WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16, 2019  |  IN THIS ISSUE  
 
Cedar Rapids-based de Novo Marketing has acquired WDG Communications, and will consolidate the businesses into a new location in NewBo's Cherry Building.

WDG Communications was founded in 1979 by Duane Wood, and was known as Wood Design Group for many years. The founders plan to retire and relocate to Dauphin Island, Alabama, according to the companies.

"When it came time to transition out of our creative design and publishing business environment, we looked for and reached out to a company that we believed shared our same philosophy in concept-based creative marketing," Mr. Wood said in a release. "In the nearly 40-year existence in Eastern Iowa, serving clients across the country, we are humbled by the client loyalty and the success we have been able offer them."

WDG serves many of the same verticals as de Novo, according to founding partner Heather Friedman, including corporate, nonprofit, higher education, community development and manufacturing. The deal is part of the firm's long-term growth strategy, which included the acquisition of data analytics and business intelligence firm Annex Analytics last July.
 
de Novo's new office space, located on the second floor of the Cherry Building at 329 10th Ave. SE, consolidates all of its Cedar Rapids team members in one large, open office that's closer to the studio and conference room space the firm built out in 2015. The firm's Tennessee office location will remain unchanged.

de Novo was ranked one of the CBJ's Fastest Growing Companies of 2018, coming in at No. 16 with 61.97 percent growth over a two-year period.
 
 
According to the Chinese calendar, Feb. 5 kicks off the Year of the Pig, a creature whose chubby face and big ears symbolize wealth in the culture of the world's most populous nation. The lowly farm animal could also be a symbol of prosperity in Iowa, the nation's top pork-producing state, and an example of how tightly the economies of the world's nations are intermeshed.
 
China's 1.39 billion people are among the top consumers of Iowa exports, including pork, beef, soybeans, corn, farm equipment, auto parts and many other manufactured goods. The nation's factories are also major suppliers for Iowa businesses.
 
"It's hard to roll back. The cat's out of the bag. We all depend on each other," said West Music Chairman Steve West, whose family business imports instruments and other products from China, India and Europe to sell nationally and internationally. "All our economies are based on international trade."
 
Recent statistics bear that out. In 2017, Iowa ranked No. 27 for exports and No. 37 for imports among the 50 states, selling nearly $13.4 billion in goods abroad and bringing in $9.16 billion in finished products from other countries, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Iowa's $4.2 billion trade surplus was third best in the nation that year.
 
The state's strength in ag exports has made Iowa a target for retaliation in the U.S. trade war with China, said Lindsay Greiner, a farmer and pres­ident of the Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa State University Economist Chad Hart.
 
When China slapped 25 percent tariffs on soy­beans last year in response to U.S. tariffs, the mar­ket "shrunk dramatically," Mr. Hart said. The cut­back from China of 700 million bushels was equal to all of Illinois' annual soybean production, with an estimated nationwide impact of about $5.6 bil­lion, he noted.
 
On the positive side, U.S. farmers have gone hard after other markets and replaced about half
the lost crop sales with orders from the European Union, southeast Asia, north Africa, Taiwan, Iran and Iraq. Corn is another bright spot.
 
"Pricewise, we're at or a little better than where we were a year ago," Mr. Greiner said. "Getting the Mexico-Canada trade deal done was really good for the corn market."
 
Read the full story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is now accepting applications from local charitable groups for its first grant cycle of 2019, with a deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 15.
 
Grants will be awarded to organizations that enhance the quality of life in Linn County with applications being accepted for the following funds:
  • Program Fund: Supports new, innovative programs and sustains current and/or ongoing programs. Grant awards are a maximum of $60,000 (maximum of $30,000 in any given year). Grants can be multi-year grants up to three years for organizations with strong track records. The award limits are based on organizational age and size.
  • Organizational Development Fund: Supports nonprofits in building their capacity to carry out their mission. Grant awards are from $2,000-$15,000. Organizations that have been fully operational for two years or longer are eligible.
  • Competitive Donor-Advised Funds: Supports nonprofits that align with the funding priorities of the donor-advisors.The Community Foundation accepts grant applications for a number of local corporations and family foundations. The programs, grant award sizes and activities to be funded are determined by each donor-advisor and may include programmatic or operating support, capital campaigns, event sponsorships and religious activities. The donor-advised fund for GreatAmerica Financial Services Corp. is currently accepting applications.
The Community Foundation accepts applications from nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status, governmental organizations and non-501(c)(3) organizations that have completed arrangements to obtain a fiscal sponsor. Grant applications are submitted online at www.gcrcf.org.
 
For more information on the Program Fund or Competitive Donor-Advised Fund, contact Elizabeth Cwik at (319) 774-2372 or elizabeth.cwik@gcrcf.org.
 
For more information on the Organizational Development Fund, contact Rochelle Naylor at (319) 774-2373 or rochelle.naylor@gcrcf.org. 

A table showing the 2017 and 2018 rankings for the West North Region. CREDIT SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE
Site Selection magazine has named Iowa as the Midwest's top state for workforce training and development for a second year in a row.
 
The magazine annually ranks states' workforce training efforts by region, with Iowa taking the No. 1 spot in the West North Central group. That group includes Minnesota (No. 2), Nebraska (3), South Dakota (4), North Dakota (5), Missouri (6) and Kansas (7).
 
Neighboring Illinois fell from No. 1 to No. 5 in the East North Central group, while Wisconsin tied with Indiana for No. 2.
 
Iowa leaders have placed a new emphasis on workforce development in recent years as the unemployment rate has dropped to record lows and businesses have struggled to hire skilled employees. The state's Future Ready Iowa initiative has set the goal for 70 percent of the state's workers to have education or training beyond high school by 2025, and has focused on improving access to registered apprenticeships, work-based learning, and STEM and computer science education.
 
Gov. Kim Reynolds, speaking yesterday during the annual Condition of the State address, also called on the Iowa legislature to appropriate $93 million more for education, $20 million for the Future Ready initiative and $1 million more for STEM funding, among other requests for the new legislative session.
 
This year's Site Selection rankings were compiled using several components, including CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2018 Workforce and Education sub-rankings, Forbes' Best States for Business 2018 Labor Supply sub-ranking, U.S. News' 2018 Best States for Education rankings, the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate rankings, and the average number of workforce development enactments passed in state legislatures.
 
"Rather than rank specific state workforce training programs or STEM initiatives across the country or even across a region, Site Selection looks regionally at the state contexts in which such programs are applied," Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend wrote in his introduction to this year's rankings. "Is there a culture of proactivity, a leader-of-the-pack emphasis on getting graduates to work in in-demand industries and occupations? On skills credentialing? The states with that kind of focus on workforce will be the states with the individually branded programs that work, and that companies notice."
UIUICCU offering assistance to federal employees

In response to the government shutdown, the University of Iowa Community Credit Union (UICCU) announced Tuesday that it is offering support to furloughed federal employees. 
 
During this time, UICCU will be waiving the normal deferment fee for qualifying members. Additionally, a special loan program with a low 4 percent interest rate and no payments for 90 days is now available.
 
"This is no doubt a stressful time for federal employees," President and CEO Jeff Disterhoft said in a release. "In the wake of the government shutdown, we are proud to support our members affected with this financial strain."

UICCU is asking members affected by the shutdown to call (800) 397-3790, or stop into their local branch to learn more.
 
Jan. 17
Creating Accountability and Productivity in the Workplace , by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9:15 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Shannon Beck of Endless Ocean Coaching will discuss unproductive leadership patterns, and how responsibility, empowerment and new emotional responses can positively impact the workplace. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2SX6RtP.
 
Loft Startup Exchange Meetup , by MEDCO, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Loft Coworking, 700 11th St., Ste. 201, Marion. Meet with other entrepreneurs and innovators in the Marion community. Free.
 
Tax Law Changes for Small Business , by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6:30-8 p.m., Linn Area Credit Union, 3375 Seventh Ave., Marion. Learn about small business tax breaks, deductions and how they can help your small business. Free. To register, visit scorecr.org.
 
Jan. 21
Coralville Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 1220 First Ave., Coralville. Roundtables are social lunches over the noon hour. All are invited to network, keep up-to-date 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.
 
Jan. 23
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Jen Neumann, of de Novo Marketing, and Frank Camp, of NewBoCo, will present on how to name your business. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR.
 
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more . Free. For more information, visit 1millioncups.com/iowacity.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
Iowa's SNAP recipients are set to receive their benefits for February early due to the partial government shutdown. The Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) says Iowans who receive the benefit will get their funds electronically transferred to their cards on Jan. 17. The department noted these are normal February benefits and are just being issued early. State officials encourage SNAP recipients to budget properly to make sure they last through the end of February. There will not be new transfers during that month. Funding is only secure through the end of February and right now officials at the IDHS are making a contingency plan for the month of March in case no deal has been made on the shutdown. "At the Iowa Department of Human Services we understand the importance of ensuring food security for Iowans in need and will do everything we can to ensure there is as little disruption as possible," said Director Jerry Foxhoven. CBS2/FOX28 talked to one Corridor food pantry who is closely monitoring the situation. They said their resources could be stretched thin if no deal is made by March. The government shutdown has stretched nearly four weeks long as President Donald Trump and Democrats have not been able to come to an agreement over border security.

In Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address on Tuesday, one of her talking points called for more psychiatry positions at the University of Iowa in an effort to improve mental health resources for the state. She believes funding for four positions at the university's psychiatry residency program will provide resources to rural communities that may struggle to access professional care for mental health concerns. "It's often not been at the top of people's agenda to care for poor, undeserved and mental ill people," said Dr. Alexander Thompson, residency director of the hospital's Department of Psychiatry. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is considered the state's primary training center for psychiatrists, but funding for residency programs can often be a challenge, according to Dr. Thompson. He noted that there are roughly 48 trainees in the psychiatry program spanning from adult to child psychiatry specializations. "It's challenging for hospitals to find money to fund these really highly needed, but often not money-making specialties, which psychiatry is not," he said. "My sense is with all the support for improving our mental health system in Iowa, there will be support to add these four positions," said Iowa Sen. Joe Bolkcom from Iowa City. Read the full story here. 

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

High pressure will move in today behind a cold front and lead to a calm day. Clouds will break up some today, especially in the north. It will be cool with temperatures in the upper 20s to near 30 today. A weak system will move through the area tonight and bring some light snow into Thursday morning. This will just lead to a dusting across the area. Some flurries may linger early Thursday, otherwise it will be cloudy and cool.