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TUESDAY, AUG. 6, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
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Midwestern technology provider Marco has acquired the customer base of Executive Technologies, a copier/printer and IT services company in western and central Iowa.
Marco's sales and service team will continue to serve and support Executive Technologies' clients from its current locations in Sioux City, Mason City and Des Moines. The company has six locations throughout Iowa.
"We are excited for Marco to be able to serve our customers," said Kevin Grosvenor, owner of Executive Technologies, in a release. "They are a high-performing company that is committed to excellence and outstanding customer service."
The deal represents Marco's 10th acquisition in the past two years. Earlier this year, the company purchased Accent Business Solutions and Enterprise Systems Group (ESG), located in Wisconsin. Marco has over 1,400 employees and serves 35,000 clients from 61 locations throughout the United States, including a new 5,500-square-foot office in southwest Cedar Rapids.
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 In the CBJ: Is Amazon headed to Iowa City?
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PHOTO AMAZON
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Rumors that e-commerce giant Amazon is eyeing a former Procter & Gamble distribution center on Iowa City's east side for a "last-mile" fulfillment center appear to have some basis in fact.
Though no lease has been signed and no permits have been applied for, Amazon "definitely has an interest" in the space, said Wendy Ford, Iowa City's economic development coordinator.
Ms. Ford said a representative of the Seattle-based company visited Iowa City in June to inquire about the more than 346,000-square-foot building located at 2500 Heinz Road. The facility would likely be used as a delivery station, one of Amazon's smaller-scale fulfillment centers where orders are prepared for last-mile delivery to customers.
The news comes as Amazon seeks to overhaul its national delivery infrastructure to provide faster shipping and reduce reliance on third-party carriers like UPS.
Word has circulated in recent weeks that Amazon was scouting locations in the Corridor, including another site in Tiffin. Ms. Ford confirmed that an Amazon representative walked into Iowa City Hall earlier this summer to inquire about regulations, codes and the possibility of retrofitting the existing Heinz Road building for the company's purposes.
"This was not by any stretch someone from the C-suite," she said. "These were casual inquiries ... But I got the feeling this [site] offered pretty much everything they were looking for. They were wanting to make sure there wouldn't be any major hurdles."
Ms. Ford said she was not aware of the state of negotiations for the former P&G facility, if any. Mark Nolte, president of the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD), did not respond to a request for comment, while Brian Crowe, ICR Iowa's director of business attraction, declined to confirm whether or not Amazon was interested in the site.
"We don't comment on active ongoing projects," he said.
Justin Felix, transaction manager for global commercial real estate firm CBRE, which is marketing the Heinz Road building for sale or lease, said he was bound by a non-disclosure agreement from
discussing the identity of the tenant negotiating for the property.
"I can say the deal is progressing along," he said. "We've been in talks for several months and things are trending positive."
Read the full members-only story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.
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The Johnson County Board of Supervisors, in collaboration with United Way of Johnson and Washington counties and the City of Iowa City, is accepting Social Services Block Grant applications for the FY21-FY22 funding cycle.
Funding is intended to support established non-profit Johnson County organizations providing services that improve quality of life through services addressing basic human and emergency needs, health and/or child and family well-being.
A training workshop will be held 10-11 a.m. Aug. 16 in room 203C of the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
, for anyone who would like more instruction on the application.
Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 12.
Direct questions related to the electronic application to Patti Fields at
[email protected].
Questions related to the Johnson County Block Grant funding may be directed to Lynette Jacoby at
[email protected], or call (319) 356-6090.
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Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity (CVHFH) and Whirlpool Corporation are partnering on a Panel Build to construct the walls for the next Habitat home.
On Wednesday, Whirlpool will host Habitat in the parking lot of its Amana plant, 2800 220th Trail, Middle Amana. Over 75 Whirlpool Corp. volunteers, split among three shifts between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., will
help provide a "hand-up" to an area family. After the completion of the volunteer day, the walls will be delivered to the new home's foundation in Fairfax, where CVHFH is building four homes in 2019-20.
"We are so thankful to Whirlpool Corporation for their support and involvement in their first panel build," said Patti Kunz, CVHFH director of development, in a news release. "They have been so supportive of our mission locally over the years."
Whirlpool Corporation not only will help to build the walls, but they are sponsoring the panel build at $15,000.
"Whirlpool has donated more than $107 million and over 197,300 ranges and refrigerators to new Habitat homes in the U.S. and Canada and we are blessed to work with them on a local basis," said Misti Huedepohl, communications manager at Whirlpool Corporation, in a release. "Whirlpool is committed to the mission of Habitat and making an impact to families locally and around the world."
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The Iowa Department of Transportation is accepting grant applications for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Fiscal Year 2019 Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) for diesel fleets in the state of Iowa.
As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, DERA is designed to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions among on-road or non-road vehicles and equipment, including school buses, medium- and heavy-duty transit buses and trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and nonroad engines, equipment, or vehicles.
The total amount of available DERA funds in Iowa is $797,625, which includes a base grant amount of $319,050 and an Environmental Protection Agency incentive bonus of $159,525. In addition, the state is matching that base grant amount with monies from Iowa's
Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund settlement
.
Applications are being accepted through Sept. 16.
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Aug. 6
Iowa City Roundtable
, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Mosley's, 525 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Members are invited to network and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit
bit.ly/2YyO4Yi
.
Aug. 7
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/.
Siren Wednesday, by ImpactCR, 5-7 p.m., Lion Bridge Brewing Co., 59 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. This is a monthly social for young professionals at Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance member bars and restaurants. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/31Oa705.
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in the CBJ Book of Lists - THE definitive resource guide for business leaders. Ranked information on Corridor companies by sector, regional market facts and profiles of the most influential people under one cover. Don't be left out - Be Seen! For advertising information, contact Andrea Rhoades at
[email protected]
.
Note: The CBJ is now observing summer hours through Aug. 30. The CBJ offices will be open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m.-noon.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
One person was hurt from a shooting early Tuesday morning in Hiawatha.
The Linn County Sheriff's Office confirmed to CBS2/Fox 28 it happened shortly after midnight near an apartment complex at 79 E. Clark St.
Officers found a 17-year-old male victim with multiple gunshot wounds inside the building.
The unnamed teen was taken to a local hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Hiawatha Police say there was a large party taking place in the apartment complex at the time. The victim was shot outside but managed to get back into the building.
Police aren't releasing any details on a possible suspect.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME to remain anonymous or the Hiawatha Police Department at (319) 393-1212.
The City of Cedar Rapids has issued more than 4,000 traffic camera speed citations in July. This comes after cameras along I-380 resumed ticketing July 1.
According to Public Safety Communications Coordinator Greg Buelow, citations issued are events that have been identified as potential violations by the Automated Traffic Enforcement Cameras, reviewed by Sensys Gatso, and determined to be violations by a Cedar Rapids Police Officer.
The city has provided CBS2/FOX 28 with the following data: 4
,665 citations issued since July 1, 2019;
60 red light citations; and 4
,605 speed citations. Top speed, 111;
574 going 26-30 MPH over the speed limit ($500); and
2,131 going 21-25 MPH over the speed limit ($250).
In an email, the city clarified the total number of speeding tickets is not for I-380 cameras alone. That number includes tickets issued for speeding also caught on the red light cameras around the city.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
Highs today will climb into the mid 80s.
Overnight clear and comfortable conditions will continue with lows in the low to mid-60s.
Temperatures will be a bit warmer Wednesday with highs in the upper 80s ahead of another approaching cold front. As that front passes through in the evening, there will be a chance for a few scattered showers and storms Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Neither severe weather nor heavy rain is anticipated.
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