TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 | IN THIS ISSUE
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Iowa new business filings second highest in state history
• In the CBJ: Best of the Corridor
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Iowa's rural economy continues to lag in July
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Coralville city council member resigns after BLM remark
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CBJ announces 2020 Coolest Places to Work
• Corridor events, KCRG-TV9 headlines and First Alert Forecast
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Iowa new business filings second highest in state history
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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 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
.
IMAGE: This graph shows the number of new businesses filed in Iowa from 2011-2020.
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In the CBJ: Closing up 2020's Best of the Corridor
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This week, we’re wrapping up the CBJ’s annual survey of the best businesses, organizations and events in the Corridor, all chosen by our readers.
If this is your first introduction to our Best of the Corridor awards, they’re the culmination of a May voting process where we asked readers to vote for their favorites across 50 different categories, ranging from Best Accounting Firm (this year, BerganKDV) to Best Wealth Management (United Iowa Financial). Nearly 4,500 votes were cast this year, setting a new record in the 15th year of our competition.
This week, you’ll find profiles on our final 20 winners of 2020, along with nods to the runners up in each category. We’ve also saved some of our most watched categories, including Best Bank and Best New Restaurant, for this finale issue, and we hope you enjoy discovering who they are.
We have several multi-award winners among this week’s recipients, but its Skogman Companies that deserves the biggest tip of the cap. A force in the Corridor’s real estate scene, the company took home three awards this year, sweeping our realty and home building categories. Perhaps most impressively, Skogman remains the only company to hold the title of Best Commercial Real Estate Firm since its introduction in 2012, putting it well on its way to an entry into our Best of the Corridor Hall of Fame, given after 10 wins in a category. You can see this year’s Hall of Fame in the first Best of issue, available at our website now.
Other big winners include RSM US LLP, which won for Best Cybersecurity and Best Business Consulting; Mediacom, which was named Best Local Internet Service Provider and Best IT Support Company; and Marketing Innovations, which snagged wins for Best Specialty Marketing Products and Best Shop for Corporate Gifts.
Congratulations are also due to Cedar Graphics, which snagged its ninth win as Best Printer, and the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer, which was named Best Walk/Run Event for a seventh year in a row. We’re impressed by how consistent our Best of the Corridor winners can be, and their supporters’ dedication in voting year in, year out.
Thanks to everyone who cast their vote in this year’s Best of the Corridor survey. We hope you take time to celebrate and support all of the businesses on this year’s list – they are counting on you.
Read the full members-only story in this week's print or
digital editions
of the CBJ.
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Iowa's rural economy continues to lag in July
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Iowa’s rural economy improved in July, but remains below neutral growth, in part because of continued low commodity prices and concerns over growing areas of drought across the state, the
Business Record reports
.
According to the Rural Main Street Index, released by Creighton University, Iowa’s index in July rose to 43.1, up from June’s index of 39.4. The index ranges from zero to 100, with 50 representing neutral growth.
The index is the result of a monthly survey of community bank presidents and CEOs in rural, agriculturally and energy-dependent areas in 10 states, focusing on about 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300.
Overall, the index in the 10-state region increased to 44.1, well below neutral growth, but up from 37.9 in June, and well above the record low in April of 12.1.
July’s index represented the fourth consecutive month of recessionary economic conditions.
“Farm commodity prices are down by 12.5% over the last 12 months. As a result, and despite the initiation of $16 billion in USDA farm support payments, only 6% of bankers reported their area economy had improved compared to June while 17.6% said economic conditions had worsened,” Ernie Goss, the Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's
Heider College of Business
, said in the report, released late last week.
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Coralville city council member resigns after BLM remark
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A member of the Coralville City Council has resigned following backlash received for remarks he made about the Black Lives Matter movement, CBJ news partner
KCRG-TV9 reports
.
“I am grateful for Tom Gill’s contributions during the past 29 years, a time of significant growth and development in Coralville,” Mr. Lundell said in a statement. “I wish him the very best.”
The city and the council will be exploring options for choosing someone to fill the vacant seat, according to the statement.
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CBJ announces 2020 Coolest Places to Work
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The Corridor Business Journal announces its 2020 Coolest Places to Work. These 24 companies, honored for creating engaging and rewarding work environments, will be recognized at a Sept. 1 awards banquet and featured in the Sept. 7 issue of the weekly Corridor Business Journal.
The Skywalk Group accepted Coolest Places to Work nominations in March. Self-nominated companies in Kirkwood’s seven-county region were selected based on the results of a worker satisfaction survey. At least 60% of employees had to complete the survey to qualify.
2020 Coolest Places to Work (listed alphabetically):
Aerotek
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids
CIVCO Medical Solutions
Clickstop
F&M Bank
Family Medicine Specialists
FilmScene
GreenState Credit Union
Hands Up Communications
Health Solutions
ImOn Communications
IMS Branded Solutions
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
Keller Williams Legacy Group
Lepic-Kroeger, REALTORS
Meld Marketing
Palmer Group
Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors
Skogman Companies
Strategic Financial Solutions
Team Iowa Physical Therapy
The Iowa Children’s Museum
TrueNorth Companies
Urban Acres Real Estate
Rankings will be revealed at the Coolest Places to Work awards banquet, with videos on each company. The evening will culminate in the announcement of the Corridor’s No. 1 Coolest Place to Work, and the CEO will share his or her story.
The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Coralville Marriott. To maintain social distancing, seating is limited to a few representatives of each company on the Coolest List. For those who cannot attend in-person, the event will be live-streamed as a Zoom webinar. Tickets for the webinar are $20. For more information or to register, visit
corridorbusiness.com/coolest-places-to-work/
or contact Ashley Moore at
ashley@corridorbusiness.com
. Registration closes Aug. 25.
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Connect with the CBJ
The CBJ’s mission of informing and connecting the Corridor’s business community is more important than ever. Our news operations will continue researching and reporting on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through our multiple distribution channels. Here’s how you can connect with us today and moving forward:
- You can reach our newsroom directly with leads, updates, cancellations, etc. at news@corridorbusiness.com.
- Our comprehensive, deep-dive content continues in our weekly CBJ. If you are not a digital subscriber, you can sign up here.
- Our daily news coverage solution is spread throughout the week with our free e-newsletters. If you have not already signed up, you can do so here.
- Updated coronavirus information will also be published on our website, corridorbusiness.com/latest-coronavirus-updates, and through our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels.
- All of our staff members remain available to assist you. You can find our full contact information at www.corridorbusiness.com/cbj-contact.
Remember: Subscribers can access the digital CBJ anytime and anywhere. Don't remember your password? Please email
jean@corridorbusiness.com for a password reset.
The CBJ print subscribers can also temporarily have the CBJ mailed to their home. To temporarily switch your address, please send your full temporary mailing address to
jean@corridorbusiness.com. Please include start and stop dates for the temporary address.
Thank you for your continued support of the Corridor Business Journal.
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Short Term Event Planner
July 21
Innovation in Education Awards
, by Iowa City Area Business Partnership and Iowa City Area Development Group, noon-2 p.m., online. This awards ceremony will honor exceptional students, volunteers, educators and business partners in Johnson County. Free. Watch live at
facebook.com/icareachamber
.
Innovation Roundtable
, by the Technology Association of Iowa, 4-5:30 p.m., online. This session will feature a virtual tour of Generate at UnityPoint Health, Cedar Rapids, led by Rose Hedges, nursing research and innovation coordinator, and Clayton Skousen, fabrication fellow. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/2WjudxW
.
July 22
Training Requirements for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms
, by Kirkwood Corporate Training, 8-8:30 a.m., online. The webinar will cover types of training required for MEWPs, special training needs that align with ANSI procedures, and how to complete the appropriate risk assessment prior to starting on the job site. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/32lDEkj
.
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
.
Iowa Fraud Fighters - Shield Your Savings Series
, by Iowa Insurance Division, 10-11 a.m., online. This webinar focuses on consumer scams perpetrated online, such as impostor scams, identity theft and investment fraud. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/3gBQX41
.
July 23
Ignite Your Shift: Overcoming the Discomfort of Change
,
by Women Lead Change, 8-10 a.m., online. Anne Bonney, author of “Get Over It!,” will speak. Learn how to shift your culture to one of acceptance and engagement, alleviate the burden of stress caused by change, and reduce talk that negatively influences attitudes, communication and results. Tickets: $50. To register, visit
bit.ly/2WkTM1H
.
Remote Leaders Online Roundtable
, by Executive Coach Jennifer Zach, 10-10:20 a.m., online. Touch base with other leaders who are leading remote teams, exchange resources and share what's on your mind. Free. To join, visit
bit.ly/3j5gXqm
.
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These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting 503 more COVID-19 cases and six more deaths in Iowa over the last 24 hours. As of 10:30 a.m. today, the state’s data is showing a total of 39,420 COVID-19 cases and 799 COVID-19 related deaths since the pandemic began. A total of 3,952 tests were reported to have been conducted over the last 24 hours, making the total number of tests conducted 423,223 since the pandemic began. There are a total of 223 patients hospitalized, with 23 having been admitted in the last 24 hours; 74 of those patients are in the ICU and 32 are on ventilators.
Police have arrested a man in connection with a shooting
that happened at Oakland Court and Gardens apartments on July 12
.
Officials said Keenan Baker, 24, turned himself in to the Linn County Jail where he was arrested on charges of attempted murder, willful injury causing serious injury, going armed with intent, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and felon possessing a firearm. The victim in the shooting has been identified as 23-year-old Zariya Ashley Washington. She remains hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries following an argument that led to the shooting. Baker was set to be arraigned this morning. Investigators said they believe this incident to have been a domestic-related disturbance and shooting.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
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Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast
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Rainfall totals look pretty light overall and the risk of severe weather is extremely low. All the clouds will hold temperatures back to the upper 70s primarily, with a few lower 80s also possible. This front sinks to the south tomorrow and it continues to look like a good one with highs around 80. This same front moves north as a warm front later Thursday night into Friday which represents our next storm chance as well. This weekend, plan on hot weather conditions.
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