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MONDAY, DEC. 18, 2017 | IN THIS ISSUE
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A new survey released by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) today found that members are generally positive about the prospects for 2018 and consider workforce recruitment/retention the top issue they plan to address in the first quarter of the year.
Eighty percent of ABI members responded that they expect sales to expand over the next year, while 72.5 percent said they expect their companies to make capital investments during the year.
About half of the businesses said the expect employment growth in their company during 2018, while 45 percent expected the number to remain the same.
"This is great news for Iowa - for our businesses, for our workforce and for our economy," Mike Ralston, ABI president, stated in a press release. He said 2018 "looks to be an outstanding year for our members and for Iowa businesses in general."
The survey marked the first time ABI has conducted a public quarterly survey of its board in the organization's 114-year history. ABI plans to continue to conduct the surveys each quarter. To see the full survey results, click here.
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Mary Jo Stanley
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Memorial service plans have been announced for Muscatine philanthropist and civic leader Mary Jo Stanley, who died Dec. 14 at age 83.
Ms. Stanley joined The Stanley Foundation's board of directors in 1984 and served in that capacity until being named a director emerita in 2001. She served for decades as a co-host of Stanley Foundation events, welcoming diplomats, officials and scholars from around the world to international conferences on significant issues of peace and security.
"Mary Jo's many contributions to the world and the foundation, among them her kindness and humanity, will continue to have a lasting impact on our work," Stanley Foundation President Keith Porter stated in a press release.
Ms. Stanley served as chair of the Cable Television Commission when cable was first established in Muscatine and as a board member of the Muscatine Art Center Support Foundation, the Muscatine Center for Social Action, and others. She was instrumental in the creation of the Muscatine Area AIDS Coalition.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6 at the First Presbyterian Church of Muscatine. The Rev. Dr. Pam Saturnia will officiate. A private burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, 1931 Houser
Street. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Muscatine, www.fpcmuscatine.org; the Muscatine Center for Social Action, www.mscaiowa.org; or the African American Museum of Iowa, www.blackiowa.org.
Ms. Stanley and her husband Dick became enthusiastic supporters and patrons of individual artists and of arts programs in Muscatine, at the University of Iowa, and elsewhere in the state. Mr. Stanley preceded her in death by four weeks. The couple had been married nearly 64 years.
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Brandon Sharp
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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has announced the hiring of Brandon Sharp to serve as chief information officer.
Mr. Sharp will supervise the implementation of business technology upgrades, cybersecurity and oversee the Information Technology Division in the Secretary of State's office. He most recently worked as a director for the Iowa Department of Transportation.
"I'm very pleased to welcome Brandon to the team and will count on his expertise to help us serve Iowans at the speed of business," Sec. Pate said.
"We are investing in significant technology upgrades for our Business Services Division and, like all businesses and government entities, constantly facing challenges with cybersecurity," he added. "Brandon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the public and private sectors to this position. He will serve the citizens of Iowa well."
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The Douglas Mansion
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The History Center has announced the successful completion of the Landmark & Legacy campaign, allowing restoration of the Douglas Mansion
to get under way.
The historic home at 800 2nd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, will become the permanent site of The History Center in the fall of 2018.
On Dec. 19, The History Center will hold a wall-breaking ceremony, which will include Mayor Ron Corbett, Linn County Supervisor Brett Oleson, and Jack Evans of the Hall Perrine Foundation. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony from 10-10:30 a.m.
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Self-guided tours of the mansion will be offered after the ceremony and History Center staff will be available for interviews. They will be prepared to talk about the mansion, the future of The History Center, the economic impact of the project and more.
For more information about the campaign and the History Center, click here.
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The Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the recipients of the 2017 Bravo Awards at the organization's annual luncheon on Tuesday.
The recognition goes to 10 area residents who go above and beyond to increase the quality of life in the community. Due to a sponsorship from the Corridor Business Journal, each recipient received $250 to gift to the charity of their choice.
The 2017 Bravo Award recipients are: Ben Anderson, University of Iowa Power Plant; Brad Kunkel, Johnson County Sheriff's Office; Greg Fender, Integrated DNA Technologies; Tim Carty, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce; Marian Karr, retired City of Iowa City City Clerk; Nick Bergus, City of North Liberty; Wendy Nolan, United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties; Anna Jensen, University of Iowa Sports & Recreation Management; Bob Goodfellow, Goodfellow Printing; Terry Kaeding, retired City of Coralville finance officer.
CVB President Josh Schamberger discussed the organization's progress in the past year and provided a preview of 2018 during the luncheon program, attended by over 250 community members and officials. Click here to see the information he provided from the organization's annual report.
CORRECTION
A brief in Friday's edition of the Business Daily newsletter incorrectly stated the number of times the Backcountry Film Festival has been shown in the Corridor. The Jan. 26 event at Big Grove Brewery will be the second time the festival has been shown in the region. We regret the error.
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 Short-Term Event Planner
Dec. 18
Coralville Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Gus' Food & Spirits, 2421 Coral Court, 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 for members. Call the chamber (319) 337-9637 if interested and not a member.
Dec. 19
Iowa City Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., 2 Dogs Pub, 1705 S. First Ave., 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 members. Call the chamber (319) 337-9637 if interested and not a member.
Dec. 20
Open Coffee at MERGE, by ICAD Group, 8-9 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Meet other entrepreneurs and creatives, hear announcements on upcoming startup and creative events, and talk about startup and tech news. Free. Register at bit.ly/2i2kQOl.
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups, 9-10 a.m., MidWestOne Bank, 102 S. Clinton St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2vWaQhG.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
For the first time this year, online sales have exceeded holiday business at brick and mortar stores. Now Corridor retailers are encouraging shoppers to buy locally in the coming week ahead of Christmas.
Stephanie Brandenburg, owner of Delve Make it Yourself, says she's excited to see customers find new discoveries and talents in her creative shop filled with quilts, bold colors and antiques. "It's been great," she said. "We've had a lot of fun and people coming in for the holidays getting last minute gifts." Michelle Bell, owner of White Lion Treasures in Czech Villiage is also seeing an increase in shoppers. "It's been kind of crazy here this weekend... we like to see the folks coming into town from out of town, and lots of locals who haven't been to Czech Village in years.
Both retail owners say that while they're seeing a boom in business due to the holidays, competing with online giants like Amazon means going above and beyond. Ms.
Bell believes it's the special attention given to customers that makes all the difference: "You're gonna get greeted when you walk in the door, we're gonna help you, we're gonna ask you if you're looking for anything in particular, and, in all honesty, we can help find and source things if we don't have what you want, and I don't know any big box stores that go out of their way to take care of people like that."
Both stores will be open Christmas Eve. Delve MIY will be open until 3:00 p.m. and White Lion Treasures will remain open until 8 p.m.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
After the fog lifts there will be plenty of sunshine today and temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 40s. It will be similar tomorrow with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low to mid 40s. Temperatures will remain above normal and slightly cooler with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s Wednesday.
The first winter storm of the season arrives Thursday. Ahead of it we will get a little push of warmer air and temperatures will be near 40 once again. There is still some uncertainty on the exact track of the storm, which will have implications on the precipitation types.
A few rain showers will begin to develop and move through the area Thursday afternoon and evening with the possibility of freezing rain close to the Iowa/Minnesota border. As colder air moves in, there will likely be a change over to snow near/north of Highway 20. There may be some snow further down to the south, but confidence is low right now.
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