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TUESDAY, DEC. 18, 2018 | IN THIS ISSUE
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Hy-Vee, Inc. has acquired an independent pharmacy in Durant and the pharmacy business of 22 Shopko pharmacies in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Shopko patient files will merge into existing Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations in the 17 cities where the acquisitions have taken place. They include three Iowa pharmacies in Mason City, Glenwood and Sioux City.
Hy-Vee also acquired Westfair Drug in Durant, which reopened Monday as Hy-Vee Pharmacy.
"As we continue to grow our pharmacy business, we pride ourselves on providing an excellent experience to our customers," said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee's chairman of the board, CEO and president in a release.
"We provide customized care for each person who walks through our door. Our pharmacists will go above and beyond to provide numerous services to our patients so we can help them understand and assist with caring for their specific health care needs."
Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
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Mike Ralston
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Survey results released by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) show the majority of business leaders on the association's board expect growth in sales, employment and capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2019.
"If the outlook for Q1 is any indication, 2019 will be a banner year for Iowa businesses," ABI President Mike Ralston said in a release.
"Q1 often sets the tone for the entire year, so we're off to a great start."
Despite the new year approaching, old obstacles persist for ABI members. A shortage of qualified labor was the top issue identified by board members for 2019.
"Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce continues to be the biggest challenge for Iowa businesses," said Mr. Ralston. "It's been that way for many years, and we don't see that changing anytime soon."
ABI surveyed its board members in December 2018. The survey found:
- 72 percent of survey respondents expect sales to expand over the next year. 21 percent expect sales to stay the same.
- 55 percent of survey respondents expect the number of employees in their business to grow over Q1.
- 41 percent expect the number to stay the same.
- 97 percent of survey respondents plan to make capital expenditures in Q1. That's up from 65 percent for Q4 in 2018.
The survey results may be found at https://bit.ly/2zWHMbD. ABI is comprised of 1,500 member companies of all types and sizes in all 99 counties employing more than 330,000 Iowans.
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CBJ invites 2019 Women of Influence nominations
The Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) is taking nominations for its 2019 class of Women of Influence. Honorees will be recognized at an April 4 awards banquet and profiled in the April 8 issue of the weekly CBJ.
Each year, 10 women are recognized for making a difference in the Corridor as role models and leaders in their fields and communities. Any woman living or working in the Corridor is eligible. Honorees are selected by the previous year's Women of Influence, listed below:
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Kim Bergen-Jackson
, administrator of Oaknoll Retirement Residence
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Angie Charipar
, assistant to the city manager of City of Cedar Rapids
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Kim Downs
, city administrator of City of Hiawatha
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Mary Ferentz
, volunteer and philanthropist
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Brooke Fitzgerald
, owner of The Early Bird Coffee Shop
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Janet Godwin
, chief operating officer of ACT Inc.
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Lena Hill
, (former) associate professor of English and African American studies and senior associate to the president of the University of Iowa
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Mary Ann Osborn
, chief nurse executive of UnityPoint Health
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Jenny Schulz
, attorney and executive director of Kids First Law Center
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Phoebe Trepp
, executive director of Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
The 15th annual Women of Influence awards banquet will be held from 5-8 p.m. April 4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Honorees will have the opportunity to share their stories at the event.
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The Iowa Utilities Board has approved an increase of approximately 6 percent in Alliant Energy natural gas rates, although several factors will reduce the immediate impact on residential customers.
In a press release, Alliant said the rate increase is the first in about six years and, after interim rate increases that took effect in May, will raise residential rates about 1 percent when they start in early 2019. A typical residential bill will increase about $1.50 per month to around $57 per month.
Alliant is the natural gas distributor for many of the Corridor's smaller communities, including Mount Vernon, Belle Plaine, Marengo and Middle Amana.
"Our customers will continue to benefit from the work we are doing to maintain more than 5,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in Iowa," said Terry Kouba, vice president of Iowa operations for Alliant Energy. "We're replacing older materials, enabling more efficient safety inspections and expanding service for customers."
Alliant said natural gas costs now stand significantly lower than five years ago for a variety of reasons. They include lower costs for natural gas, reduced usage from customers and savings from lower corporate taxes.
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Mount Mercy University recently launched its Degree in 3 program, enabling undergraduate students to save time and money by earning a bachelor's degree in just three years.
"With the rising cost of higher education around the country, Mount Mercy is committed to making college affordable for all students," said Terri Crumley, vice president for enrollment & marketing, in a news release. "Undergraduate students save a full year's worth of tuition and time, and have the opportunity to
jump start
their career with our new Degree in 3 program."
The program is open to incoming freshmen. Eligible majors include accounting, finance, human resource management, management and marketing. For additional information, click here.
Students interested in furthering their education with Mount Mercy also have a fast-track option with the MMU+ program. Undergraduate students take graduate courses during their junior and senior years, enabling them to complete bachelor's and master's degrees in under five years.
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Dec. 18
Iowa City Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Blackstone, 503 Westbury Drive, Ste. 1, Iowa City. 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. For more information visit
bit.ly/2KEmhR2.
Dec. 19
1 Million Cups, by 1MC, 9-10 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids and MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR .
Dec. 20
Small Business Roundtable, by SCORE, 7:30-9 a.m., Scott's Family Restaurant, 1906 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids. A business topic will be discussed, along with networking among participants. Free. For more information or to pre-register, visit
scorecr.org.
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Forward the FREE CBJ Business Daily newsletter to your friends and colleagues, and share the feeling of being informed! Use our fast, one-minute subscription to the CBJ's newsletters
here, or check out our other subscription options
here.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
Construction on the I-380/I-80 interchange is just ramping up its initial phase of construction, but this is only the beginning for changes and possible delays on the route.
Right now, crews are piling steel into the ground, which will eventually help support new bridges on the interchange and replace the old clover-like loops. The interchange will become a turbine interchange, which means those bridges will act as directional ramps where cars can maintain a 50 to 55 mph speed. Trucks will still be able to maintain up to 40 mph on the new system.
The entire project could be sped up by two years and be completed by 2023 or sooner. That's in part because the Iowa Department of Transportation received $50 million in federal grant money this year.
Though crews are in the initial process of construction, some closures are still expected on the ramps at night to transport steel equipment to the site. There will also be more road work on the shoulder of the interstate in 2019. A similar project on the construction of Forevergreen Road and its exit off I-380 will be completed by Fall 2019.
Most of the traffic delays, however, will be later in 2020, but the DOT wants people to start thinking about what that could mean for their commute and future trips down to Hawkeye football games.
"We're going to be communicating to football traffic ticket holders, so we're trying to get out the word that 'yes you're going to be delayed'," said Transportation Planner Catherine Cutler. "But that you're best able to deal with that. If it's leaving earlier, staying longer to tailgate, [or] however, you're going to need to deal with it. There will be delays and detours with this project."
The Iowa DOT will be hosting more informational meetings on the interchange project in 2019.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
We're on a little winter break - temperatures will be above normal all week. Mild to start, with slightly cooler temperatures for the end of the week and the weekend.
High pressure will be in control once again today. Temperatures will be even warmer than yesterday with highs in the mid to upper 40s under mostly sunny skies. Clouds will start to move into the area tonight as a weak cold front draws closer.
The cold front will move through on Wednesday and bring a chance of light showers. Ahead of the rain, temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 40s under mostly cloudy skies. In the afternoon there will be the chance for a few light rain showers. Cooler air will move in behind this front, and there may be a brief mix of wet snowflakes and rain before the precipitation ends. Little to no accumulation is expected, though.
Any precipitation will end by early Thursday and it will be cloudy and cooler. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s Thursday
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