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MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
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The annual statewide awards ceremony recognizes innovative companies and individuals impacting Iowa's $11 billion technology industry. Corridor winners included:
- Circle Computer Resources (CCR), named IT Service Provider Technology Company of the Year
- Geonetric, awarded for Best Technology Company Culture for its state-of-the-art facility in Cedar Rapids' NewBo district, mentorship program and emphasis on diversity and inclusion
- Tiffany Williamson, of Collins Aerospace, named the Emerging Technology Leader of the Year for her work in the company's Commercial Systems Advanced Concepts group
Des Moines-based fintech company Dwolla was the most awarded company in this year's program, taking home two awards from three nominations. See the full list of awardees at technologyiowa.org.
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Dave Loebsack
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Rep. Dave Loebsack on Friday announced that he will retire at the end of the 116th Congress, capping a 14-year run representing Iowa's Second District, which encompasses much of Southern and Eastern Iowa.
Originally elected in 2006, Mr. Loebsack said in a statement that he initially planned to serve no more than 12 years, but that he decided to seek re-election in 2018 after President Donald Trump's election, "in the hopes that I could provide a check on his worst impulses."
"Currently, there are nearly two years remaining in this term and I look forward to playing an important role in the new House majority, not only to prevent further damage done by President Trump, but to also help set the stage for a new Democratic president to be inaugurated in January of 2021," Mr. Loebsack continued.
Mr. Loebsack grew up in Sioux City and earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Iowa State University before receiving his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. In 1982, he moved back to Iowa to teach political science at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, where he worked until running for the Second District seat, beating longtime Republican incumbent Jim Leach in 2006.
He currently serves on the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, and has used that seat to advocate for a range of issues of importance to Iowans, from biofuels and wind energy to rural broadband access.
He is also a member of the Center Aisle Caucus; the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine; the Congressional Rural Caucus; the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues; the Congressional Military Families Caucus; the House Manufacturing Caucus; and the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, amongst others.
In the remainder of his term, Mr. Loebsack said he will focus on growing the middle class and ensuring access to health care, education and broadband.
"I have enjoyed beyond my expectations serving the people of Iowa's Second District for the past 13 years," he added. "Having grown up in poverty, I never would have imagined having the honor of serving as the voice of Iowans in the U.S. House of Representatives.To best achieve that, I made it a point to meet with folks where they live, work and play in order to focus on improving their lives. I have worked hard to ensure all Iowans have had their voice heard."
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Cedar Ridge has launched Bagger Vodka, a new Iowa-made vodka that will donate $1 from the sale of every 1-liter bottle to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in support of new trail development and maintenance.
Bagger is the second vodka from Cedar Ridge, which first released Clearheart Vodka in 2005, and the first philanthropic partnership for the Swisher-based winery and distillery.
"As our business has grown, we've begun to think more seriously about what important cause we could support and foster," Jeff Quint, owner and founder of Cedar Ridge, said in a statement. "Meanwhile, we were watching out-of-state vodkas dominate the Iowa market - nearly all of this vodka being made from corn. So, we put these two things together and created an all Iowa-made vodka that gives back to Iowa. We hope Iowans will get behind it."
Bagger Vodka is now available for order through the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division (ABD), and will be available in stores as early as this Thursday.
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Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) has received $324,500 in flexible grants from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to support neighborhood revitalization in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
The grant will be used to support NFC's lending programs and other initiatives such as homebuyer education and NFC Properties. NFC Properties is a program within NFC that purchases and rehabs properties and then lists them for sale. The NFC Advantage loan program provides purchase, refinance and renovation loans - including up to a $10,000 forgivable loan for home repairs - to those buying homes or remodeling homes in targeted Cedar Rapids neighborhoods.
NFC expanded to Cedar Rapids in 2018 after more than three decades in Des Moines. It has an office at 1100 Old Marion Road NE, and is supporting the city's
Taylor, Cleveland, Mound View, Wellington Heights, Oak Hill Jackson, Noelridge, Kenwood Park and Northwest neighborhoods.
In fiscal 2018, a similar NeighborWorks America Grant helped NFC create 223 new homeowners, renovate 54 owner-occupied homes, refinance 38 mortgages, and provide housing counseling services to 313 clients through partners HOME Inc. and Horizons, A Family Services Agency.
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Fresh from its rebranding as an operating unit of United Technologies, Cedar Rapids-based Collins Aerospace is Iowa's most valuable brand, according to new rankings of the 500 strongest U.S. brands by Brand Finance, the Des Moines Business Record reports.
Collins Aerospace, whose brand was valued at $2.2 billion, is one of three Iowa-based companies featured in the 2019 report. Ankeny-based Casey's General Stores was ranked as Iowa's second most valuable brand, valued at $1.7 billion.Cedar Rapids-based insurance giant Transamerica comes in as the third most valuable brand in the state, at $1.5 billion.
Brand Finance calculates brand value using the Royalty Relief methodology, which determines the value a company would be willing to pay to license its brand as if it did not own it.
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April 15
Coralville Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Twelve01 Kitchen & Tap, 1210 First Ave., Coralville. This social lunch provides an opportunity to network and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2UJjYDC.
April 16
Iowa City Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Big Grove Brewery & Taproom, 1225 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Network during this social lunch and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit iowacityarea.com.
April 17
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/ .
How to Effectively Share Your Story with Government Customers, by Iowa State University CIRAS, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Workshop attendees will learn how to understand the value of storytelling in a government sales environment, refine company positioning to attract clients and more. Facilitated by Jennie Morton, owner of Herringbone Freelance. Free. For more information, visit
bit.ly/2U6wZ5F.
North Liberty Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Adelita's Mexican Grill, 555 Highway 965, North Liberty. Network during this social lunch and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit
iowacityarea.com.
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See and Be Seen
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]
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department confirms that two people were killed when a Union Pacific train struck an SUV on the city's southwest side Sunday afternoon. Police were notified by several callers around 4:30 p.m. that a train had hit an SUV on the train tracks at 3000 C St. SW. Exactly how the crash happened is still being determined by investigators.
Iowa City leaders and residents are at a crossroads over how to trim the city's deer population, which has significantly increased to 10,000 deer in urban areas. The Iowa City City Council was denied multiple times in the last year by the Natural Resource Commission to re-instate a deer sharpshooting program within the city. As the conversation on what to do drags on, one advocacy group in Iowa City is hoping they can stop killing deer altogether. "It's a sign of health for an environment, to actually live with animals within your environment," said Laurie Crawford. "We moved into their midst, so we have to remember that, and I think it behooves us to learn how to co-exist." City leaders said they want to protect the personal property and safety of homeowners and drivers in the area, and asked the NRC to establish a special deer management zone where they could hire professional sharpshooters to control the population of deer. They believe the commission may only approve one year of sharpshooting if the city opens hunting to amateur bow hunters in future years. However, that does not sit well with some residents. "They can really make a mistake and shoot a person, rather than a deer," said Florence Boos. Read the full story here.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
Temperatures will climb into the 50s today under partly cloudy skies. It will be breezy at times with some gusts up to 25 mph out of the southeast. A weak disturbance will move through the state today and may lead to a brief sprinkle, but dry air will likely prevent any rain hitting the ground. The aforementioned disturbance will leave a warm front stalled out across the Midwest. That will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms through the rest of the week. A few showers will be possible Monday night into Tuesday, especially north of Highway 20. Then it will be mostly cloudy Tuesday with temperatures in the 60s. Another system will begin to move in Tuesday night into Wednesday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Tuesday night, with higher chances Wednesday. Then, some strong thunderstorms may be possible Wednesday afternoon.
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Corridor companies take three Prometheus Awards 
