MONDAY, OCT. 2, 2017  |  IN THIS ISSUE  

Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited has acquired Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel, expanding its presence in the Johnson County and University of Iowa travel market.
 
The acquisition will create a company providing travel management services to more than 70 businesses and assisting more than 5,000 travelers annually, Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited owner and CEO Duane Jasper stated in a press release. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
 
Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel has served the Johnson County travel management market for more than 50 years for vacation travel, Hawkeye cruises, group trips, UI away football games, and corporate travel. 
 
"I'm ecstatic that we have come to an agreement with Duane [Jasper] and his team," Terry Tegen, general manager of Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel stated in a press release. "This is an excellent opportunity for our current clients and the entire Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel organization. We look forward to working with the Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited staff going forward."
 
Weinbrenner will continue with its current staff, and future plans call for growth in the combined companies' Cedar Rapids and Iowa City offices. Vacation clients of both firms will experience more options for group travel, weekend getaways and customized trips. Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited, based in Cedar Rapids, has invested significantly in its platform to support corporations and business travel and will leverage the new location to further grow its corporate business.

Alliant Energy on Friday announced an agreement with Apex Clean Energy to build a 300-megawatt wind farm in northwest Iowa.
 
The project, dubbed the Upland Prairie Wind Farm, will bring 121 turbines to Clay and Dickinson counties if approved by state regulators. It marks Alliant's second wind expansion in the state, and will push the company's share of wind-generated energy in the state past 33 percent starting in 2020, according to Doug Kopp, president of Alliant's Iowa energy company.
 
The project would generate enough energy to power about 130,000 homes annually, and is expected to generate approximately $45 million in landowner payments over the next 25 years, according to the company.
 
Apex Clean Energy, is a developer and financier of clean energy projects. The Charlottesville, Virginia-based company has financed more than $4 billion and 3,000 megawatts of clean energy since its founding in 2009, according to its website.
 
Alliant received approval in 2016 to add up to 500 megawatts of wind energy at its Whispering Willow Wind Farm in Franklin County, and has requested a similar expansion from the Iowa Utilities Board this year. That decision is expected in January 2018; if approved, the combined projects would represent a $1.8 billion investment and add up to 1,000 megawatts of new wind generation in Iowa.
 
The utility in June also announced a deal with EDF Renewable Energy to acquire a 50 percent stake in a 225-megawatt wind project located in Oklahoma's panhandle. 
 
The Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts in Marion. CREDIT City of Marion 
Three Corridor communities were named All-Star Communities by the Iowa League of Cities on Friday as part of its annual conference and exhibit, held in Davenport.
 
Center Point, Marion and Washington were selected for the All-Star Community Awards, which are the most prestigious honors given by the league. The three were among the 943 Iowa towns and cities to be considered for the award, which is given to local governments for innovative programs and improvement efforts.
 
Center Point was honored for its library expansion and community theater project, while Washington received a nod for the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center. Marion was awarded for its Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts at Lowe Park, which features a 50-foot stage, intricate tile work and a canopy of six oak leaves sculpted from Corten steel.
 
"This one-of-a-kind venue is the perfect example of what can happen when we think bigger and reach higher as a community," Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said in a press release announcing the award.
 
Nevada in central Iowa was selected as a fourth winner through a popular vote on Facebook. Read more about the winning Center Point and Marion projects here.
Story4CBJ Exclusive: Getting a foot in the door 
 
Earthview Environmental founder and owner Judy Joyce drilling core samples near Hills. PHOTO NANCY WONG PHOTOGRAPHY 
Navigating the alphabet soup of suppli­er certifications aimed at helping wom­en-owned businesses can be daunting at first, but the rewards can also be worth it.
 
Judith Joyce has been in business for 20 years as the founder of Earthview En­vironmental, an eight-person consulting company in Coralville specializing in wet­lands and environmental restoration. She has obtained the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification from the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Targeted Small Business (TSB) certifi­cation from the Iowa Economic Develop­ment Authority.
 
The DBE certification has helped Earth­view Environmental gain visibility and valuable industry contacts, Ms. Joyce said.
 
"For my company, the benefit [of DBE] has been networking opportunities, in that we are on a list of DBE companies, and so occasionally businesses reach out to us to be on their team because there is a DBE requirement on a federal contract."
 
Earthview doesn't always get the job when it gets a DBE-related call, but "we get that contact with a business," Ms. Joyce noted.
 
The Targeted Small Business desig­nation came with a small grant of about $2,000, which Ms. Joyce used to buy her business' first computer. The program no longer offers such grants, but is now being revamped after moving to the Iowa Eco­nomic Development Authority (IEDA), with an emphasis on connecting busi­nesses to create more opportunities.
 
Read the full, members-first story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.
Story5Linn County launches logo redesign challenge
 
Linn County is redesigning its logo and seal, and is now seeking submissions from designers and design firms located within the county.
 
The county logo must lend itself to a variety of uses, including on letterheads, decals, signage and websites, and be usable in both vertical and horizontal displays, according to a call for submissions. The county is also seeking a companion seal, which will be used with the logo to visually identify the county.
 
Designers or firms interested in submitting a concept must be located in Linn County. Only one submission is allowed per person or company. Submissions will be accepted through Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
The county's board of supervisors will select the final logo/seal in January, and the winning design's creator will receive $2,500 in compensation.
 
Submission applications can be completed and submitted through Linn County's online portal or via email. See instructions and complete eligibility requirements at linncounty.org/LogoRedesign.

EventHeadlinesShort-Term Event Planner

Oct. 3
Attracting the Right Talent, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9:15 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. In this program, you'll learn if you should use a recruiting agency or online service, why hiring for "cultural fit" is treacherous and more. Free. Register at bit.ly/2hlHGDm.
 
Corridor Job Club , by Iowa City Area Development Group, 9-10:30 a.m., Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa, 2301 Oakdale Blvd., Coralville. This session will feature a discussion on networking and highlighting transferable skills. Free.
 
Corridor Business Travel Conference , by Travel Leaders/Destinations Unlimited, 11:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Attendees will discuss topics surrounding business travel, and what travel programs are doing to increase efficiency, productivity and cost savings. Cost: $29. For full schedule and to register, visit bit.ly/2x9SDf6.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
Marion police are investigating a suspicious death. There aren't many details available yet, but police say it happened at Hillview Drive and Sixth Street in Marion at 9:15 a.m. Monday morning. Police are holding a news conference this morning. CBS2/FOX28 News will be there and will update this story as more details come in.

If you're looking to get inked and want to help out a good cause, Mystic Tat2 of Cedar Rapids is wrapping up a fundraiser for the Cedar Rapids Community School District. They say each $50 food-related tattoo is providing 10 school lunches for students. So far, the shop has already raised around $3,000, providing about 1,100 lunches. Lynda Smith, an artist at Mystic Tattoo says the parlor hosts a fundraiser every year. "I think it's a great opportunity and I'm very passionate about helping our youth directly in our community," Ms. Smith said. "I have a five-year-old little boy, and I just couldn't imagine having him have to settle for a lesser lunch because I wouldn't be able to cover the cost." Read about the fundraiser requirements here.
 
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

After a typical fall-like weekend a surge of more summer-like warmth will return as the week begins. The week will also feature chances for rain and cooler temperatures by the end. A few showers are possible in the north and west later this morning into the afternoon. It'll be a warm start to the week with temperatures in the upper 70s north to low/mid 80s south with a breezy south wind. Tonight will be mild for October standards with temperatures dropping into the low 60s under clear to partly cloudy skies with a breezy south wind continuing. Tuesday will be another warm day with breezy southerly winds feeding in the warm air. Temperatures once again will climb into the 80s.