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FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
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Nine Corridor companies have been announced as finalists for the 2019 Prometheus Awards by the Technology Association of Iowa
(TAI) and accounting firm
LWBJ.
"The Prometheus Awards is the most prestigious recognition for Iowa's technology industry and brings together leaders from the tech community to celebrate the year's most momentous innovations," said Brian Waller, president of TAI, in a release. "These awards showcase the great talent and companies in Iowa and further establish Iowa as a technology state."
Corridor companies nominated for awards include:
- Swine Tech and the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, both of Cedar Rapids, for Software Development Technology Company of the Year
- Circle Computer Resources, Involta, ImOn Communications and LightEdge Solutions, all of Cedar Rapids, for IT Service Provider Technology Company of the Year
- Firefly Photonics, of Iowa City, for Startup Technology Company of the Year
- Voxello, of Coralville, for Creative Technology Solution of the Year
- Geonetric, of Cedar Rapids, for Best Technology Company Culture
- Involta, of Cedar Rapids, for Large Technology Company of the Year
In addition, several Corridor executives are nominated for individual awards, including Samantha Dahlby of the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Tiffany Williamson of Collins Aerospace and Ada Woo of ACT for Emerging Technology Leader of the Year. Jim Masterson of LightEdge Solutions is nominated for CEO of the Year, and Brett Taylor of UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids and Scott Zogg of Collins Aerospace are nominated in the CIO/CTO/CiSO category.
The 2019 awards feature four new categories to represent a growing technology community in Iowa including FinTech & InsurTech Company of the Year, Creative Technology Solution of the Year, Best Technology Company Culture, and Emerging Technology Leader of the Year.
The winner in each of the 14 award categories will be announced during the Prometheus Awards celebration on Thursday, April 11, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.
See the full list of nominees here.
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The previous record was in May 1998 at 0.51 workers per firm. The percent of owners citing labor costs as their most important problem also hit an all-time high, with 10 percent of owners reporting labor costs as their biggest problem.
"Small businesses are creating new jobs at an all-time high, which has massive implications for the economy since two of every three new jobs is created by a small business," said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan in a release. "Owners are doing everything they can to hold onto the employees they have, while trying to produce effectively without a full staff."
The problem is especially acute in Iowa, the organization said.
"Iowa has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation - just 2.4 percent, according to the
latest federal statistics," said Matt Everson, state director of NFIB in Iowa. "That means it's even harder for small businesses in our state to find qualified workers and it should be the focus of Iowa's policy makers to help ease that labor shortage and super-charge the local economy."
Up one point from January, 57 percent of owners reported hiring and trying to hire, with 49 percent of those owners reporting few or no qualified applicants for open positions. Owners again cited the difficulty of finding qualified workers as their Single Most Important Business Problem at 22 percent, only three points below the record high. Thirty-seven percent reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, two points below the record high.
"With the government shutdown behind us, the labor markets will get back to normal," said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. "However, it appears that the shortage of workers will continue to restrain Main Street growth. If businesses were fully staffed, more could be produced and sold. Owners are reporting increasing employment at their firms at the highest rates in survey history, now they just need workers to fill them."
The February jobs report showed that owners are still planning to expand their workforce with a seasonally-adjusted 16 percent of owners planning to create new jobs in the next three months. Job creation plans were strongest in construction (net 42 percent) and manufacturing (net 28 percent).
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In this week's CBJ Report, Editor Adam Moore discusses MEDCO's new Community Promise Pursuit grants to connect
students with community careers, the redevelopment of Marion's YMCA property and the soaring new Mid-America Business Conditions Index. Watch the full report here.
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Mary Mosiman
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Iowa Department of Revenue Director Kraig Paulsen has announced Mary Mosiman will serve as deputy director and division administrator of the Tax Management Division at the Iowa Department of Revenue. Ms. Mosiman will oversee the department's compliance, collections, and operations sections beginning March 11.
Mr. Paulsen, a former Iowa legislator who served as Speaker of the House, said he has known Ms. Mosiman since her appointment as State Auditor in 2013.
"Mary defines true professionalism," Mr. Paulsen said in a release. "She has a distinguished record of working on behalf of the great people of Iowa."
Ms. Mosiman has had a prominent career in public service. She served as state auditor from 2013 to 2018. Prior to that, she was deputy of elections for Iowa Secretary of State and Story County auditor. A certified public accountant, she earned her degree in business and accounting from Iowa State University. She is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Ames Morning Rotary Club, and the Ames Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Mosiman said she looks forward to continuing to serve Iowans in her new position.
"I'm excited to join the Department and work with Director Paulsen and his team," she said. "I share his vision to ensure the highest levels of accountability and transparency to Iowa taxpayers."
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Uptown Marion, an Iowa Main Street District, has announced its fifth annual Uptown Real Estate Showcase event designed to highlight opportunities for entrepreneurs, prospective business owners, and aspiring building owners in Uptown Marion.
The Uptown Real Estate Showcase, set for March 14, will provide attendees with district updates and tours of current renovations, new construction and other available property in Uptown Marion for purchase or lease.
"Uptown Marion is experiencing a lot of momentum with 13 new businesses in 2018," said Brooke Prouty, Uptown Marion program director, in a release. "We're excited about this event every year to show off some spaces that haven't been on the market in a while and are looking for a new tenant to add to that momentum and vitality we're seeing."
Ms. Prouty said this year would highlight some unique spaces, including several with restaurant potential, renovations to the historic Masonic Temple, urban living condos, apartments with historic charm and select commercial spaces.
Tours will be available of properties for sale and lease along with a sneak peek of currently and recently renovated spaces. Tours will include a church, retail spaces, apartments and more. The event will conclude with a MeetUp PartnerUp Networking Event sponsored by Skogman Realty back at The Famous Mockingbird with appetizers and sponsored drinks.
The event kicks off at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 14,
at The Famous Mockingbird, 1064 Seventh Ave,, for a welcome and short program. Property tours are from 5-7 p.m. with the
MeetUp PartnerUp networking event to follow.
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March 9
Tippie Women Summit: Going Global, by UI Tippie College of Business, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Graduate Hotel, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. This one-day forum for students and working professionals will feature keynote speakers with extensive global experience and a workshop on best practices in virtual teams. Free, includes lunch. To register, visit
tippie.uiowa.edu/tippie-women-summit.
March 12
TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa, 8-9 a.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TechBrew AM is an informal networking event for entrepreneurs, technologists, businesspeople and funders. Free.
Innovation Roundtable: CRM with Farm Bureau, by Technology Association of Iowa, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Brad Hollatz, an IT architect from Farm
Bureau Services, will lead this roundtable discussion on CRM systems. Free for tech executives and TAI member organizations. To register, visit
bit.ly/2V4HUhh.
Business Lunch Roundtable, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. A business topic will be discussed along with networking opportunities. To register or for more information, visit
scorecr.org.
March 13
1 Million Cups, by 1MC 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. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR.
1 Million Cups, by 1MC 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 facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
Traffic was still being diverted around one block of Burlington Street on Thursday, as crews tore down scorched remnants of what was becoming Hieronymous Tower.
"They didn't sit on this for one day," says Iowa City Downtown District Executive Director Nancy Bird. "Next day it was like, bam, they're out there and they're getting things moving so that they can continue the project."
Work also continues, though more slowly, at nearby businesses.
"A lot of people are standing around, but I can't really send my employees home," says Kevin Wu.
He owns Soseki Café, tucked away in a dead-end on Dubuque Street. His restaurant is right next to the section between Clinton and Dubuque that's been closed since the fire.
"We've seen a decrease of 20-25 percent in sales since the fire," he says.
His restaurant is usually pretty popular among students craving some sushi, but the last few days he's even had trouble explaining to delivery drivers how to navigate the detour.
"Customers are kind of having to do a detour, it kind of deters the customer to somewhere else," Wu explains.
Students at state-run universities may have fewer options for casting a ballot if a bill at the statehouse is approved.
One part of bill, SSB 1241, would restrict state-owned buildings from serving as satellite voting locations. That would mean state-run universities, like the University of Iowa would not be able to have early voting locations inside their buildings.
The University of Iowa currently has two early voting locations at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Iowa Memorial Union, both of which could be removed if the bill passes.
"Which would really hamper us with the students, and most importantly, the UI employees who really show up when we have voting sites there," said Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert. Leading the passage of SSB 1241 bill is Republican Sen. Roby Smith of Davenport. He, and supporters of the bill argue this section of bill this will make voting fairer because some counties have more state owned buildings than others. "Uniformity, that's what this bill is about. A uniform standard across the entire state," he said.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
It will be mostly cloudy and cool today, but temperatures will be warmer than yesterday. Temperatures will climb into the low to mid-30s this afternoon. Clouds hang tight tonight and temperatures will just drop a few degrees.
A strong storm will move through the Midwest and eastern Iowa will be in the warm sector. Temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 30s in the afternoon. Some freezing rain will be possible in the morning before temperatures climb above freezing. There will be a changeover to all rain through the afternoon. Rain will be widespread and may be heavy at times. Localized flooding isn't out of the question as rain comes down and melts some snow. Colder air moves in Saturday night into Sunday and there may be some light snow/flurries Sunday morning. It will be cloudy, cool, and windy Sunday.
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Corridor tech companies named finalists for Prometheus Awards
