, 3375 Seventh Ave., Marion. Learn about basic principles and receive guidance on business law. The program will cover topics including new legal entity formation, lease issues, trademarks, service agreements and more. Free. To register, visit scorecr.org .

Jan. 25
Leadership Begins Within: Developing Self-Awareness, by Jennifer Zach, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Cedar Rapids Public Library - Conference Room, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Build your skills as a leader by gaining a deep understanding of yourself, habits and assumptions. Cost: $45-$95. To register, visit bit.ly/2Ev9peO.

J an. 28
Coralville Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Vesta, 849 Quarry Road, Coralville. Roundtables are social lunches over the noon hour. All are invited to network, keep up todate with chamber and community events and frequent a member restaurant or business. Free. Contact Emily at (319) 337-9637 or info@iowacityarea.com with questions.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
Thousands of IRS employees are working without pay, which includes many in Iowa.  Iowa's National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 4 (NTEU) represents about 175 IRS employees across the state.  CBS2 news spoke with the Chapter 4 President who said many Iowans like her are facing the reality of missing a second paycheck this year.  "It's hard to keep your morale up, this is very demoralizing for our employees that are having to work," said Chapter 4 President Angela Friestad, who is also a full-time collection representative with the IRS in Des Moines. Ms.  Friestad said she is feeling the weight of each day she has to now work without an income for her family. She is one of more than 100 essential.  When the shutdown first started, she began seeking other means of paying the bills.
"Selling things on eBay that I don't need or, you know, just trying to find any way to make some extra money," she said. "Having to ask family to borrow money, your pride takes a hit when you have to ask for that help."  Being back at work, however, can take an even bigger hit for IRS employees like her.
"We have some husband/wife couples that work for the IRS, and at least one couple I know of got recalled, but they have a three-year-old. They can't afford the daycare costs." S ome employees are now applying to be absent from work, through a union contract provision that allows employees to be absent if they suffer a "hardship" during the shutdown. 

The Great Harvest Bread Company in Cedar Rapids is helping out federal workers who have missed out on paychecks during the government shutdown.  The bakery set up a "Shutdown Shelf" in the lobby of their Lindale location.  Free loaves of bread are available for anyone who needs them.

T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

A very strong Arctic front has been moving through the area this morning. After a brief rise into the upper single digits to mid-teens, temperatures will drop through the day behind the front. Winds will also be very strong today (30-40 mph) and will lead to blowing and drifting snow. There could be near-whiteout conditions and slick streets, especially in open/rural areas. As a result, a winter weather advisory is in effect for all the area from early morning until early evening.  Temperatures will continue to drop well below zero, in the range of -14 to -20. The cold air combined with strong winds will lead to dangerously cold wind chills in the range of -25 to -35 degrees. Therefore,  a wind chill advisory  is in effect generally along/south of Highway 20 from Thursday night into Friday morning.