Des Moines Register: AARP called on Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday to quickly offer more help to seniors who are struggling to find scarce appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations. “The fragmented rollout is not only confusing and concerning, but also a prescription for redundancies, as duplicate individual registrations could lead to missed appointments and wasted vaccines,” […]
Associated Press: Within days of abandoning a plan to hire a private company to establish a statewide call center to help residents set up coronavirus vaccine appointments, Iowa officials on Wednesday said they have canceled a deal with Microsoft Corp. to develop a centralized online system. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the decision just 10 days after […]
Des Moines Register: State officials are relenting on their decision to withhold this week’s allotment of COVID-19 vaccine from five rural counties that allegedly failed to use at least 80% of what they already had, health leaders in two of those counties said today. The Iowa Department of Public Health informed five counties late last week […]
Associated Press: Iowa public health officials selected Microsoft to create an online COVID-19 vaccination scheduling system as they seek to get past a frustrating start that has the state ranked near the bottom nationally in doses administered. The Iowa Department of Public Health told bidders that it would select a separate contractor to run a vaccine […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds did not consult her public health department before lifting Iowa’s remaining COVID-19 mitigation strategies, multiple Democrat state lawmakers said today. The Democrats said that during a weekly briefing this morning on the state’s pandemic response, an official with the Iowa Department of Public Health said the agency was not consulted […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa is not receiving as many doses of the coronavirus vaccine as many other states, which is part of the reason it has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday. Iowa is 47th in the nation in per capita vaccine distribution from the federal government, and […]
The Iowa Department of Public Health is seeking proposals from vendors by the end of the day today, Feb. 5, to create or adapt a centralized resource for Iowans signing up to receive a vaccine, be screened for prioritization eligibility, find more information about vaccine providers and assist with vaccine registration and appointment scheduling. Interested […]
About 20% of Iowa businesses are experiencing financial stress, and 55% have experienced negative supply chain distributions from their critical suppliers, according to a survey conducted as part of the Iowa Economic Development Authorities Business Expansion and Strategic Trends (BEST) initiative. Through the BEST initiative, IEDA and its economic development and utilities partners focused on […]
Des Moines Register: The Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 250 COVID-19 deaths Sunday, a new record for new deaths attributable to the disease added to the state’s online dashboard in a single day. The department also reported an additional 757 confirmed cases Sunday.
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Fewer Iowans are getting tested for COVID-19, and that’s making public health officials nervous. “Anytime you don’t know your status, you could certainly be spreading the virus unknowingly,” said Liz Highland, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at the clinic that manages the bulk of the University of Iowa’s COVID-19 testing. “That’s the biggest […]
Associated Press: A labor union representing state workers has filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, arguing that a lack of a mask mandate at the Iowa Capitol threatens the safety of everyone who enters the building. The Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and representatives from six other Iowa labor unions filed […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa restaurants and bars struggling with COVID-19-related reductions in business will be able to apply for one-time grants under a new state program, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today. The $40 million Iowa Restaurant and Bar Relief Grant Program will give grants of up to $25,000 to restaurants and bars that saw a decrease […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds said today that Iowans age 65 and older will be part of the next phase to receive COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Feb. 1, KCCI reported. Reynolds said in a news conference that the state is receiving relatively few COVID-19 vaccines but is getting the doses out quickly. She said Iowa is only receiving about […]
Hy-Vee Inc. will begin offering COVID-19 rapid antibody testing at more than 250 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations on Monday, the company announced this week. Patients will receive same-day test results in as few as 15 minutes after completing the test. The rapid antibody test is available for patients who wish to learn if they have been […]
Quad-City Times: Starting early this year, Tyson Foods Inc. will partner with Matrix Medical Network to provide COVID-19 vaccine access and education to all of its U.S. employees. Tyson will deploy mobile health clinics staffed with clinical staff to each of its U.S. facilities throughout the rest of this year.
Des Moines Register: Iowa does not plan to immediately offer coronavirus vaccinations to all people older than 65, as the federal government recommended Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said. “Once we have reasonable confidence that supply meets the demands of this broader eligibility criteria, we will activate the broader distribution criteria,” the department said […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: More than 90,000 Iowans had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, public health officials reported, nearly a month after the first inoculations in the state were given Dec. 14. In all, the state said Monday, 96,686 doses have been administered in Iowa. Of those, 91,501 went to Iowa […]
The Iowa Department of Education today announced that the state has received nearly $345 million in federal relief for Pre-K-12 schools through a fund to address costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount is Iowa’s share of the more than $54 billion in emergency relief provided in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The vaccine against the novel coronavirus has begun to arrive at nursing homes across the state this week, offering a new level of protection for some of the most medically fragile populations. Though the vaccine is likely to help prevent outbreaks of the virus among residents and staff, state health care officials say […]
The Dallas County Health Department is partnering with Hy-Vee Inc. to administer the first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Dallas County front-line health care workers today at the Waukee Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Hy-Vee announced this morning. At this time, pharmacies are only able to vaccinate front-line health care workers due to the CDC’s allocation […]
Low-income families in Iowa have suffered disproportionately in their ability to pay for basic essentials during the pandemic, according to a new report released by United Ways of Iowa. More than half of the low-income families surveyed reported loss of income or increased expenses due to COVID-19, according to the study, which was conducted by […]
The number of Iowans filing weekly unemployment claims slipped to 45,697 in the week that ended on Saturday, a 13% decrease from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Included among the unemployment filings were 6,949 initial claims filed by Iowans, the agency reported. Last week’s initial claims were 31% lower than the 10,112 […]
Des Moines Register: Residents and staff members of Iowa nursing homes will have to wait at least two more weeks for the coronavirus vaccinations that hospital workers began receiving Monday. Nursing homes, which house about 20,000 of Iowa’s most vulnerable people, are in particular peril from the virus. Brent Willett, president of the Iowa Health Care […]
Hy-Vee pharmacists and technicians who take part in the company’s rapid antigen COVID-19 testing will be offered an additional bonus for participating in the public health program, Hy-Vee announced on Sunday. Full-time pharmacists who administer the tests will receive a $500 bonus, and part-time pharmacists and technicians who administer the test will receive a $250 […]
More than 50 front-line hospital workers at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City were the first in the state to receive vaccinations today for COVID-19, UI Hospitals & Clinics announced. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, and is prioritized by the Centers for […]
Des Moines Register: A survey of Iowa restaurants, released by the Iowa Restaurant Association on Thursday, found that 88% of owners expect revenues to drop further in the next three months. The survey estimated that Iowa restaurant sales will total $3 billion in 2020, about 30% short of what the association projected before the pandemic. It […]
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced it will continue to waive the cost share for members undergoing inpatient treatment related to a COVID-19 diagnosis through March 31, 2021. The extension provides Wellmark members with extended relief from copays, coinsurance and deductibles for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 from an in-network health care provider. The waiver, originally put […]
The number of Iowans filing weekly unemployment claims jumped to 53,868 in the week that ended on Saturday, a 38% increase from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. In addition, 10,747 Iowans filed first-time unemployment claims last week, double the number from the week that ended on Nov. 28 when 5,357 new claims […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday she is extending through Dec. 16 a COVID-19 emergency proclamation that imposed some mask requirements and put limitations on the size of gatherings. Under an order the governor issued last month, all Iowans must wear a face mask or other face covering while indoors in public and within […]
Hy-Vee Inc. announced that it will offer rapid antigen COVID-19 testing at 47 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations, including three Greater Des Moines stores, via an outdoor drive-thru testing process. The first 18 locations will begin testing today, with the additional locations scheduled to begin testing over the next two weeks. Patients will receive same-day test results […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: A new federal report on the economic and employment impacts of the coronavirus pandemic suggests the experiences of Iowa businesses are similar — in some cases better — to those of businesses in other states. The Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of nearly 600,000 businesses across the country and Puerto Rico found […]
Des Moines Register: Des Moines middle and high school students could be online for the rest of the semester after a special meeting of the school board Tuesday night. In the second of two motions passed by board members Tuesday, the board voted 4-2 to allow Superintendent Thomas Ahart to apply for enough remote learning […]
Des Moines residents adversely affected by the pandemic will be provided some relief from the city after the City Council on Monday approved reallocating $500,000 from the general fund to go toward rental and mortgage assistance and aiding those who are homeless. More specifically, the money will be provided to two nonprofit groups – IMPACT […]
The insurer of a group of Greater Des Moines bars is not obligated to cover financial losses resulting from COVID-19 closure orders, Law360 reported. The suit, brought by Whiskey River on Vintage in Ankeny and two other Whiskey River locations, is one of numerous cases around the country in which insurers have prevailed over eating establishments seeking […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa will follow federal guidance in prioritizing health care workers and nursing home residents when distributing COVID-19 vaccinations, Gov. Kim Reynolds said today. She said she expects the first distributions of the vaccine to start Dec. 13, with a shipment of 26,000 doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer. Reynolds said more doses […]
More than 44,000 Iowans who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits face a severe financial crisis if a federal safety net is allowed to expire in late December, economists say. The federal CARES Act went into effect in March, providing additional jobless benefits to workers, including those who had used all of their state jobless benefits. […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowans, for the most part, have been traveling less throughout the COVID-19 pandemic than they did at the same time last year, multiple sources of data show. But now Iowans have become much more mobile — even while the virus has been spreading worse than it has at any point in the pandemic […]
Des Moines Register: Malls and big-box stores in Iowa and across the country remained calm and mainly quiet on Black Friday — an indication of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy at the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Avoiding the long lines and packed aisles that have been the norm on the […]
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: State regulators have stepped up enforcement of public health orders related to bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, records show. Earlier this fall, hundreds of complaints were filed but only two actions were taken in the first month after state agencies announced a plan to crack down on businesses that violate state […]
Des Moines Register: The number of Iowans making initial claims for jobless benefits rose 58% last week, the most new claims in more than four months, according to federal data released this morning. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 9,458 Iowans filed new unemployment claims in the week ended Saturday, up from 5,992 new […]
With hospitalizations related to severe COVID-19 infections more than doubling over the past month, groups representing physician and nurse leaders of Iowa’s hospitals and health care systems today issued a joint statement emphasizing the need for the public to help prevent further spread of the virus. “In recent weeks, we have seen COVID-19 cases trending […]
Sioux City Journal: A pork packing plant in Sioux City must pay unemployment benefits to two former workers who quit working at the Seaboard Triumph plant because COVID-19 had made conditions there unsafe. Administrative law judges in two separate cases reversed earlier decisions that had denied unemployment insurance benefits to Yoslady Rodriguez and Maria Montes. Opened […]
The number of Iowans filing unemployment claims increased to 41,554 in the week that ended on Saturday, a 2.7% increase from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. In addition, 6,312 Iowans filed first-time unemployment claims last week, up 21% from the week that ended on Nov. 7 when 5,217 new claims were filed, […]
About $8 million in CARES Act funding is still available through the Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced this morning. The deadline to apply for rent and mortgage assistance and utility assistance through the Iowa Residential Utility Disruption Prevention program is Dec. 4. The Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program […]
With the recent announcement of Des Moines Public Schools transitioning back to all virtual learning beginning on Nov. 16, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa has reevaluated program hours and will be transitioning back to all-day service to better fit the needs of families. The Huskies Club located at Meredith Middle School and the McCombs […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: State public health officials have released an emergency request for a vendor to aid in contact tracing as Iowa grapples with a major surge of new COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. The Iowa Department of Public Health today announced a request for proposal process for a vendor to aid in contact […]
Des Moines Register: White House experts are urging Iowa to ramp up testing, require masks and take other steps to control its raging coronavirus outbreak. “The unyielding COVID spread across Iowa continues with new hospital admissions, inpatients, and patients in the ICU at record levels,” the new White House coronavirus task force says in its […]
Des Moines Register: More than 100 long-term care facilities in Iowa have COVID-19 outbreaks as the coronavirus rages across the state. The state today was reporting 102 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities. At 10 a.m. the state reported 1,872 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of 27 in 24 hours. Of the state’s deaths, 900 were related […]
Stricter COVID-19 mitigation requirements for Iowans take effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday under a proclamation issued today by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Among the new measures, the proclamation “orders all employers to evaluate whether any more of their employees can feasibly work remotely and to the extent reasonable, shall take steps to enable such employees to […]
The city of Des Moines is extending the closure of city administration buildings until at least Feb. 1, 2021, Mayor Frank Cownie announced late Monday. City administrative buildings have been closed to the public since March following the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival in Iowa. As of Monday, Polk County reported 23,815 positive cases of COVID-19. The […]
A group of Central Iowa organizations has launched a new health and safety initiative — the Stay Safe Pledge — aimed at helping businesses and the public show their commitment to remaining healthy and safe during the pandemic. The pledge, which includes tangible steps that both companies and patrons will take such as wellness screenings, […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority are launching the Iowa Movie Theatre Relief Program, which will offer short-term relief to eligible movie theaters to assist in continuing or resuming operations during a public health emergency. The Iowa Movie Theatre Relief Fund will provide up to $10,000 per screen to assist nearly 150 […]
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics today announced steps it is taking to prepare for the continued increasing rates of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the state. In preparation for a potential surge, UI Health Care is adding ICU beds to accommodate statewide transfers, additional services for local COVID testing, and more staffing resources to […]
After eight months of fighting COVID-19 in Iowa, health care workers are exhausted — and they’re asking for the public’s help in curbing the spread in the virus as the pandemic surges to its highest level of infection yet. Key leaders from Iowa’s two largest private hospital systems joined Gov. Kim Reynolds during a late-morning […]
The number of Iowans filing weekly unemployment claims continues to decline, with 42,254 filing claims last week, a 4.3% drop from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. However, the number of claims filed by the newly unemployed continues to increase. The state agency today reported that during the week that ended on Saturday:• 4,964 […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The arrival of COVID-19 in March immediately affected the fiscal year budgets of Iowa’s public universities — which were entering the fourth quarter — including athletics and housing revenue, according to a new Board of Regents report. University of Iowa Athletics came in nearly $5 million under its income budget last year and […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds this week announced that 46 organizations have received Coronavirus Relief Fund Earn and Learn Grants totaling $5.85 million. The grants, provided through federal CARES Act funding, will fund projects that support the creation and expansion of short-term training programs and support services resulting in industry-recognized credentials. Individual grants ranging from $10,000 to […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds this week announced that an additional $28 million was being allocated to Iowa’s hospitals and county health departments to manage increased needs due to the continued rise in coronavirus cases. The funding comes from the $1.25 billion the state received in federal CARES Act funds. Of the funds, $25 million will go […]
The number of Iowans who filed initial unemployment claims increased more than 13% last week to 4,791, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. The state agency attributed the rise to the annual increase in unemployment claims due to workers in construction and landscaping being laid off because of cooler weather. Typically, unemployment claims begin to inch […]
The Polk County Regional Governing Board awarded a grant of $8,880 to Lutheran Services of Iowa to support LSI’s behavioral and mental health services provided to teenagers in Polk County Juvenile Detention, LSI announced. LSI provides trauma-informed care and therapy to teens living in the facility; the grant will support the increased need for services […]
Corridor Business Journal: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, the site of one of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine trials, says it could begin distributing the vaccine as soon as late November. The UI’s lead COVID-19 vaccine responder Dr. Brooks Jackson tells the Daily Iowan that despite widespread worries about political meddling, the vaccine could be ready within weeks, […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) have announced the launch of a new Iowa County Fairs Relief Program, designed to offer short-term relief to eligible county and district fairs continuing operations in the context of a public health emergency. Up to $6 million of federal CARES Act funds are available for […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa broke the record for the highest number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients more than once last week. The spike in new novel coronavirus cases in recent weeks has driven a record number of sick patients into hospitals across the state. Local hospital officials report the vast majority of cases were a result […]
A survey by the Greater Des Moines Partnership hopes to help businesses and organizations better understand how their peers are coping with the coronavirus pandemic. The Business and Workforce Survey was sent out to Partnership investors, members and the community to gain insights on current and future business and workforce plans, according to a news […]
The number of Iowans filing weekly unemployment claims continues to decline, with 45,986 filing claims last week, a nearly 8% drop from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Additionally, the state agency reported that during the week that ended on Saturday:• 4,622 Iowans filed initial claims, a 10% increase from the 4,192 of first-time […]
The number of Iowans filing weekly unemployment claims continues to decline, with 46,577 claims filed last week, a nearly 10% drop from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Additionally, the state agency reported that during the week that ended Saturday: 4,644 Iowans filed initial claims, a slight decline from the 4,730 first-time claims […]
Mercy College of Health Sciences will use an $82,500 grant it received recently to provide scholarships and tutoring for its nursing students. The Des Moines-based college was awarded the grant on Sept. 23 through the Coronavirus Relief Employer Innovation Fund established by Future Ready Iowa. Mercy College will be using these funds to provide $1,000 […]
COVID-19 has magnified the importance of caregivers, making it vital to check in on caregivers’ health, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield advises. Family caregivers have a 26% greater chance of having a physical or behavioral health condition that could lower their overall health due to the stress of caring for an ill family member, […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa continues to see more than twice as many coronavirus infections as the national average, White House experts warned state officials this week. “Community transmission has remained high across the state for the past month, with many preventable deaths,” said a White House coronavirus task force report to Iowa leaders. It said the […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Mercy Iowa City plans to lay off 29 employees as a result of financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a notice filed with the Iowa Workforce Development, the layoffs are effective Nov. 21. Mercy Iowa City, an affiliate MercyOne health system, employs 992 full-time and 196 part-time staff members across […]
Continuing unemployment claims filed in Iowa between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3 totaled 51,666, a decrease of 6,753 from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported this week. There were 4,730 initial claims filed in Iowa. Unemployment insurance benefit payments totaled $14,767,817 for the week. Industries with the most unemployment claims were manufacturing (959), health […]
More than 1 in 3 companies plan major resiliency investments over next year Matthew Lamons’ tiny hometown in the Midwest had no more than 250 residents, yet over the past three decades these small towns went from “being in the middle of nowhere to being in the middle of everywhere” due to technology. Or at […]
Iowa City Press-Citizen: Mercy Iowa City plans to close its psychiatric inpatient unit at the end of the year due to financial losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Outpatient services will continue to be offered through its Behavioral Health Clinic in Iowa City. “Due to the financial impact of COVID-19, we are in the […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: As new cases of COVID-19 at Iowa’s public universities remained low, Gov. Kim Reynolds declared Friday that bars in the campus communities of Story and Johnson counties could reopen today. Wineries, breweries and distilleries in those counties were allowed to reopen on Friday. After a surge in new COVID-19 cases, Reynolds initially ordered […]
United Ways of Iowa is partnering with Strategic Marketing Services and the Institution for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa to survey individuals who are willing about the financial impact of COVID-19 on their lives in the past six months. Deann Cook, executive director at United Ways of Iowa, said the results “will […]
Many Americans awoke to news that President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for COVID-19. Trump’s diagnosis triggered a sell-off in stocks and oil and a surge in demand for traditional safe haven assets such as gold and bonds today, Reuters reported. “The President of the United States has got a disease which […]
The Test Iowa drive-thru site currently located in Dallas County at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines will move to a new metro-area location when testing concludes today at 2 p.m., the governor’s office announced. The site will be temporarily relocated to Merle Hay Mall, 4000 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, in […]
Nearly 1,600 fewer Iowans filed initial claims for unemployment benefits last week, and continuing claims decreased by 6.7% to 58,744 claims, according to a weekly update provided by Iowa Workforce Development. Unemployed Iowans filed 5,018 initial claims during the week of Sept. 20. The number of continuing weekly unemployment claims for Sept. 20-26 declined by […]
Des Moines Register: Des Moines students will start returning to in-person classes in October, potentially ending a monthslong showdown with the Iowa governor over when to reopen school buildings during the coronavirus pandemic. The Des Moines board of education voted Wednesday night to begin a phased reopening and approved a revised set of COVID-19 metrics […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa is changing its guidelines for when school districts need to quarantine those exposed to people who have tested positive for coronavirus, Gov. Kim Reynolds said during her news conference today. The state will no longer recommend that those who have been exposed to a person who tested positive with coronavirus self-quarantine for […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is extending the closure of bars in Johnson and Story counties for another week as part of her extension of the state’s public health disaster emergency declaration. The closure order in those two counties, home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, had been set to expire […]
Associated Press: Iowa regulators have issued their first citation to a meatpacking plant with a large coronavirus outbreak that sickened its workforce — a $957 fine for a minor record-keeping violation. The outbreak at the Iowa Premium Beef Plant in Tama in April resulted in 338 of the plant’s 850 workers testing positive for the virus, […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa State is planning to open Jack Trice Stadium to fans again. Athletic director Jamie Pollard said today that the 60,500-seat stadium will be capped at 15,000 for the Oct. 3 game against Oklahoma. That total includes 1,000 students. All seating will be assigned.
The number of unemployment claims filed by Iowans during Sept. 13-19 was 63,291, a decrease of 2,131 from the previous week, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Iowans filed 6,601 first-time unemployment claims last week. Industries with the most claims last week were manufacturing (1,483), construction (1,043), health care and social assistance (440), accommodation and food services […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced the state has awarded more than $4.3 million to 65 organizations that will receive Coronavirus Relief Fund Employer Innovation Fund Grants. The program will assist local employers, nonprofits, community colleges, high schools, private universities and the University of Iowa in providing postsecondary training and education to Iowans who have lost their jobs […]
Des Moines Register: Leaders in Iowa should “dramatically increase testing at universities to quickly find and quarantine on-campus cases and prevent spread” in the surrounding community, according to a report published Sunday from the White House coronavirus task force and made public Tuesday afternoon. “Use positive incentives to encourage testing among students,” the report states.
Des Moines Register: Students at Des Moines Public Schools could return to in-person classes starting next month, but only if local coronavirus numbers meet guidelines being established by the district. The Des Moines board of education approved a hybrid model Monday night that school officials said would bring the district into compliance with a state mandate […]
College freezes hiring, cuts operating budgets and other expenses Iowa’s community colleges are cinching up their budgets this fall as they seek to weather sharp declines in student enrollment caused by the pandemic. The state’s largest community college, Des Moines Area Community College, is facing a nearly 7% decline in enrollment this fall. It’s the […]
Businesses that hold a state liquor license will be required to complete a COVID-19 compliance checklist that officials say will help assist them should the state Alcoholic Beverages Division receive a complaint about an establishment. According to a news release, the checklist will help the ABD assist in the implementation of requirements contained in proclamations […]
The number of unemployment claims filed by Iowans last week fell 7% from the previous week to 70,615, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. The new data also shows that initial claims filed by people who work in construction more than tripled in the week that ended on Saturday from the previous week. Last […]
More than 500 applications have been received seeking more than $8 million from the state’s Nonprofit Recovery Fund to help organizations recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority said the application period closed Monday, and applications are being reviewed. Awards should be announced soon, officials said. The fund, launched early […]
After months of navigating new rules on social distancing, and learning new technology to move programming and fundraising virtually, nonprofits remain uncertain as they craft strategies to prepare for the post-pandemic normal, according to leaders of organizations that work closely with the community’s nonprofit sector. “Overall, the sector has been very focused on their mission, […]
One of the Trump administration’s latest efforts to help workers amid the coronavirus pandemic is off to a rocky start, the Hill reported. President Donald Trump signed a memo last month directing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payroll taxes from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 for employees making less than $4,000 on a biweekly […]
Des Moines Register: Iowans who have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic will begin seeing an extra $300 on their unemployment benefits Friday. Iowa Workforce Development announced that it would begin processing applications for the extra money on Thursday morning. The payments come through Lost Wages Assistance, a program created by President Donald Trump […]
Des Moines Register: A Polk County judge says he will issue a ruling Friday on whether to grant a temporary injunction against Gov. Kim Reynolds’ order closing bars in Polk and Dallas counties. Judge William P. Kelly made the announcement after presiding over a Wednesday afternoon hearing on the request.
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart signed an emergency proclamation Wednesday requiring that face masks be worn in public as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus as Iowa is among the states leading the nation in the number of cases per capita. Cedar Rapids joins five other Iowa cities with mask […]
The number of unemployment claims filed by Iowans last week slipped 7.2% from the previous week but likely doesn’t include thousands of workers affected by a state order that closed bars, breweries and wineries in six of the state’s counties. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week ordered drinking establishments closed in Polk, Black Hawk, Dallas, […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The number of University of Iowa students who have self-reported a positive COVID-19 test is now over 1,000 just one week and a few days into the fall semester. News of 220 more UI students with COVID-19 – bringing the total to 1,142 – and 16 total employees who’ve contracted the virus so […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa State will play its season opener without fans in the stands at Jack Trice Stadium, a dramatic reversal from its announced plan Monday to allow for 25,000 fans. “President [Wendy] Wintersteen shared with me on Tuesday evening that, after weighing feedback she has received from the community, she has decided to reverse […]
How will Iowa workers’ compensation cases play out in instances where employees have contracted COVID-19 and file a claim for coverage? That question will likely remain hanging in legal limbo for months while civil cases are tried in the courts, says a West Des Moines attorney who specializes in representing businesses in workers’ comp issues. […]
The Polk County Board of Supervisors today approved allocating up to $800,000 to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund to pay back rent owed by people about to be evicted from apartments and other housing. Polk County Community, Family & Youth Services, working with the Housing Trust Fund and Iowa Legal Aid, is identifying people […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds designated $5 million in funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to support grants through the Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund, dedicated to assisting Iowans whose jobs have been affected or eliminated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide funding for employers, employer consortiums, community organizations and nonprofits […]
Des Moines Register: As Ames climbed to the top of the New York Times list Monday of biggest “hot spot” metros for coronavirus positivity rates, the chairman of the Story County Board of Health said Iowa State officials are “irresponsible” for deciding 25,000 fans could attend its home opener at Jack Trice Stadium. “We are No. […]
Des Moines Register: White House coronavirus experts warned Iowa leaders Sunday, Aug. 30, that the state has the country’s steepest coronavirus outbreak, and the state should close bars in 61 counties and test all returning college students for the virus. The White House report also urged Iowa to require mask-wearing statewide. Gov. Kim Reynolds has repeatedly […]
Sioux City Journal: American Airlines has filed, under the Essential Air Service program, with the U.S. Department of Transportation to terminate unsubsidized service in Sioux City. In a statement issued today, the city of Sioux City and Sioux Gateway Airport said the filing was due to the significant impact of COVID-19 within the aviation industry and […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa State plans to allow some fans to attend its season opener at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 12. The Cyclones are expecting approximately 25,000 fans with social distancing and mitigation strategies implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “If our mitigation actions are successful, we will allow all season ticket purchasers to attend […]
The Polk County Board of Supervisors, in an effort to stave off hundreds of evictions, is expected on Tuesday to approve allocating up to $800,000 to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund to pay the back rent of people on the verge of being forced out of their homes. “We’re talking about working people that, […]
Des Moines Register: As Iowa’s positive coronavirus cases climbed last week to their highest level yet, local elected officials in several of the state’s most populated counties said they are increasingly relying on data sources other than the state health department to make decisions about protecting residents in their communities. In places such as Polk, Story, […]
Des Moines Register: A pair of companies that own two Des Moines metro bars sued Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday, seeking an injunction against the governor’s bar closure order. Riley Drive Entertainment I and Riley Drive Entertainment XVI ask for relief from what they call Reynolds’ “violations of the […]
Simpson College confirmed the first four cases of COVID-19 cases on the Indianola campus this week; in-person classes began at the liberal arts college on Aug. 24. Simpson is working with the Iowa and Warren County Departments of Public Health on contact tracing, quarantine and other protocols for the individuals involved; those in direct contact […]
A proclamation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds this afternoon will close all bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs this evening at 5 p.m. in six counties until Sept. 20, in an effort to curb a rising positive COVID-19 rate among Iowans ages 19-24, Reynolds said at a news conference. The new proclamation affects businesses in Polk, Dallas, Story, […]
KCRG-TV: Iowa can’t track the number of positive, negative or inconclusive tests performed by Test Iowa, according to data received through a public records request. The data, which KCRG threatened lawsuits to receive, marks the first time data from Test Iowa has been released and also shows it took 46 days to meet the state’s goal […]
The number of unemployment claims filed by Iowans last week inched up 3% from the previous week, likely the result of the recent powerful storm that swept through the state, according to a new state report. Data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows that 91,202 Iowans filed unemployment claims during the week that ended […]
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday reported the largest single-day increase in overall coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. IDPH reported 1,475 new COVID-19 cases and 18 additional deaths. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, IDPH reported 59,368 total cases, 45,362 recoveries and 1,079 deaths since the pandemic began. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, […]
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie told KCCI today that the city will be instituting a public mask mandate effective immediately. Cownie said masks will be required in businesses, including restaurants. The mandate will be part of an extension of the mayoral emergency proclamation that has been in place since March. Cownie said he wants to get this […]
Tikly is offering a free “virtual tip jar” to support musicians and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iowa ticketing company announced today. The new feature allows musicians and creators to set up an account to accept funds from fans and supports to provide a source of revenue as most live shows are paused during […]
Fareway Stores Inc. will be paying a second round of cash bonuses to its hourly employees who have worked to keep stores open and shelves stocked during the coronavirus pandemic. In a news release on Tuesday, the Boone-based grocery company said that as part of its Fareway Family Front Line Plan, a cash bonus will […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds has allocated about $100 million of federal CARES Act funds to help farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In a news release announcing the funds today, Reynolds said the pandemic, combined with the Aug. 10 derecho, “dealt a major blow to everything from the demand for ethanol to the supply of meat […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids halted development of its health screening program because of changes in Federal Aviation Administration rules, airport Director Marty Lenss said. The program, approved by the airport commission last month, was intended to screen all outgoing passengers using medical personnel from Mercy Medical Center. But a change […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The rate of COVID-19 tests in Iowa that came back positive in a 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Sunday rose to 15.49% — the highest in more than five weeks. The latest tally represents the third consecutive day above a 12% positive rate. Iowa has not seen a surge of this extent […]
The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed the first death of a child due to health complications from COVID-19, the department announced Sunday. The child was under the age of 5 and had “significant underlying health conditions” before dying in June, the department said. The state medical examiner completed a case investigation on Aug. […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: The University of Iowa is apologizing for how a student was treated after testing positive for COVID-19 and has committed to handling cases differently in the future. The apology came after a post was widely shared on social media from a person identified as a freshman living in the Daum Residence Hall, […]
Des Moines Register: White House experts this month urged Iowa officials to require residents to wear face masks in public in most urban areas and several rural counties, and to close bars in those areas until the coronavirus pandemic is tamped down. The mask recommendation was stronger than advice the White House coronavirus task force gave […]
Iowa gained 29,300 jobs in July, pushing total nonfarm employment to 1.48 million, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. Private industries added 20,700 jobs, fueled by service industries such as health care and social assistance along with administrative and support services. Overall, Iowa’s July seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.6%. In June, the rate was 8.4%. […]
The start of Amazon’s hiring process for a fulfillment center under construction in Bondurant is coming at a time when thousands of Iowans remain unemployed and many will be required to begin actively searching for work starting in September. Iowa Workforce Development today announced that beginning Sept. 8 it will reinstate its requirement that unemployed […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa Department of Public Health leaders said Wednesday they had fixed a computer “glitch” that caused many recent coronavirus test results to be incorrectly recorded as happening months ago. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the department’s medical director, said she couldn’t immediately estimate how many test results were affected, “but it’s going to be a […]
The Iowa secretary of state’s office will distribute personal protective equipment and more than $2 million in funds to Iowa counties to use for the Nov. 3 general election. The PPE includes face shields, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social distancing markers for use at the polls on Election Day. Additionally, more than $2 million […]
COVID-19 remains a threat, and businesses are keen to return to work safely. Firms are deploying tools to track employees’ health with a view toward boosting their safety and confidence in returning to workplaces and mitigating the risk of start-stop operations. According to a recent Mercer survey, more than half of U.S. companies are starting […]
Des Moines Register: Less than five months after the state reported its first death from COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — Iowa has now surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 deaths. The state hit that tragic benchmark late Tuesday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health data. Experts say the toll will keep climbing […]
Associated Press: A state agency says it is working to fix a data error on Iowa’s coronavirus website that lowers the number of new confirmed cases and therefore downplays the severity of the current outbreak, just as schools are deciding whether to reopen. The glitch means the Iowa Department of Public Health has inadvertently been reporting […]
The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have motivated a majority of Americans who are paid hourly wages to save money for the future, according to a new national survey of hourly workers from DailyPay and Funding Our Future. For many Americans who punch a time clock, the global pandemic marks the first time they have embarked […]
A group of small business owners in Kansas and Missouri can proceed with a lawsuit trying to make their insurance company pay for the income they missed out on during COVID-19 government shutdown orders, MarketWatch reported. In the Aug. 12 decision, a U.S. district judge for the Western District of Missouri ruled that the group of seven […]
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced that it will continue to waive cost-sharing for members undergoing inpatient treatment related to a COVID-19 diagnosis through Dec. 31. Extension of the waiver, which was scheduled to expire Aug. 31, provides Wellmark members with ongoing relief from copays, coinsurance and deductibles for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 from […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Saturday that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration has approved Iowa’s application to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance program. The program provides eligible claimants who are receiving unemployment with additional benefits, starting the week ending Aug. 1. The additional weekly payments were authorized by President Donald Trump on Aug. 8 and are […]
Des Moines Register: Face coverings will be required on all DART buses beginning Aug. 23. Bus riders are encouraged to wear their own mask, and disposable masks will be available at the front of each bus, a news release said. The new policy will coincide with an Aug. 23 DART service adjustment that will restore most […]
The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week dropped below 100,000, a sign Iowans are returning to work, according to Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend. “We have seen steady decline in claim numbers so people are returning to work, and returning to work full time,” Townsend wrote in an email to the […]
Des Moines Register: Even as the number of positive tests for the novel coronavirus climbed among young people in the past month, older people continue to disproportionately experience the worst outcomes, particularly in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported on its long-term care facility outbreak webpage […]
The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week slipped to 111,735, a 4.5% decline from the previous week, new data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows. The number of claims filed is the lowest since late March when 109,616 claims were filed during the week ending March 28. Data released by Iowa […]
More Iowans will be eligible to receive assistance with rent and mortgage payments through the COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program, the Iowa Finance Authority announced today. The program’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to allow Iowans who had been receiving $600 a week in federal unemployment stimulus benefits to apply for assistance through […]
Volunteer Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority have launched the Iowa Nonprofit Recovery Fund, an extension of the Iowa Small Business Relief Grant Program. The program will provide short-term relief to nonprofit organizations that have seen reduced revenue or increased costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible nonprofits may be awarded a […]
The Greater Des Moines Softball Complex has reported a positive case of COVID-19. Exposure to the case occurred July 26 during both the 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. league games. Complex touch points such as benches and common facility areas are disinfected multiple times a day, and teams, staff and umpires who were on-site that […]
In another step to help vendors connect with customers, the Downtown Farmers’ Market will begin a drive-thru option next weekend. The Drive-Through Bite-Size Market will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. each Saturday from Aug. 8 through Oct. 31 at the state Capitol complex. The market canceled its live market this spring because of […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Nearly 300 Iowa doctors have signed a letter urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate, joining the call from top health care groups for stronger COVID-19 mitigation measures even as the governor resists such an order. About 290 doctors signed the letter sent to the governor Wednesday, asking her to […]
The state of Iowa is taking additional steps to enforce social distancing guidelines at bars and restaurants to keep patrons safe, the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division announced today. Violators could face penalties including fines and revocation of licenses, according to a news release. Officials with the Alcoholic Beverages Division and the Department of Inspections and […]
Iowa Workforce Development reported that 7,441 initial unemployment claims were filed by Iowans last week, a decrease of 2,064 from the 9,505 initial claims reported during the week that ended on July 18. Iowans filed 110,960 continuing weekly unemployment claims for July 19-25, also a decrease of 4,970 from the previous week, IWD noted. Data […]
Properly done, employer-led testing for coronavirus is not only a good way for organizations to protect their employees’ health, but also can be an “incredibly cost-effective tool” for expanding testing into the community, says the leader of an emerging test initiative developed by Eurofins USA. The adoption of widespread “sentinel” testing for the presence of […]
Des Moines Register: Urbandale is the latest Iowa city to formally encourage its residents to wear face coverings to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The Urbandale City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night endorsing practices like social distancing and masks. Mayor Bob Andeweg later signed the resolution, which is not a mandate and is […]
Ankeny Mayor Gary Lorenz signed a proclamation today encouraging all residents to wear a mask or face covering in public to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. In the proclamation, Lorenz cites the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Polk County and the state of Iowa, and federal health officials’ recommendations that masks or face […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Coalitions representing thousands of Iowa’s health care providers have sent a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds asking her to issue a statewide face mask mandate for all Iowans. In the letter sent on Monday, health care leadership stated that ongoing voluntary efforts to flatten the curve and mitigate the spread of the novel […]
Submitted by Brad Knott, managing partner, SPPG + Essman Research SPPG + Essman Research, a market research firm in West Des Moines, in partnership with the Business Record recently completed its third survey of Iowans since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. A total of 928 Iowans were surveyed, and the results were notable in important ways […]
The state of Iowa is launching a new initiative to encourage residents to wear masks in public to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement comes as the state surpassed 40,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 815 deaths. The Iowa Department of Public Health today reported 716 new positive cases with seven additional […]
Iowa City Press-Citizen: Following the lead of Iowa City, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to require the wearing of face coverings when in public spaces. But the county also acknowledged that, in its current form, the requirement — aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 — is unenforceable.
Des Moines Register: Fourteen counties are now in severe drought, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last week, the USDA listed parts of 11 counties in severe drought. Parts of the state that are in moderate drought and considered abnormally dry also grew over the last week, according to the USDA. West-central Iowa continues to […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Nearly half of Iowa’s 23 casinos are requiring guests to wear face masks. Ten casinos are now requiring face masks inside gambling areas, casinos, according to an analysis of coronavirus-related policies posted on the casinos’ websites. Three of the casinos requiring masks limit the mandate to situations where guests cannot maintain a 6-foot […]
The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week dropped 13% from the previous week, a sign that businesses are rehiring workers, Iowa Workforce Development’s director said in a prepared statement. “While one week is not a trend, it is the biggest decline in continuing claims we have had in a single week since […]
Associated Press: The first confirmed coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than previously known, with more than twice as many workers becoming infected than the state Department of Public Health told the public, newly released records show. The department announced at a May 5 news conference that 221 employees at the […]
Beginning July 27, Hy-Vee will distribute more than 3 million free face masks to those entering its stores in an effort to protect customers and employees, the company said in a statement. The effort is part of an initiative by Hy-Vee called “Mask It Up to Shut COVID Down. It’s Your Choice.” The West Des Moines-based […]
Iowa City Press-Citizen: Defying Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mayor Bruce Teague today ordered Iowa City residents to help combat the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face coverings when in public places. Those who fail to comply could face a misdemeanor charge. The governor’s office had no immediate response to the order, though it previously said a similar […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office has curtailed coronavirus testing at the Test Iowa site in Dubuque, where infections have been spiking lately. City officials notified residents Monday that the site would only be offering 100 tests per day, due to an order from the governor’s office. The city said that meant the site […]
Associated Press: Iowa egg producers who euthanized hens as a result of plummeting demand caused by the coronavirus will be eligible for government payments to cover disposal costs, a state agency announced today. The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program has been paying pork producers $40 for each market-ready hog they have been forced to euthanize as a […]
Des Moines Register: Des Moines-area hospitals are reimposing visitor restrictions because of the coronavirus’ resurgence in Central Iowa. The hospitals barred most visitors in the spring, then loosened the rules in June, after the pandemic seemed to be stabilizing. But infection numbers and hospitalizations have climbed since then, leading to the new clampdown. MercyOne and UnityPoint’s […]
Des Moines Register: The Iowa Economic Development Authority will pay some utility bills for small businesses and nonprofits. The agency announced a grant program Friday that will supply businesses and organizations with up to $7,500 for unpaid bills. Applicants must have a physical, nonresidential office in Iowa with no more than 50 employees. Applicants also must […]
Des Moines Register: The federal government gave Iowa’s richest man up to $6.3 million in coronavirus stimulus money intended to help small businesses, and he’s far from the only deep-pocketed or politically connected Iowa business owner to benefit from the program. Seed geneticist Harry Stine received six forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, according to […]
To help nonprofit organizations that are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines recently announced its third round of grants through its COVID-19 Nonprofit Adaptation Grant Program. In the most recent round, $58,000 was awarded to 20 local nonprofit organizations to help them meet unanticipated needs. For more on the […]
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: Iowa is seeing a drop in the rate and number of high school seniors filing free applications for federal student aid for the upcoming school year — a probable consequence of COVID-19 and an indication some might be abandoning higher education plans for fall. Additionally, the percentage of college students who already have […]
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center announced today it has received $945,590 in federal funding to expand its rural telehealth services in Central Iowa. The Federal Communication Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau awarded the funding as part of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which is aimed at assisting hospitals in extending remote care during the pandemic. MercyOne plans to use […]
A 2.7% uptick in the number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week was fueled by an increase in the number of new filers, data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows. During the week that ended on Saturday, 11,125 Iowans filed initial unemployment claims, the third straight week new filings have increased. Overall, […]
West Des Moines-based ITA Group Inc. announced it has partnered with environmental health testing company Eurofins USA, which is based in Des Moines, to offer health risk mitigation services for in-person corporate events throughout the United States. The corporate events and engagement company sought out this partnership to allow its clients the ability to conduct […]
Keeping up with the changes in public health guidance, employment safety and underemployment benefits and mental health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic is nearly a full-time job for most English-speaking residents of Iowa. For residents without English skills, the nonprofit EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center) is stepping in to fill the […]
Beginning today, Clive City Hall, the Clive Public Library, Dymond Public Safety Facility and the Clive Public Works Building are closed to the public through July 31 due to increasing COVID-19 infections in Polk and Dallas counties, Clive officials announced this week. Facilities were reopened on June 29 with new social distancing and sanitation measures […]
Des Moines Register: Masks are now a must in Des Moines city buildings, and some officials want a broader mandate requiring face coverings in all public spaces. The Des Moines City Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday requiring members of the public and city employees to wear face coverings such as masks or shields inside […]
Chubb Ltd., one of the largest U.S. providers of business interruption insurance, has jumped into the debate over how to cover future pandemics, the Business Insurance e-newsletter reported. Chubb said it is lobbying the federal government to cover businesses for losses in the future, but also wants the insurance industry to provide a small portion of pandemic […]
The Iowa State University Office of the Vice President for Research has selected seven projects to receive funding through a new seed program directed at addressing the coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release, the COVID-19 Research Seed Grant program was created in May to encourage faculty in all academic disciplines to apply their knowledge […]
The number of Iowans who filed initial unemployment claims last week spiked to its highest level since mid-May, Iowa Workforce Development data released today shows. However, the total number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week fell to 145,875, the lowest it’s been since late March when the total number of jobless claims filed […]
Des Moines Register: Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson on Sunday publicly announced a citywide proclamation that makes face masks mandatory in indoor and outdoor public spaces in Muscatine where individuals cannot social distance from one another. The proclamation outlines certain exceptions to the rule, including when one is eating at a restaurant, playing a sport or has […]
Adapting Roles: Part 5 By Emily Blobaum, contributor & Emily Barske, associate editor Editor’s note: This story, focused on financial well-being, is part five and the final piece in the “Adapting Roles” series looking at family and gender issues amid the pandemic. Topics for the series were selected based on a survey conducted by the […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she has directed $490 million of the $1.25 billion in Coronavirus relief funds Iowa was provided through the CARES Act to be deposited into Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The deposit will ensure that eligible Iowans continue to receive unemployment insurance benefits, and will also enable Iowa employers to remain in […]
Small business and residential customers of MidAmerican Energy Co. will be getting a little extra relief on high-efficiency equipment they purchase through the end of this year. To help businesses and homeowners who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, MidAmerican announced it will increase rebate amounts on certain high-efficiency equipment purchases by 50%. […]
Iowa’s economy continued to slump in June but showed slight improvement, creeping closer to a neutral growth index, according to the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, released Wednesday. The index ranges between zero and 100, with 50 being neutral growth, and an index ranking of greater than 50 indicating an expanding economy over the […]
More than half of a $5 million commitment that meat processor JBS USA has made to three Iowa communities in which it operates plants will go to Marshalltown, the company announced. JBS said it will donate $2.7 million through its Hometown Strong initiative to help Marshalltown respond to needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and […]
The leader of the Iowa State Education Association today criticized the state’s education and health officials for not offering more definitive guidance for school districts in developing their Return to Learn plans for safely restarting in-person classes in the fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “What is really needed now is definitive leadership and guidance,” said […]
Cityview, an alternative news magazine published in Des Moines, will resume publishing this month after suspending the print edition since the March 2020 issue, the magazine announced late Tuesday. Publisher Shane Goodman announced the decision to suspend on March 24 as the COVID-19 pandemic closed events, restaurants, movies and other entertainment, which the magazine relied […]
The Plains Area Mental Health Center in Carroll was awarded $107,180 by the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau to purchase laptop computers and tablets so health care providers can continue serving patients in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC announced this week. The center is one of 77 applicants nationwide who received […]
Associated Press: A nursing assistant who worked while sick likely brought the coronavirus into an Iowa nursing home where 15 residents later died, according to a new state inspection report. The employee was allowed to keep working because the Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa failed to adequately screen staff for symptoms at the beginning of […]
The Iowa Aftercare Services Network, serving youths who have aged out of foster care, has extended services for an additional two years, up to age 23. Extended Aftercare allows qualified participants over the age of 21 to connect with Aftercare if their situations have changed due to the economic impact of COVID-19. More than 100 […]
The NFIB Research Center has released updated survey results on small businesses’ progress since many states’ COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. According to the national survey of National Federation of Independent Business members, 27% of small business owners reported experiencing a significant or moderate increase in sales due to eased restrictions in the states. Another 27% reported […]
The governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, created to help the state recover from the coronavirus pandemic, held its first meeting Thursday in what was largely an organizational meeting to chart the course forward as it develops recommendations that Gov. Kim Reynolds said would be used to build the foundation for the 2021 legislative session. Reynolds […]
The economic recovery will be a long-term venture, and what it will look like when it’s over isn’t clear, local business leaders said during the Business Record’s recent Newsroom 515 panel discussion. The event, “Beyond COVID,” asked panelists to discuss what the future might look like in each of their businesses or organizations, and what […]
Delta Dental of Iowa, a leading vision insurance provider in Iowa, announced it has made more than $500,000 in funds available to provide interest-free loans to its network vision providers. The new DeltaVision Provider Relief Program will lend up to $15,000 to eye care providers that have been closed or are offering minimal services due […]
Double Up Food Bucks, a Healthiest State Initiative program, received $1 million in CARES Act funding to provide emergency relief for Iowans facing food insecurity due to COVID-19 related unemployment and income loss, the Healthiest State Initiative announced this week. Double Up Food Bucks allows SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) customers to match, up to […]
Corridor Business Journal: JBS USA, which operates more than 60 meat, poultry and prepared foods plants across the country, including four in Iowa, has announced plans to invest $5 million in three Iowa communities to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic and look to the future. The company, owner of Plumrose USA, a premium branded […]
Des Moines Register: The plan is now officially for Jack Trice Stadium to be half as full as it usually is during home football games. Iowa State University on Wednesday posted campuswide mitigation principles for the 2020-21 school year on its website. “As guided by the Governor, the CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health and other […]
The amount of additional unemployment benefits provided to out-of-work Iowans through a federal program topped $1 billion last week, according to data released today by Iowa Workforce Development. Since April 4, $1,055,653,200 has been paid to unemployed Iowans from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation fund, approved by Congress as part of a $2 trillion coronavirus […]
COVID Recovery Iowa is offering virtual support groups for parents, teens and preteens, the organization announced this week. The program receives federal funding from FEMA to offer free counseling and assistance to those affected in any way by COVID-19. Parents will meet once a week on Wednesdays; teenagers can meet Tuesdays and Thursdays; and preteens […]
Owners of small businesses have until Tuesday to submit applications for a loan through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, although a local administrator is urging paperwork to be submitted this week. “We don’t want anybody walking into a lender on [June 30] because they’re probably not going to get processed in time,” said […]
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller on Thursday will join a virtual panel of consumer protection experts to discuss the growing threat of scams linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual fireside chat, hosted by the National Consumers League, will be held at 11 a.m. Central time on June 25. John Breyault, vice president of National […]
Des Moines Register: Iowans have snagged $423.5 million of the $4 billion in pandemic relief payments sent to U.S. farmers, the most of any state nationally, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data through Monday. But critics say the coronavirus program addresses only a small portion of the losses farmers are experiencing. The American Farm Bureau […]
Students resuming classes this fall at Des Moines Area Community College campuses will have a number of options to choose from in how they attend classes, say DMACC officials. The fall semester for DMACC’s 12 campuses and centers begins Aug. 26. “While we’re expanding our online programs this fall, including DMACC Rx (Real Time Virtual), […]
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is beginning to phase back in service it reduced in March and April due to the spread of COVID-19, DART announced this week. The organization is restoring many of its local routes beginning June 28. DART has installed new temporary barriers between the fare boxes and operator […]
United Way of Central Iowa and Broadlawns Medical Center are working together to collect washable fabric face masks to help protect underserved individuals during the coronavirus pandemic. The “It’s Win for All” initiative is asking people to either make or purchase face masks, put them in a resealable plastic bag or in a closed plastic […]
ChildServe, which provides health care services and support for children, teens and young adults, recently announced its largest fundraising campaign has surpassed its $10 million goal. The Forward Together campaign was launched in December 2018. The goal for what was planned to be a three-year campaign was reached in 16 months with 168 donors, including […]
Des Moines city and neighborhood leaders Monday expressed frustration that free hot meals weren’t getting to needy residents because of poor communication and the hours the food was offered. Earlier this year, the Des Moines City Council designated $350,000 from a federal COVID-19 relief grant to be used to pay for free meals for residents living in […]
Adapting Roles: Part 4 By Emily Blobaum, contributor & Emily Barske, associate editor Editor’s note: This story, focused on relationships with partners, is part four in the “Adapting Roles” series looking at family and gender issues amid the pandemic. Topics for the series were selected based on a survey conducted by the Business Record about […]
The airline industry could take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, experts say, as it is heavily dependent on how quickly the rest of the economy recovers. “Until everyone who considers taking a trip believes it’s safe to do, and will be able to travel and have the all things they expected to do […]
Due to the challenges the coronavirus pandemic presents to live music and the crowds it draws, Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines announced it will not host its free Jazz in July performances this summer and will instead push them back to July 2021. This decision was made with the support of Jazz in July’s […]
At a time when many individuals and families are struggling with the consequences of COVID-19, five Polk County nonprofits are receiving a boost in funding totaling over $1.8 million to help young people gain access to critical housing and supportive services. The funding, which was awarded to the city of Des Moines last year by […]
The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week dropped to its lowest level since mid-April, new data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows. During the week that ended on Saturday, 164,268 Iowans filed unemployment claims, the state agency reported. The number of filings includes 9,516 initial claims filed last week, a slight […]
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today it has agreed to extend the same reimbursement fee to Iowa providers for virtual visits as is paid for in-person visits until Feb. 1, 2021. The extension applies to all appropriate medical and behavioral health virtual visits with any Wellmark in-network provider in Iowa, the health insurer […]
Hy-Vee and customers have raised more than $1 million to help supply food banks across the grocer’s eight-state region during the COVID-19 outbreak. More than $1,082,000 has been raised to provide supplies to 17 Feeding America-affiliated food banks. Those food banks distribute supplies to a network of up to 5,500 local food agencies across approximately […]
With record numbers of U.S. adults filing for unemployment, and many people facing a lower income amid COVID-19, the Wells Fargo Foundation is supporting national nonprofits in expanding virtual financial coaching services, cost-free, to help the public adapt. The following four nonprofits, with grant support from Wells Fargo, are now offering personalized and confidential financial […]
Lutheran Services in Iowa and the Food Bank of Iowa are partnering to provide community garden space for refugee farmers in Central Iowa. According to a news release from LSI, the agency’s Global Greens program provides land to former refugees in Polk County to grow food for their families, and to build their own small […]
Metro residents have another opportunity today to return cans and bottles to benefit the nonprofit Central Iowa Shelter & Services, which assists homeless adults. Droppett mobile redemption’s “Giving Trailer” will be present at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines today, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take back cans and bottles […]
Nearly 55,000 Iowa small businesses and nonprofit groups have been approved to receive aid through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program put in place to help organizations reeling from the economic blow caused by the pandemic, information from the federal agency shows. Through May 30, 54,928 Iowa small businesses and nonprofits have been approved […]
The Principal Charity Classic and Variety – the Children’s Charity announced they have made a $35,000 grant to the Food Bank of Iowa. The funding will help to fulfill the heightened need for food assistance within the state, as children and families face the economic challenges created by COVID-19. According to the Food Bank of […]
The YMCA of Greater Des Moines’ 322-acre Y Camp in Boone County will offer a different summer camp experience this year with Family Connection. The six-day, five-night getaway program will allow families to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities while practicing safe social distancing from other campers. Each family will occupy its own cabin […]
The Iowa Department of Education announced that two Iowa high school students have been chosen to represent the state at the 2020 National Youth Science Camp, which for the first time will be held virtually due to COVID-19. Eliana Hornbuckle of Nevada and Kiran Marla of Bettendorf are among top students from across the nation selected for […]
At the pandemic’s start, director Aubrey Alvarez and her two colleagues at Eat Greater Des Moines started to look at how their organization could fill gaps in access for metro residents. A barrier to sufficient service data meant the small staff had a limited view of how the community they serve is struggling, but the […]
Test Iowa sites in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids were moved over the weekend to new locations in those communities. The Des Moines site, which had been located at the Iowa Events Center north parking lot, was the first to open in the state on April 25 after the statewide testing initiative began. It moved […]
LifeServe Blood Center is seeking organizations and businesses willing to host summer blood drives to help make up for the thousands of blood donations lost due to COVID-19 related cancellations. The nonprofit organization is the sole provider of blood to more than 120 hospitals across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. From the beginning of the […]
The chief financial officer of Wells Fargo, Greater Des Moines’ single largest private sector employer, signaled this week that the company plans to reduce its head count this year as a cost-cutting measure, the Des Moines Register reported. “There will come a time, and I assume at some point this year, when we get back to executing […]
As cities across the state continue to reopen, the coronavirus pandemic is affecting local governments in ways one might not usually think. Business shutdowns in addition to cancellations or postponements of sports, theater and other cultural events, not to mention people working from home, has meant fewer people getting out and about, fewer people shopping […]
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Thursday posted an updated and expanded technical assistance publication addressing questions arising under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” provides approaches employers may adopt as they plan […]
West Des Moines city officials are taking steps to provide the city’s restaurants and bars increased flexibility for outside service areas, the city announced in a release. While all Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division requirements will remain in place, the city will consider removing the requirement for a temporary use permit in some instances. In addition, […]
The amount of money paid out of Iowa’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund last week fell to $40.5 million, the lowest weekly amount paid since mid-April, according to information released today by Iowa Workforce Development. The decline provides some relief to the state’s unemployment compensation trust fund, which currently has a balance of $826.35 million, according […]
The Iowa Health Care Association Foundation has launched a new crisis relief fund to support Iowa’s senior health care workers in preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Iowa long-term care providers can use the fund to help prevent and mitigate COVID-19 based on their organization’s specific needs, whether it’s purchasing additional personal protective equipment […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Farewell to the funnel cakes, bye-bye to the butter cow and toodle-oo to the Tilt A Whirl. For the first time in 75 years, the Iowa State Fair will stay silent this summer. A world war last routed it in the 1940s. But this time it is an invisible enemy — the novel […]
Adapting Roles: Part 3 By Emily Blobaum, contributor & Emily Barske, associate editor Editor’s note: This story, focused on work-life balance, is part three in the “Adapting Roles” series looking at family and gender issues amid the pandemic. Topics for the series were selected based on a survey conducted by the Business Record about the […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa will start this upcoming fall semester a week early and wrap the day before Thanksgiving in November, according to new plans emerging this week for an unprecedented academic year amid a global pandemic. The details, made public today, include other mitigation measures like contact […]
Des Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that she’s lifting capacity limits at Iowa businesses, starting Friday. Businesses have been limited to 50% operating capacity in Iowa as a measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19. “Eliminating the capacity restrictions will allow businesses the flexibility to adjust their specific operations accordingly to best meet […]
Iowa could lose more than 21,000 education jobs over the next three fiscal years if additional federal aid isn’t provided to help shore up state revenues that have been devastated by the COVID-19 economic shutdown, according to an analysis released today by the National Education Association. Nationwide, the NEA projects that the United States could lose 1.9 […]
Iowa State University will begin its fall semester on Aug. 17, and end the semester before Thanksgiving as it continues to work to keep students and faculty safe during the coronavirus pandemic. “We are making every effort to maximize in-person learning and the student learning experiences that are a defining characteristic of an Iowa State […]
The Des Moines Arts Center is planning to reopen to the community on July 7, months after closing to the public due to COVID-19. The organization is initiating new steps to open safely and encourage social distancing, including timed and ticketed entry, a designated path to follow through the galleries, requiring staff and visitors to […]
Des Moines Register: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend are calling for a cut in federal payments to unemployed workers as the economy recovers from the COVID-19-caused recession. Grassley and Townsend both said during a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on unemployment insurance Tuesday that they believe some people won’t […]
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will reopen its State Historical Museum of Iowa on June 16 after closing to the public due to COVID-19. The museum at 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday in the first phase of reopening. Visitors are encouraged […]
The Iowa Nonprofit Recovery Coalition is asking the Legislature for federal and state support to help offset losses incurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter signed by 388 funders, business partners, nonprofits, individual donors and volunteers, coalition members say Iowa nonprofits “face a perfect storm of significantly increased service demands and expenses, combined […]
The EMC Insurance Foundation has contributed $525,000 in additional pandemic relief funding to assist families and small businesses struggling due to COVID-19. Of that contribution, $450,000 will go to Feeding America for school food pantries and other child hunger programs, and $75,000 goes to the Small Business Recovery Grant Program offered through a consortium of public and private entities […]
Leaders of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and the National Association of Manufacturers are calling on state and federal legislators to protect manufacturers from being hit with bad-faith COVID-19 liability lawsuits as they resume operations. The organizations said in a press release that they support policymakers’ efforts to enact “thoughtful liability protections to […]
Every member of the UnityPoint Health-Des Moines’ workforce — more than 8,000 employees locally — will receive a $20 gift card this month from either Fareway or Hy-Vee as a show of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more than $160,000 in gift cards is being provided through the support of the COVID-19 Crisis Fund, […]
Des Moines’ restaurants and bars would be allowed to increase the amount of outdoor seating for customers under a resolution expected to be approved today by the City Council. The resolution is an effort to address the financial losses experienced by the city’s restaurants and bars that for more than eight weeks were not allowed […]
The Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa has reopened the Gregory and Suzie Glazer Burt Boys & Girls Club on the Drake University Campus for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. According to a news release from the organization, the club opened today for summer programs. It’s a licensed child care facility, but because […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced today that Test Iowa will further expand access to COVID-19 testing with five new sites opening this week. The new sites include one in Dallas County to better serve the Des Moines metro area, and four clinic sites in rural communities. The Dallas County drive-thru site opens today from noon to 6 […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership and its regional economic development partners will be conducting outreach calls to local employers in coming weeks to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their business. Information gathered from the calls will be used to help develop economic development policy and programs to aid in business recovery […]
Research and news coverage of work-life balance across the country are showing time and again that the coronavirus pandemic is causing an increased strain on individuals, and creating new challenges for family units and relationships. A survey of Business Record readers showed this is no different for our audience. But we may be feeling this […]
Radio Iowa: Republicans in the Iowa House have passed legislation to shield businesses, churches and other organizations from lawsuits over COVID-19. Representative Gary Carlson, a Republican from Muscatine, said it’ll help reboot the economy. But House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City said the bill will reward businesses that haven’t taken steps to adequately protect […]
Iowa could suffer a nearly $18 billion blow to its economy this year as a result of the shutdowns, closures and layoffs caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released this week by the Tax Education Foundation of Iowa. In a midweek virtual presentation, Creighton University economist Ernie Goss and colleague Scott Strain of Goss […]
Immediate change is needed and the community must be willing to step up and have the difficult discussions that are needed to address the racial injustices that led to the protests that followed the slaying of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership said in a letter released this week. “Immediate […]
The Iowa Restaurant Association has asked Iowa lawmakers to provide financial relief in the form of tax and fee forgiveness for Iowa’s restaurants and other small businesses. Iowa’s restaurant industry, with more than 6,000 establishments, lost more than $310 million in April due to COVID-19-related state-mandated closures. The association is asking the Legislature, which is […]
Polk County supervisors this afternoon voted to immediately lift a curfew that had been in place in the county since Sunday after protests against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned violent. Board Chairman Matt McCoy, in a statement read before the unanimous vote by supervisors, said the 9 p.m. curfew was being rescinded […]
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, will speak during a virtual town hall series this evening on Facebook Live at 6 p.m. hosted by the NAACP Des Moines, NAACP Iowa/Nebraska Youth & College Division, Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities, Ban the Box-Iowa and Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches. Johnson will […]
Free hot meals will be provided to needy families between 4 and 6 p.m. today at Evelyn K. Davis Park, 1400 Forest Ave. The event is the fourth in a series of food distribution events planned for this summer. In April, the Des Moines City Council designated $350,000 from a federal relief grant to pay for the […]
State official cautions that it’s too early to speculate on how quickly unemployed Iowans will return to work The number of Iowans filing unemployment claims fell nearly 12% from the previous week, an indication workers are beginning to return to work as restaurants, bars and retail businesses begin to reopen after ordered closed to slow […]
By Lyle Muller | IowaWatch Some rural Iowa hospitals will not survive the COVID-19 outbreak, industry leaders said Wednesday. That dire warning came as the Iowa Hospital Association revealed projections that show the state’s 118 hospitals, collectively, could lose as much as $2.17 billion in revenue by the end of this year. That’s the bleakest picture […]
Adapting Roles: Part 2 By Emily Blobaum, contributor & Emily Barske, associate editor Editor’s note: This story, focused on parenting, is part two in the “Adapting Roles” series looking at family and gender issues amid the pandemic. Topics for the series were selected based on a survey conducted by the Business Record about the most […]
They say you don’t think much about the trash you produce on a daily basis until it doesn’t get picked up, but officials at the Metro Waste authority say they are putting a lot of thought into your garbage as the amount of it they collect has declined in recent months. Officials at the Metro […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic clouded over, our colleagues at dsm Magazine launched the specialty panel series Lifting the Veil — Life Interrupted by COVID-19, a six-week virtual series. The last panel in the series could not be more timely: “Equity and Inclusion Interrupted,” which takes place June 5 from noon to 1 p.m. (registration is free and […]
Iowa leaders are seeking federal help for the state’s egg industry, hoping to crack into the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help Iowa’s egg producers, who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa is the nation’s No. 1 egg-producing state, with 55 egg companies producing about 16 billion eggs a year. While demand […]
Toilet paper maker Cottonelle is donating 69,000 rolls of toilet paper to the United Way of Central Iowa. Officials with the local United Way say the Food Bank of Iowa will help distribute the donated toilet paper to other United Ways and partner programs throughout the state. The Des Moines Area Religious Council will also […]
Bank Iowa Corp. announced a list of 19 Iowa organizations that will receive funds through its community giving program, Helping Hand. The crowdsourced initiative asked community members from the 23 communities in its market area to submit ideas for the bank to help fund. The West Des Moines community bank donated approximately $20,000 through the program, with […]
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs awarded more than $1.1 million in federal CARES Act funds through 173 emergency grants statewide, the department announced this morning. The money includes $923,372 for emergency relief and $178,000 in humanities grants to help cultural organizations rebound from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Previously, the department awarded […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa lawmakers return to the Capitol building today to rush through an abbreviated legislative session, where they will try to pass a budget, wrap up a few policy priorities and get back home. The Legislature abruptly halted its 2020 session in mid-March, weeks before lawmakers would normally have adjourned for the year. The […]
Sioux City Journal: Tyson Foods announced today that 591 of the workers at its Storm Lake pork processing plant have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. That’s a quarter of the 2,303 workers who work at the facility and were tested for COVID-19. Tyson said more than 75% of the workers who tested positive didn’t show […]
U.S. commercial property insurers will likely pay property damage losses resulting from the civil unrest in cities across the country, but business interruption loss calculations will be complicated by ongoing issues with coronavirus lockdowns, according to a Business Insurance article. Insurers will likely base business interruption claims payments on projected income rather than past income, according to […]
Seventy-five restaurant workers have received $250 one-time grants from the Iowa Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which was started to support people affected by the suspension of on-premise dining during the COVID-19 related shutdown. More than 40,000 restaurant and hotel workers have been laid off since mid-March when the shutdown began. While restaurants are reopening, they […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education on Monday announced the state has received $26.2 million in federal relief to ensure education continues for students of all ages affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa’s grant is part of the nearly $3 billion Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and […]
For many reasons, returning to the office will look different, feel different and will be communicated differently across many Central Iowa organizations in the coming weeks and months. Navigating the people-related and legal-oriented challenges surrounding the hidden hazards of what had once been the safest of work environments will require fresh thinking and flexibility from […]
The city of Des Moines has resumed enforcing downtown parking meters, which had not been monitored since March 21 because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the city, enforcement resumed at 9 a.m. today. City officials say that since the shutdown occurred, the city has lost nearly $1 million in parking revenue from 3,000 parking […]
The city of Clive reopened its playgrounds today, and plans to begin some recreational leagues and team sports on June 15, city officials announced in a news release. The city is still strongly recommending that visitors practice social distancing, limit direct physical contact and follow other safe public health practices. The decision only affects city […]
Business Record Senior Staff Writer Joe Gardyasz asks panelists, “What is the biggest challenge that your organization is facing as you approach getting back into the office?”
As the state transitions into reopening and the economy begins to crawl back from the collapse of COVID-19, leaders of some of Iowa’s largest companies are working to find the balance between resuming normal activity and keeping their employees and customers safe. Part of that discussion includes what the future will look like as employees, […]
Des Moines Register: A Des Moines nursing home administrator says he reported to state health authorities on May 8 that his facility had four confirmed coronavirus infections among its residents, but state officials did not notify the public of the outbreak until this week. Iowa Department of Public Health leaders have pledged to post information on […]
Iowa Workforce Development today released information regarding two new unemployment benefit programs available to Iowans. The first program, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), will be available beginning today through the week ending Dec. 26 for people who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. The PEUC was created by the federal CARES Act and provides an additional 13 […]
More than 7,000 students at Iowa State University applied for assistance because of hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with an average grant award of $1,400 going to eligible students, the university announced this week. About 6,000 students have received assistance. Another 1,300 applications are still being reviewed, officials at ISU said. The university received […]
Delta Dental of Iowa has announced additional relief programs for members, employers and dentists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs are designed to offer financial assistance as dental offices begin to reopen and premium credits to members who may have had to delay dental and vision care. In addition, members can choose to pay their premium […]
Sioux City Journal: After nearly a quarter of its workers at a Storm Lake pork processing facility tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Tyson announced Thursday that it will temporarily halt operations. On Thursday, state health officials also confirmed that 555 workers at the plant tested positive for the virus. The vast majority of the plant’s […]
The Polk County Continuum of Care is partnering with community organizations to support residents with information about eviction, renters’ rights and community resources in preparation for the May 27 expiration of Iowa’s eviction moratorium, the CoC announced this week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 44% of Iowa renters were housing-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of […]
Adapting Roles: Part 1 By Emily Blobaum, contributor and Emily Barske, associate editor Time kind of stands still and it’s hard to disconnect. This response from one of the people who answered the Business Record’s survey on family and gender issues amid the coronavirus pandemic is one almost all of us can certainly relate to. […]
By Emily Blobaum, contributor and Emily Barske, associate editor Time kind of stands still and it’s hard to disconnect. This response from one of the people who answered the Business Record’s survey on family and gender issues amid the coronavirus pandemic is one almost all of us can certainly relate to. But we may be […]
The number of Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week fell to 180,676, marking the second consecutive weekly decline as more businesses continued to open after being ordered closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. New unemployment data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows the nearly 9.5% drop in unemployment filings for […]
IDPH confirms coronavirus outbreak at Tyson pork processing plant in Storm LakeDes Moines Register: Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter confirmed today the suspected coronavirus outbreak at Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Storm Lake, where more than 20% of the employees have tested positive. The news comes one day after Reisetter said […]
Hog producers who were unable to harvest pigs because of supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to get some help in covering the costs of disposing of animals that had to be euthanized, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced. The department is launching the disposal assistance program. It […]
Hinterland, a two-day music festival held annually in St. Charles, is canceling its planned 2020 event and will return in 2021 with the same lineup of planned musicians, the festival announced today. Hinterland is scheduled to take place Aug. 6-8 in 2021, with a full day of music planned for Friday instead of just evening […]
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced Wednesday it will extend its previously announced COVID-19 benefits, which would have expired on June 16, now through Aug. 31. The benefits include member cost-share waivers for COVID-19 testing and treatment, virtual visits and support for business customers. The extension also includes payment parity for providers of virtual health care […]
Des Moines Register: University of Iowa experts warned this week that premature easing of social distancing rules could spark a coronavirus surge, adding that encouraging the public to wear plastic face shields could substantially reduce the danger. The transparent shields cover people’s entire faces. Cloth face masks, even if worn properly, cover only the mouth and […]
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds and a top state public health official said today the information-gathering process is one reason the state does not voluntarily identify new coronavirus outbreaks at businesses like food processing plants until asked by media members. Not immediately announcing outbreaks also gives those business owners time to notify employees and community […]
One of Iowa’s largest career and college fairs for high school students will take place virtually this year, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The ICR Future Career and College Fair will feature more than 70 colleges, universities and career resources from across Iowa and 12 other states, enabling high school students to engage with experts […]
The Iowa Department of Human Services announced today that the state has received nearly $1 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to offer free counseling to any Iowan who has been affected, in any way, by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The program, called COVID Recovery Iowa, is available starting today. Counseling will take […]
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has awarded $100,000 from its Disaster Recovery Fund to support the Central Iowa Ethnic Community-Based Organizations fund, an initiative of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa. The funding will support 17 local groups that work with refugee populations in both case management and direct services. “This fund will […]
Following Tuesday’s statewide giveaway of cloth masks at Hy-Vee, the Iowa Department of Public Health is providing another 35,000 HanesBrands Inc. cloth masks to be distributed at 108 Fareway stores beginning today. Masks will be provided to customers on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted, Fareway said.
Des Moines Register: Paychecks for nearly a quarter of Principal Financial Group’s employees will be smaller, the giant Des Moines-based investment and retirement services company said Tuesday. Principal said it’s cutting salaries for 23% of its global workforce to “mitigate and manage” the economic and market fallout from COVID-19. Principal employs about 18,000 people worldwide and […]
Iowa gives the OK to casinos, amusement parks, outdoor entertainment eventsDes Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ratcheted back further restrictions today, allowing casinos and amusement parks to reopen next week and easing additional safeguards on bars and restaurants. Reynolds said at her daily coronavirus briefing that casinos and gaming facilities, amusement parks, bowling alleys, pool […]
The fifth year of the Des Moines Corporate Games has begun, but you won’t be seeing large groups of area employees gathering anytime soon. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the games to change course and create the Corporate Games Virtual Challenge, which officially kicks off on June 1. “The goal of the Virtual Challenge is […]
The Des Moines International Airport is launching a new program titled “Fly DSM: Forward together,” which encourages best practices for physical distancing and the use of face coverings and highlights efforts the airport has made to keep people safe, the airport announced this week. Face coverings are required for all Airport Authority employees in public […]
The Iowa Department of Public Health provided Hy-Vee with 75,000 cloth masks to distribute to customers at more than 125 Iowa grocery stores and drugstores. Cloth masks will be available for free today; 500 masks are available at each store on a first-come, first-served basis. Masks were donated in partnership with HanesBrands Inc., the U.S. […]
The Des Moines Area Religious Council will host its annual fundraiser Spring Greens virtually on Wednesday via livestream. The event will stream from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will feature local culinary talent providing recipes, advice and a behind-the-scenes opportunity to connect participating vendors with a virtual silent auction. Tickets are free, but a freewill […]
The Des Moines Public Library will begin offering curbside pickup service of library materials at all locations beginning June 1 as the library begins reintroducing services to the community. Beginning today, patrons with active library cards can start reserving new items through the online catalog or by calling the library telephone reference line at 515-283-4152 […]
As meatpacking plants reopen, data about worker illness remains elusiveNew York Times: Meatpacking facilities have proved to be places where the virus spreads rapidly. But as dozens of plants that closed because of outbreaks begin reopening, meat companies’ reluctance to disclose detailed case counts makes it difficult to determine whether the contagion is contained or new […]
The Science Center of Iowa today announced a phased reopening plan aimed at allowing its audiences to begin reengaging with SCI while keeping the health and safety of members, visitors, volunteers and staff top-of-mind. The first phase of the five-phase plans calls for reopening the SCI Preschool with limited operations on Tuesda. Phase II will include operating […]
At the start of March, MākuSafe of West Des Moines was prepared to see four years of work launch its wearable employee safety devices into a global market. Around 8,000 of the two-piece armbands were earmarked to initial U.S. manufacturing clients, who would use the armbands to collect environmental data surrounding industrial employees — using indicators such […]
‘The expectations are going to be for a very depressed job market for several quarters,’ a state economist said. Iowa’s monthly unemployment rate in April reached 10.2%, the highest it’s been in the past 20 years, state data released today shows. And while the state is allowing retailers, restaurants and other establishments to begin reopening, […]
The Downtown Farmers’ Market is working on an online platform to further connect customers and vendors. According to a news release, the Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace Online is expected to launch in late May or early June. It will let vendors take online orders and arrange their own pickup or delivery location. All Downtown Farmers’ Market […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has released its DSM Forward playbooks for Construction and Development, and Financial and Professional Services, bringing to 16 the number of industry-specific playbooks that provide guidance to businesses as they begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Partnership had previously released playbooks for Agriculture, Child Care, Education, Events, Arts and Culture, Hotels, Gyms, Government, Health Care, Manufacturing, Nonprofits, Personal Services, Restaurants, Retail and Utilities. The playbooks […]
The Urbandale Indoor Swimming Pool and Senior Recreation Center will remain closed until at least July 6, the city announced this week. In addition, in-person parks and recreation programs are canceled through at least June 14. Park amenities including playgrounds, restrooms, shelters and other facilities also are closed until at least mid-June. The closures are […]
Rising costs of products, delivery fees and lack of customers make it difficult for restaurants to return to pre-COVID-19 revenue levels The owners and operators of Iowa’s 6,200-plus restaurants were relieved this month when COVID-19 restrictions were eased, allowing dining rooms to reopen to customers. But the relaxing of restrictions doesn’t mean the state’s restaurants […]
Utility customers who are delinquent on their payments could be subject to disconnection after Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proclamation easing some restrictions and reopening some businesses expires May 27. The Iowa Utilities Board issued an order on Wednesday that creates requirements utility companies must follow before they can begin disconnecting a customer’s utilities. According to a […]
Linn County health official says Test Iowa, lack of data leave county at disadvantageDes Moines Register: A top health emergency response official in eastern Iowa told Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration this week that local officials struggled to get basic data from the Test Iowa coronavirus testing site in Cedar Rapids, which made it difficult to make […]
The number of Iowans filing unemployment claims saw its first weekly decline since mid-March when restaurants, bars, shopping malls and other retail businesses were temporarily closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. New unemployment data released today by Iowa Workforce Development shows that 200,415 Iowans filed jobless claims during the week that ended […]
The deadline to apply for a Small Business Recovery Grant has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on May 31, the Greater Des Moines Partnership announced Wednesday. The application period opened on May 5 and was to expire Wednesday, but the deadline was extended to the end of the month to give business owners who were focused on […]
Dorsey & Whitney LLP is laying off a “limited number” of staff and attorneys across its U.S. and international offices and temporarily reducing pay for others by as much as 20% in an effort to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Law360 reported. The firm announced Tuesday it is implementing a reduction of its workforce by […]
More than $500M in aid heading to Iowa hospitals covers only half of COVID-19 lossesIowa Public Radio: Iowa hospitals received $190.3 million in CARES Act relief fund payments in April and were expecting as much as $360 million more in a second round of federal relief aid underway now, interviews and documents shared with IowaWatch show. […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation today that will enable a number of public gathering venues to reopen on a restricted basis. Effective Friday, movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums and wedding reception venues will be permitted to reopen with appropriate public health measures in place. Swimming pools will also be permitted to reopen for lap swimming […]
West Des Moines plans to reopen its City Hall, Public Services building and fire and EMS business offices on June 1. Also, the Valley Junction Activity Center and Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge will open on June 1 to walk-in customers only, the city announced. The buildings have been closed to the public since mid-March […]
U.S. workplace safety agency steps up COVID-19 inspectionsReuters: The U.S. Labor Department will expand inspections of businesses to reduce job-site hazards related to the new coronavirus as employees begin returning to work across the country, although the policy falls short of demands by worker advocates. The revised policy, issued late Tuesday by the Occupational Safety and […]
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa this week launched Iowa’s first-ever First Responders Club at the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club at Drake University, serving children of those working the front lines of the pandemic. On Monday, the Burt Club at 25th Street and Forest Avenue began opening its doors for up to 80 […]
Outlets of Des Moines will host a drive-up meal kit distribution with Gino’s Italian Foods on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Outlets announced this week. Gino’s will have 1,000 make-at-home meal kits to distribute; the drive-up is first-come, first-served at the Altoona outlets. Vehicles should follow signs located behind Polo Ralph Lauren.
Farmers can apply next week for $16 billion in coronavirus aidCedar Rapids Gazette: Farmers facing big losses after the bottom dropped out of the food market in the COVID-19 pandemic this spring can start applying next week for a slice of $16 billion in aid, the Trump administration said Tuesday. The funds, mostly from the CARES […]
The state of Iowa has lost $39 million in revenue from its gambling tax since mid-March when casinos were temporarily closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a new state report shows. If the state-regulated casinos remain closed through June 30, the loss in gambling tax revenue could climb to about $87 million. […]
Clive officials have decided not to open the city’s aquatic center this summer and have canceled the Clive Festival that was scheduled for July 17-18. The decision was made as a way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. “Public health and safety have always been, and always will be, our top priority,” Clive Leisure […]
The United Way of Central Iowa will be moving its annual Live United event online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event is scheduled for 10:30-11:30 a.m. on May 29. During the celebration, the annual Community Impact Report will be released, and the winners for the Live United Awards will be announced, […]
The Central Iowa Business Conference, hosted by the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, has been postponed until 2021. The fourth annual CIBC will now be held Sept. 14, 2021, at the Meadows Event Center. The keynote speaker lineup remains the same and includes Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler, business management pioneer Jack Stack and best-selling author […]
Kum & Go, a Des Moines-based convenience store chain, has launched a new mobile fuel pay app that will allow its &Rewards members to avoid using the keypad and instead activate the pump with their smartphone. The app can be used at any of Kum & Go’s 400 locations. In a release, Kum & Go […]
The Insurance Information Institute has launched an information campaign with a focus on “ensuring the insurance industry is able to sustain its longstanding role as the country’s backbone of economic growth and stability” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Future of American Insurance & Reinsurance (FAIR) campaign seeks to address threats to the industry from “growing calls to […]
NYSE issues warning about Lee Enterprises listingQuad-City Times: Lee Enterprises has received a warning from the New York Stock Exchange about its stock listing and the possibility of its listing being downgraded. Lee, the Davenport-based parent company of the Quad-City Times and other media, said Monday that it received a warning from the NYSE about it […]
Tiffany Tauscheck – Chief Strategy Officer, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Izaah Knox – Executive Director, Urban Dreams
The recently released quarterly report from Capital Crossroads shows how the business sector has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and what it is doing as the economic recovery begins. The report for the group’s second quarter identified what’s been done, how priorities have shifted and what the next steps for each of its 10 […]
The Wellmark Foundation announced it has provided a $100,000 grant to the Food Bank of Iowa, which provides the equivalent of 400,000 meals. The donation will help support the growing number of requests the Food Bank of Iowa is receiving for food assistance. “Even in ordinary times, food insecurity is a real problem for thousands […]
Iowa cities with meatpacking plants struggle to get information on COVID-19 casesDes Moines Register: Across Iowa, communities with meatpacking plants are struggling to get information from companies and public health officials about COVID-19 outbreaks. Officials say the lack of transparency makes it difficult for cities and towns to assess the virus’s threat as Gov. Kim Reynolds […]
At last week’s Power Breakfast, we heard about broadband, how you can help local hotels, the rise of telehealth and even the “pandemic pineapple,” thanks to speaker Deidre DeJear, owner of Caleo Enterprises. The action-packed event included nine speakers, all leaders in their respective industries across the region and state. “The message that I have […]
Nonprofit input is critical in informing Iowa public policy and resource allocation for COVID-19 response and recovery. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines encourages your participation in the Iowa Economic Development Authority Business and Nonprofit Impact Survey. The IEDA, in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa’s Institute for Decision Making, has released a […]
Board of Regents dropping Iowa Public Radio fundingCedar Rapids Gazette: After creating Iowa Public Radio in 2004, Iowa’s Board of Regents — facing its own unprecedented financial hurt from COVID-19 — is cutting its operating support, amounting to 10% of IPR’s budget. In a message to supporters last week, IPR Executive Director Myrna Johnson broke the […]
Business Record asks Adam Gregg, lieutenant governor for the state of Iowa “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic”
Business Record asks Greg Edwards, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic”
Business Record asks Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic”
Business Record asks Stephanie Moris, director of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic”
Business Record asks Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic”
Business Record asks Dr. Tom Evans, “”What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic?”
Business Record asks Deidre DeJear, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic?”
Business Record asks Jessie Cruise, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic?”
Business Record asks Kristi Knous, “What’s one hopeful, realistic idea about how Iowans can move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic?”
Joppa’s 2020 Annual Campaign launched this month with the goal of raising $400,000 by the end of May. Donations made this month will be matched by private donors as the campaign provides immediate COVID-19 relief to the homeless, Joppa said in a statement. The 2020 campaign is the second such fundraiser for Joppa, which was founded in […]
Iowa has seen a rise in liquor sales, according to a report released today. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, which sells liquor [not beer or wine] to grocery stores, liquor stores and convenience stores, released a report today laying out the latest trends in its sales to those retailers. The agency does not track individual […]
The city of Ankeny is extending closures and announcing new cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cancelling all events and programming at public facilities until May 27, the city announced this week. The Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library remains closed but is offering curbside service. More information on specific services and events is available online.
Meredith Corp. on Thursday reported a third-quarter loss of $289 million, due primarily to noncash impairments of goodwill and intangible assets of $296 million, as revenues declined by 6% from the year-ago quarter to $702 million. “Our performance for the fiscal 2020 third quarter was largely in-line with our expectations until mid-March when the outbreak […]
Des Moines is among the areas of the country most capable of recovering quickly from the economic crash caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to an analysis done by the credit rating and research company Moody’s. The analysis, reported by Yahoo Finance on May 9, examined the top 100 metro areas in the U.S. The metros […]
Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa has partnered with the Food Bank of Iowa to raise funds for its COVID-19 Relief Challenge. FMH is matching contributions for every dollar donated up to $100,000, with the goal of providing 800,000 meals to the local community. “With all of the worries in the world today, we […]
Coronavirus drives 75% of small businesses to seek federal aidWall Street Journal: Three out of four U.S. small businesses have sought federal aid to cope with fallout from the new coronavirus, according to a Census Bureau survey released today in another indication of the widespread damage caused by the pandemic. The survey found that 75% of […]
More than 15,000 Iowans last week filed first-time jobless claims, the lowest number since the state was essentially shut down in mid-March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. New data released by Iowa Workforce Development shows that 15,411 unemployed Iowans filed unemployment insurance claims during the week that ended May 9, 37% fewer […]
The first virtual Iowa Arts Summit will be held on Aug. 7, Iowa Cultural Affairs announced this week. Past summits have attracted more than 300 attendees. This year’s summit will focus on “moving from relief to resilience,” the Iowa Arts Council said in a statement. Sessions will explore adaptability, community engagement and inclusive arts programming […]
Zoom to expand in U.S. with engineering centers in Phoenix, PittsburghReuters: Zoom Video Communications Inc. said today that it plans to hire 500 software engineers for research and development locations in Phoenix and Pittsburgh over the next two years, expanding its engineering workforce by about 60%. The San Jose, Calif.-based videoconferencing company has seen a large […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has released more DSM Forward industry-specific playbooks devoted to helping businesses and industries prepare for next steps related to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The four additional industry areas covered are manufacturing; nonprofits; events, arts and culture; and hotels. The DSM Forward playbooks include recommendations — leveraging international, national, state and […]
The West Des Moines-based Justice League of Food has received a $30,000 award from the Microsoft C19 Response Fund to support the Community Meals Program. The award will be used toward food and labor expenses delivering more than 2,100 hot meals to food-insecure individuals in the community. The Microsoft C19 Response Fund is managed by […]
Airlines are having trouble enforcing their face mask policiesCNN Business: Plans from several major U.S. airlines on how to enforce their mandatory mask requirements reveal that, for the most part, they will rely on passenger cooperation rather than strict enforcement. Separate memos obtained by CNN that American Airlines sent to its pilots and flight attendants show […]
Retailers, restaurants, barbers and salons get green light to reopen; Polk and city officials urge caution Polk County residents got some good news with a healthy dose of caution today as Iowa’s governor announced the planned reopening of restaurants and retail shops at 50% capacity. Meanwhile, Polk County officials are strongly cautioning residents to continue […]
The Des Moines Arts Festival has canceled this year’s event, and instead will focus on engaging the community through interactive experiences and continuing to support professional development of artists, organizers announced Tuesday. This year’s festival was scheduled for June 26-28, but organizers said they decided to call it off because of the uncertainty surrounding the […]
The Iowa Department of Human Services announced additional financial support for foster group care and shelter care providers. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provided an allocation of $476,722 in discretionary funding for child welfare services to prevent, prepare for and respond to the pandemic. Due to school closures, foster group care […]
Hy-Vee, Wahlburgers and the asset management firm Crescent Capital will be donating 2,000 meals to front-line workers May 13-15 via hospital drop-offs, and offering free meal pickups May 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. at the Wahlburgers West Des Moines location owned by Hy-Vee, the grocery chain announced this week. Meals […]
Polk County among 10 in U.S. where coronavirus has spread fastestDes Moines Register: Polk County late last week was among the 10 counties in the United States where the coronavirus was spreading fastest, a Des Moines Register analysis of national COVID-19 data confirmed. An unreleased White House coronavirus task force report published by NBC News on […]
A $36,500 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support a partnership between Eat Greater Des Moines and the Des Moines Area Religious Council, supporting repackaging and distribution of bulk food items to vulnerable populations relying on the DMARC food pantry system and Eat Greater Des Moines food rescue network. The Disaster […]
UnityPoint Health announced today it has expanded COVID-19 testing to include asymptomatic patients admitted to its hospitals. The expanded testing, which began on May 6, includes planned admissions and transfers of all ages who have not been tested for COVID-19 in the prior 72 hours, the health system said in a press release. UnityPoint Health […]
The state will delay until Wednesday the release of more information on the continued reopening of the state after the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus expired Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds said today. The state has also received 400 vials of the drug remdesivir to treat patients who are the […]
Catch Des Moines on Monday launched the “Buy Now, Visit Later” hotel bonds campaign. The program aims to support recovery efforts for local hotels, one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic. By investing in a $100 bond to a local hotel that matures to $150 in 60 days, residents can help local hotels weather […]
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will be distributing more than $1.3 million in grants to state cultural organizations with new rounds of funding, the state agency announced on Monday. The Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Grants program reopened Monday to new eligible applicants; funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, and […]
More than $93,000 has been awarded to 26 local nonprofit organizations through the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ COVID-19 Nonprofit Adaptation Grant Program. The program provides assistance to support unanticipated needs that organizations may experience as they continue providing critical services or reimagining their “operational effectiveness for the emerging future,” officials with the foundation said […]
Meredith delays quarterly earnings report, says coronavirus has hit its business hardDes Moines Register: Saying it is facing “an extremely challenging business environment” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith Corp. informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission it is delaying its quarterly earnings report, which was due Monday. The Des Moines-based media company, which operates more than […]
Ankeny SummerFest 2020, which had been scheduled to take place July 8-11, is postponed, the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce announced last week. Organizers are exploring options to showcase events virtually.
Des Moines Area Community College announced today it is guaranteeing student tuition for in-person and online instruction at all DMACC campuses and centers for the fall term. Should DMACC classes be canceled due to COVID-19 or for any other reason, students will receive a full refund. “We wanted to eliminate the risk and concern that students have […]
Iowa’s unemployment compensation trust fund has shrunk 17% since Jan. 1 Iowa can continue paying unemployment claims for about 30 weeks before draining the state’s unemployment compensation trust fund and reserve fund, an analyst for the state’s Legislative Services Agency said. “At this point, I’m not seeing the trust fund running out of money,” said […]
Trump says U.S. will purchase $3 billion in agricultural products from farmersThe Hill: President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. will buy $3 billion in agricultural products from American farmers starting early this week. “Starting early next week, at my order, the USA will be purchasing, from our Farmers, Ranchers & Specialty Crop Growers, 3 […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is helping businesses get ready for the next steps of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, launching a series of industry-specific playbooks. The playbooks include recommendations, such as leveraging federal, state and local resources and following public health recommendations, to help business and industry find a path as the economy continues […]
The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today released updated state-by-state figures for Economic Impact Payments, with approximately 130 million individuals receiving payments worth more than $200 billion in the program’s first four weeks. In Iowa, more than 1.2 million payments have been made totaling $2,212,426,465, the agencies said. More than 150 million payments will […]
U.S. Cellular donated $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa COVID-19 Relief Fund, the company announced Thursday. The Central Iowa club was one of seven in Iowa and Nebraska that received a total of $60,000. The others are: Ames ($5,000), Cedar Rapids ($10,000), Davenport/Moline ($10,000), Dubuque ($10,000), Omaha/Council Bluffs ($10,000) and Waterloo ($5,000). […]
Three Iowa newsrooms will receive a total of more than $200,000 in grants through the Facebook Journalism Project’s COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund, Facebook announced this week. Grants will go to the Carroll Times-Herald ($75,000), the Cedar Rapids Gazette ($100,000) and the Iowa Starting Line ($32,500).
Des Moines metro residents can soon return cans and bottles to benefit the nonprofit Central Iowa Shelter & Services, which assists homeless adults. Droppett mobile redemption “Giving Trailers” will be present at two locations to take back cans and bottles that are part of the state’s 5-cent deposit program. People are asked to remain in […]
Goodwill of Central Iowa opened doors at 10 locations to accept contact-free donations, after having been closed to the public for seven weeks, the organization announced today. Donation doors will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open locations are in Ames, Indianola, Ottumwa, Johnston, West Des Moines-Jordan Creek, West […]
State auditor to review fairness of relief grant programCorridor Business Journal: State Auditor Rob Sand will review a statewide emergency grant program following questions and criticism by some of the economically devastated small business owners it was intended to help. “I am looking into it,” Sand, the state’s watchdog, said of the Small Business Relief Program […]
Iowa shifts focus from coronavirus mitigation to managementCedar Rapids Gazette: Thanks to enough people following guidelines on social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday the state is able to shift its COVID-19 focus from mitigation strategies to managing the impact on Iowans. Even as the state Department of Public Health reported 655 […]
The State Historical Society of Iowa is inviting state residents to submit materials that can help future generations understand the pandemic and its widespread impact across the state. The society is accepting digital submissions, such as photos, emails, videos and blogs, as well as suggestions of physical artifacts that could be donated at a later […]
The World Food Prize Foundation announced that its second Digital Dialogue, “Defining Medium to Long-term Improvements for Resilient Food Systems,” will be held May 14. Five global experts will examine the medium- to longer-term needs for reshaping the food system, especially as espoused in numerous global calls to action and open letters in circulation. “The COVID crisis […]
As employers begin planning for the return of their nonessential workforces to worksites in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, a recent Mercer survey found some significant challenges they may face. These organizations can learn a great deal from the experiences of employers of essential workers who have remained at their worksites throughout the pandemic. […]
New York Times: The Labor Department said today that the economy shed more than 20.5 million jobs in April, sending the unemployment rate to 14.7% — devastation unseen since the Great Depression. The report underscores the speed and depth of the labor market’s collapse as the coronavirus pandemic took a devastating toll. In February, the unemployment […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today it has obligated $78 million to the state of Iowa to help reimburse eligible expenses for emergency protective measures that the state has incurred as a result of its response to COVID-19. The grant funds, awarded by FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program, are authorized under a major disaster […]
Employers must try to accommodate workers vulnerable to coronavirus, agency saysReuters: The U.S. agency that enforces laws prohibiting disability discrimination said today that employers must try to accommodate workers with medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus before sending them home. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released legal guidance saying employers have a […]
Reynolds allows more Iowa business to reopenCedar Rapids Gazette: Starting Friday, Iowans across the state will have more latitude to go to the dentist and stay overnight at campgrounds, and in the hardest hit parts of the state visit malls and retail stores. But, notably, the revised order issued Wednesday evening by Gov. Kim Reynolds does […]
The annual Grimes Governors Days festival is canceled for 2020, Grimes Chamber & Economic Development announced on Tuesday. The event was originally scheduled for June 11-13. More information is available online.
The Minneapolis-based Midwest Dairy is donating $500,000 to food banks during this pandemic, including to the Food Bank of Iowa, for purchasing dairy products. The initiative will be directed to food banks in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma to meet the increased demand for dairy products. […]
In the first weeks of the state’s shutdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Iowa’s economy lost an anticipated $1.6 billion, economists said Wednesday. The presentation, hosted by the Tax Education Foundation of Iowa, a public policy think tank, included a review of the effects that COVID-19 had on Iowa’s economy in March […]
A record 206,051 Iowans last week filed unemployment claims, the most ever in the state, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. The more than 206,000 jobless claims filed during the week that ended May 2 eclipses the 196,191 recorded the previous week. The number of claims is substantially higher than the more than 76,000 […]
Iowa Director of Revenue Kraig Paulsen has announced businesses in Iowa can continue to apply for a deferral of state sales and/or withholding tax. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the Iowa Small Business Relief Program, which included grants and tax deferrals, on March 23. The Department of Revenue administers the tax deferral part of the program. […]
A new grant program is being launched to help small business owners recover from losses suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Greater Des Moines Partnership, along with the cities of Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Indianola, Norwalk, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights and Carlisle, and Polk and Warren counties, have launched the Small Business Recovery […]
Those who submit a donation of $5.15 or more to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ Disaster Recovery Fund through May 10 can receive a free Pro Iowa soccer scarf from USL Pro Iowa, the organization announced this week. Those who donate should forward the confirmation email they receive from the Community Foundation to info@ProIowa.com by […]
The Iowa Department of Human Services announced that it has developed a COVID-19 Childcare Sustainability Plan through which it will distribute $31.9 million in stipends to qualifying licensed child care centers and registered homes. The funds are part of $3.5 billion in discretionary funding approved for the Childcare and Development Block Grant program through the […]
The city of Des Moines is extending both the closure of administrative buildings until June 15, and a freeze on public event permits until July 1, Mayor Frank Cownie announced on Tuesday. Polk County reported the highest outbreak in the state on Tuesday with 1,778 total cases, more than double the 813 cases from a week ago. […]
After laying off 1,130 employees since the business closed on March 16, Prairie Meadows announced this week that it will postpone all charitable giving and sponsorships for 2020 until further notice. A reopening date for the property is uncertain, and the level of business when it does reopen is unpredictable, Prairie Meadows said in a […]
Submitted by: Mike Colwell, executive director of entrepreneurial initiative at the Greater Des Moines Partnership In our 24/7 news cycle, social-media-influenced world, everyone is judged in near real time. Recently Bill Gates announced his foundation would fund the construction of seven factories to produce COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The world judged him in a very positive […]
Resources to aid giving, how to maximize your stimulus check and a new donated ad space program #GivingTuesdayNow, a national effort being amplified by our local institutions to bring awareness to the needs surrounding the nonprofit sector during the coronavirus pandemic, is in full swing. The day is designed to drive an influx of donations, business and […]
Grinnell Mutual announced that it will send a total of $5 million in rebates to its personal auto policy customers in recognition of fewer miles driven during the COVID-19 pandemic because of social isolation guidelines and work-from-home policies. Personal auto policyholders of the Grinnell-based company will be receiving a check for $30 per personal auto policy that […]
Area residents are invited to stop by Principal Park tomorrow to pick up free hand sanitizer as part of a partnership between the Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Iowa Cubs and Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery. The free hand sanitizer drive-up is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Products will be available on a first-come, […]
58% of employees at Tyson’s Perry plant test positive for COVID-19Radio Iowa: Officials have now confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks at four Iowa meatpacking facilities. More than 700 of the employees at Tyson’s plant in Perry — that’s 58 percent of the workforce — have tested positive for the virus. The company had refused to reveal data […]
We’re all in the same storm, but we’re all in different boats. Each and every person and segment of our community is being affected by a variety of the same strains and challenges brought about by the virus, yet everyone has different personal circumstances that can dramatically shape how hard each individual has been hit. […]
U.S. officials warn of new virus surge as states reopenWall Street Journal: U.S. researchers and officials warned about the possibility of a new surge in coronavirus cases as more states and countries begin to reopen their economies and relax social-distancing rules. The U.S. death toll from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus could approach […]
At UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Foundation, donations to the COVID-19 Crisis Fund will be matched up to $50,000 as part of the Day of Global Action for Giving and Unity today (also known as #GivingTuesday), the foundation announced this week. The COVID-19 Crisis Fund is supported by community donors. UnityPoint Health employees can apply […]
Nearly 20,000 small businesses in Iowa have been approved to receive funding from the second round of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, newly released information shows. Through Friday, 19,997 Iowa small businesses have been approved to receive more than $781.6 million from the program, data posted on the Small Business Administration’s website shows. […]
The owners of several popular Central Iowa restaurants recently filed suit against their insurance companies, claiming that their business interruption insurance claims were wrongfully denied amid the ongoing state-mandated COVID-19 shutdown. Gerleman Management Inc., whose restaurant businesses include Splash Seafood Bar & Grill and the Jethro’s barbecue restaurants, claims that its property and casualty insurer, […]
A day that is usually reserved for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is being recognized tomorrow to raise awareness to the needs surrounding the nonprofit sector during the coronavirus pandemic through #GivingTuesdayNow. Giving Tuesday began in 2012 and has expanded to a global campaign where people can contribute their time, donations or their voice to causes they […]
Travel and tourism organizations in the Midwest have joined together to promote each other to help families get away virtually during times of social distancing. Catch Des Moines, Visit KC, Meet Minneapolis, Experience Sioux Falls and Visit Omaha are collaborating to raise awareness of the travel industry and destinations in the region this week, during […]
Following public health proclamations established by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Utilities Board is extending the winter moratorium that restricts the disconnection of utility services until May 27. The order directs all electric and natural gas utilities to cease disconnection of residential service due to nonpayment for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) qualified […]
4 more COVID-19 deaths reported in Iowa as state approaches 10,000 positive casesDes Moines Register: Another four people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Monday, bringing the statewide total to 188. Additionally, 534 people have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Statewide, 9,703 have tested […]
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is launching the DSM Day of Thanks on Wednesday to celebrate health care and other essential workers while practicing social distancing. Des Moines residents are encouraged to participate by hanging DSM Day of Thanks signs in the windows of homes and businesses; posting a thank-you message and photo on social […]
The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has awarded grants of $20,000 each to 18 health and dental centers across Iowa. The $360,000 in COVID-19 response grants were awarded to help preserve access to care within Iowa’s safety net infrastructure during this challenging time for many Iowans. Each of the 18 safety net clinics and/or federal qualified health […]
The Iowa Department of Education announced late Friday that the state has received more than $71.6 million in federal relief for PK-12 schools through a fund to address costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount is Iowa’s share of the more than $13.2 billion emergency relief provided in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief […]
Marshalltown man dies from COVID-19 after numerous attempts to get medical helpMarshalltown Times-Republican: A Marshalltown man died from COVID-19 after several attempts to get medical help, his wife said. Kyle Brown started feeling sick on April 17, while on the job as a maintenance technician at TPI in Newton. He died April 29 — 12 […]
Polk County surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 cases; state reports 8 new deathsDes Moines Register: Another eight people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported today, bringing the statewide total to 170. IDPH also reported that there were 739 new positive cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Across the state, […]
The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in an increase in food insecure Iowans across the state. To help feed the growing need, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation donated $100,000 to the Iowa Food Bank Association on April 9 and announced a contribution match of up to $500 to each of Iowa’s county Farm Bureaus through […]
Great Western Bank’s results turned sharply into loss territory for the company’s second fiscal quarter, as the company recognized impairment charges of $742.2 million in anticipation of market and valuation disruption from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Corridor Business Journal reported. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based regional bank reported a net loss per share of $740.6 million, or $13.25 […]
Iowa universities face uncertain future as they lose $190 million to COVID-19Iowa Capital Dispatch: During the Iowa Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, school officials from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Iowa said they were already seeing financial stress due to unexpected costs related to COVID-19 and an expected drop […]
The Iowa Bankers Association has raised $40,000 for the Food Bank of Iowa. The money will provide nearly 160,000 meals to help food children, families and seniors who are struggling with hunger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IBA launched the food drive earlier this month, asking member banks, employees and industry partners […]
Livestock producers negatively affected by disruptions in the food supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can now get support through a new Resource Coordination Center, state agriculture officials announced Thursday. “COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of our lives, including our food supply chain,” state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said in a news release. “This […]
The aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were the first time in recent U.S. history that workplaces were forced to quickly adapt to a new reality and ground rules for keeping employees safe from an outside threat. Now, as organizations begin to consider how they will transition their workers back into the […]
Iowa hits another new high for coronavirus-related deathsCedar Rapids Gazette: For the second consecutive day, the number of new coronavirus-related deaths reached a new high in Iowa, as the state confirmed 14 new deaths today. A total of 162 Iowa deaths have been confirmed since the virus first appeared here in early March. Across the state, […]
The Polk County Housing Trust Fund has rescheduled its annual Affordable Housing Week from April to the week of Oct. 12-17, the organization announced this week. PCHTF is continuing to offer its exhibit “Undesign the Redline: DSM” through virtual tours, available by appointment for organizations and community groups, or for public tours every Wednesday at […]
The Facebook Journalism Project is donating $20,000 to four Iowa newsrooms, out of the recent $2 million grants in local news organizations nationally covering the COVID-19 pandemic. The Carroll Times Herald, the Little Village Magazine of Iowa City, La Prensa de Iowa of Denison and the Spencer Daily Reporter each received a $5,000 grant to […]
The state’s manufacturing, health care and professional service sectors will likely return to normal, albeit slowly, as the economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while lower-pay, lower-skill jobs will be the slowest to recover, business experts said during a Des Moines Business Record panel discussion on the state of the labor market and the […]
Panelists: Beth Townsend – Executive Director, Iowa Workforce Development Dave Swenson – Economist, Iowa State University David Leto – President, Palmer Group Lori McCarty – Chief Strategy Officer, Holmes Murphy & AssociatesKathy Joblinske – Market Principal/EVP, ManpowerGroup
Tyson to temporarily close Sioux City-area beef plant amid rising COVID-19 concernsSioux City Journal: Facing growing public scrutiny over an outbreak of COVID-19 at its Dakota City, Neb., beef plant, Tyson Fresh Meats said late Wednesday it will shut down the 4,300-employee facility for four days, beginning Friday. Tyson officials said the halt in production will […]
Landus Cooperative donated $20,000 to support the Iowa Food Bank Association and the new “Pass the Pork” program to connect Iowa pig farmers with food insecure Iowans. Through “Pass the Pork,” Iowa pork producers are donating pigs to the Iowa Food Bank Association and other food bank programs. Landus is matching funds through the Land […]
The technology subsidiary of West Des Moines-based Homesteaders Life Co., eFuneral Solutions LLC, announced it has developed a new online sales tool designed to facilitate remote sales by preneed counselors. It’s also offering the application, called eFuneral Agent, to all providers cost-free for the remainder of this year, regardless of whether they are currently using […]
Last week, 28,827 Iowans filed first-time jobless claims, an increase over the previous week The number of Iowans who continued to file jobless claims climbed to 170,990 last week, a sign the state will likely see high unemployment for at least the next few months, a top state official said during a Business Record forum on […]
Winnebago Industries Inc. today outlined a timetable for resuming production of its various product lines over the next several weeks. Beginning the week of May 4, production of its Newmar, Grand Design RV and Winnebago Motorhomes lines will restart, followed by Winnebago Towables production restarting the week of May 11. As previously announced, the Forest […]
Kading, an Urbandale-based property development company, is buying about $10,000 in meals from local restaurants to help its residents in 18 communities in Central Iowa during the coronavirus pandemic. The family-owned company has partnered with locally owned restaurants in Winterset, Indianola, Stuart and Adel to pay between $300 and $600 for meals in each community. […]
By Rachel Vogel Quinn | dsm Contributor Melissa O’Neil, CEO of Central Iowa Shelter and Services, said operations during the pandemic have been “business as usual.” Dealing with ongoing crises is an essential part of their work. In fact, the nonprofit had to activate their emergency plan four times in 2019. O’Neil and her team […]
MercyOne and Corteva Agriscience announced today that they have joined forces to fill the urgent need for the processing of COVID-19 testing samples, with an initial focus on Iowa. MercyOne health care providers will collect the samples and deliver them to Corteva’s Johnston facility, where a small team of trained Corteva employees will process and […]
Iowa religious leaders call on churches to avoid gatherings despite state loosening rulesDes Moines Register: Leaders from more than a dozen Christian denominations are calling on Iowans to refrain from in-person religious gatherings despite Gov. Kim Reynolds’ lifting of some restrictions on religious services. Reynolds announced Monday that religious institutions can once again host gatherings that […]
Reynolds defends reopening process despite warning of ‘second wave’ of infectionsDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds today defended her decision to loosen some restrictions on businesses and religious gatherings in Iowa despite a warning from a University of Iowa report that doing so could lead to a second wave of cases. Calling the UI model “a […]
The World Food Prize Foundation on Monday hosted its ninth annual Iowa Youth Institute, featuring the participation of 264 students and 110 teachers from 93 Iowa high schools. This virtual, daylong event was the first of its kind for the IYI, supported by more than 90 experts from across Iowa. As the world faces the […]
The announcement comes after Gov. Kim Reynolds said on April 24 that farmers markets were among the events and businesses that could begin reopening on May 1 while maintaining social practicing guidelines. But plans for the virtual event were in the works well before the governor’s announcement, said Kelly Foss, director of the Downtown Farmers’ […]
The Wells Fargo Foundation has made grants totaling $515,000 to 25 Iowa nonprofits in the last few weeks to support the community response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help deliver critical relief to assist the most vulnerable in the community as well as small businesses, Wells Fargo said in a press release. Enterprise-wide, […]
By Dave DeWitte | Senior Business Reporter for the Corridor Business Journal Iowa banks struggled to get Paycheck Protection Program loans processed on Monday after the second round of the U.S. Small Business Administration opened to technical problems that seemed much like a reply of the troubled first round. The SBA opened its processing portal […]
The Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network is adapting partnerships to serve during the COVID-19 crisis. Facing supply-chain issues acquiring 1- to 2-pound bags of rice, DMARC is partnering with Meals from the Heartland to repackage 25-pound bags of rice into smaller packages more suitable for food pantry distribution. Both DART and Boys […]
Hy-Vee Inc. announced Monday that all store and distribution center employees throughout its eight-state region are now required to wear masks or other facial coverings while at work. Hy-Vee provided masks to all employees over the past several weeks. The company has already installed temporary Plexiglas barriers at all checkout stands, pharmacy customer service and […]
UI researchers warn ‘a second wave of infections is likely’ if mitigation efforts are liftedDes Moines Register: Researchers at the University of Iowa warned Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration that it should keep COVID-19 mitigation efforts in place within the state or “a second wave of infections is likely.” The warning was included in a 12-page report […]
$750,000 of the money will be designated to help small businesses; $350,000 to provide hot meals to needy residents Struggling small businesses, hungry residents and those unable to pay monthly rent or mortgages will receive help from more than $2.2 million in emergency federal funds earmarked for Des Moines, the City Council agreed on Monday. […]
Iowa Workforce Development on Monday issued guidelines for employers to follow when workers being recalled from layoffs refuse to return to work. Refusing to return to work when recalled, or in an attempt to continue to draw unemployment benefits, will be considered a “voluntary quit,” which would disqualify a claimant from receiving benefits, including the […]
Employees at Iowa dog treat factory plead with Tyson to shut it down after COVID-19 deathCNN Business: Employees at a Tyson plant in Independence, Iowa, say they’re fearful and on edge after a colleague died from complications of COVID-19. They work in an industry few realize has been deemed essential by the federal government: the pet […]
Boeing CEO sees slow recovery for global aviationWall Street Journal: Air traffic may not bounce back for two or three years, Boeing Co. Chief Executive David Calhoun said, outlining the tough outlook for global aviation to the plane maker’s shareholders today. “The health crisis is unlike anything we have ever experienced,” Calhoun said at the annual […]
Combined donations by Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co. and its employees have raised a total of $105,456 for the Food Bank of Iowa, the company announced this week. F&G announced a $25,000 company gift, along with the more than $80,000 donated virtually by F&G employees. Food Bank of Iowa says the combined gift will […]
Krause Group Real Estate last week told tenants who occupy 189 residential units in six Des Moines properties that it would waive rental payments for the month of May, the group said in a news release. The rent, if collected, would have totaled $130,000. “No one has been left untouched by the impact of COVID-19,” […]
Iowa has experienced a $307.3 million, or 48%, decline in net tax revenue collected between March 19 and April 24 when compared with the same period a year ago, a new report by the Legislative Services Agency shows. The report, issued today, predicted that tax revenue consequences of the pandemic will likely become more severe […]
Restaurants, retail stores and fitness centers can reopen on May 1 in 77 of the state’s 99 counties that have shown stabilization and downward trends in coronavirus cases, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today. Polk, Dallas, Jasper and Marshall counties in Central Iowa are among those where restrictions will not be lifted. The announcement came as […]
Midwest governors have different reopening strategiesCedar Rapids Gazette: Governors nationwide are developing strategies for when and how to begin reopening businesses, parks and anything else temporarily closed by coronavirus mitigation efforts. The myriad plans are interesting and worth following as elected officials take different approaches. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday announced the first baby steps […]
The Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Boys & Girls Club reopened today to serve as a food pantry site in partnership with the Food Bank of Iowa. The Burt Club pantry, located at 25th Street and Forest Avenue in Des Moines, will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for […]
A new podcast launched by the Greater Des Moines Partnership will provide content and information to help keep businesses in business, keep people employed and keep the region healthy, according to a news release. Episodes of the weekly podcast will be released each Friday and feature a compilation of resources and information for area businesses and […]
The Iowa Credit Union League Foundation has raised just over $688,000 from businesses and individuals for its statewide Emergency Relief Fund, the organization announced. Of that amount, the foundation has distributed an initial 1,000 direct-relief cash grants of $500 each to families or small business owners who are experiencing financial hardship. About 10% of the […]
Officials with the Downtown Farmers’ Market are reviewing their options after Gov. Kim Reynolds said farmers markets could begin reopening during her news conference today, updating the status of the coronavirus in Iowa. The Downtown Farmers’ Market, which draws an average of 25,000 people each Saturday from May through October and supports 300 of vendors […]
Des Moines International Airport has opened up space south of the terminal for airlines to park planes as air traffic declines because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kayla Kovarna, an airport spokesperson, said about 60 spots were identified as the airport operations team began working to find places to park aircraft. As of today, 13 aircraft, […]
Iowa 211 has reached 35,000 calls from Iowans since the pandemic began, the organization announced. 211 connects Iowans to basic needs resources such as food, shelter, health care, transportation and child care. Iowa 211 began fielding calls using information provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health on March 8. Since beginning that partnership, nearly […]
A $75,000 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support the Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund. The Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund is an initiative of AFSC Iowa, Al Exito and Proteus that supports the most marginalized Central Iowans who have needs that fall outside of government guidelines or who […]
Des Moines Area Religious Council is launching a food pantry delivery service to meet the needs of vulnerable community members. People can call 833-362-7220 toll-free to request a delivery. The number will be staffed from 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, and food will be delivered to the person’s doorstep with no-contact drop-off the following business […]
Reynolds lifts bans on nonessential surgeries, farmers markets starting MondayDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds said today that she would lift Iowa’s ban on nonessential surgeries starting Monday. “Nonessential” surgical and dental procedures in the state have been banned since Reynolds issued a proclamation on March 26. She also announced today that farmers markets could begin […]
Actor Ashton Kutcher tipped Reynolds to COVID testing programIowa Capital Dispatch: Actor Ashton Kutcher was the first person to suggest that Iowa look into Utah’s expanded testing program for COVID-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday. Iowa this week launched TestIowa, the result of a $26 million contract with some Utah-based companies that will provide 540,000 COVID-19 […]
As part of National Volunteer Week, United Way of Central Iowa announced that in 2019, 10,787 volunteers donated over 87,189 volunteer hours in opportunities sponsored by United Way of Central Iowa, producing an economic impact of $2,217,216 in Central Iowa. Though volunteer opportunities might not look the same as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
The 2020 Governor’s Volunteer Awards will be postponed, Volunteer Iowa announced this week. Volunteer Iowa asks that entities planning to nominate an individual this year instead nominate them for a 2021 award. Ongoing updates are available online.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced today that it has awarded $191,000 in grants to Iowa artists and small nonprofit arts organizations reeling from financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The first-round relief grants were limited to artists and small nonprofit arts organizations. In total, 156 Iowa artists each received a $1,000 award; 14 […]
Broadlawns Medical Center is launching the Broadlawns COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund and seeking additional community aid to support medical workers during COVID-19 response. The Disaster Relief Fund has been established to purchase personal protective equipment and other necessities to safeguard Broadlawns’ medical staff and patients; donations can be made online. Broadlawns is also selling CommUNITY shirts, mugs and […]
Many of the state’s 180,000 unemployed will have difficulty finding work when the economy opens back up, says an Iowa economist Many of the almost 180,000 Iowans who filed unemployment claims last week will likely struggle to find new jobs when the economic recovery from the pandemic begins, according to one Iowa economist. Hardest hit […]
Des Moines Area Community College announced that DMACC hands-on and lab-based classes will not return to campus this spring. Summer classes, which begin May 26, have also been affected. All classes before July 1 will be offered in an online format. These announcements apply to all DMACC campuses and centers, DMACC President Rob Denson said in a […]
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation’s Business Horizons 2020 program, which was scheduled for July 19-23 at Central College in Pella, has been canceled due to COVID-19. The cancellation decision was simultaneous with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ school closure and summer event cancellation announcement this week, the foundation said in a news release. Applicants accepted this […]
The West Des Moines nonprofit Meals from the Heartland is canceling the annual Morsel Combat chef’s challenge fundraiser, which was scheduled for June 25. The event is considered a critical fundraiser for Meals from the Heartland and in 2019 raised enough money to distribute more than 500,000 meals, part of the 23 million meals packaged […]
America’s SBDC Iowa is launching a new social media campaign to support small businesses across the state. The campaign, Support Small Businesses 5 Day Challenge, will launch on April 26 with the first video in a six-part series, followed by a daily challenge the rest of the week. Challenge examples include tagging small businesses on […]
COVID-19 hospice unit set up in Des Moines for patients who don’t want to die in hospitalDes Moines Register: A Des Moines hospice agency has set up a special wing for COVID-19 patients, underlining the gravity of Iowa’s coronavirus epidemic. The EveryStep agency plans to open a six-bed hospice unit Monday at its east-side Des Moines […]
U.S. business activity hits record lows amid coronavirus lockdownsReuters: U.S. business activity hit new record lows in April as the novel coronavirus severely disrupted manufacturing and services industry production, pushing the economy into uncharted waters. Data firm IHS Markit said on Thursday its flash U.S. Composite Output Index, which tracks the manufacturing and services sectors, plunged […]
The city of West Des Moines has extended the cancellation of all parks and recreation programs, events and facility reservations through May 29, which is the Friday after Memorial Day. The cancellations and closures had been effective through May 10. Included in the events that have been canceled are the Mayor’s Bike Ride and Pancake […]
The Des Moines Symphony announced the cancellation of all concerts and public events through June 14 at the Des Moines Civic Center and the Temple for Performing Arts due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Affected events are Masterworks 6: April in Paris (April 18-19), Masterworks 7: The Firebird (May 9-10) and Sensory-Friendly Concert: American Folk […]
MercyOne, one of Iowa’s largest health-care systems, invites community members to show their support for health-care and all essential workers by donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund and then displaying printed heart decals in their windows or digital hearts on social media. Community members are invited to visit www.MercyOne.org/covid19 to order a T-shirt or window decals where […]
More than 27,900 Iowans last week filed initial unemployment claims, a 36% drop in new claims from the previous week, newly released data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows. Since mid-March, when businesses were ordered closed in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, 239,458 Iowans have filed first-time jobless claims. […]
More than $25 million to be given globally through programs, customer concessions Des Moines-based Principal Financial Group and the Principal Foundation today launched two major community-based initiatives, which are estimated to have a $25 million impact on Greater Des Moines as well as communities worldwide in which Principal does business. The two new programs – […]
More than 27,900 Iowans last week filed initial unemployment claims, a 36% drop in new claims from the previous week, newly released data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows. Since mid-March, when businesses were ordered closed in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, 239,458 Iowans have filed first-time jobless claims. […]
While some Iowa businesses received a boost from small business assistance grants disbursed by the state, others, battered by social distancing restrictions and layoffs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, continue to languish, worrying how long they can survive. “It was heartbreaking and added salt to the wound,” Cassie Sampson, owner of East Village […]
The challenges facing the rural health care system are more dire than ever before with staff furloughs and even more hospitals on the brink of collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Rural Health Task Force released recommendations designed to stabilize rural hospitals and clinics with financial relief in the […]
Coronavirus at meatpacking plants worse than first thought, investigation findsUSA Today: A rash of coronavirus outbreaks at dozens of meatpacking plants across the nation is far more extensive than previously thought, according to a review of cases by USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. And it could get worse. More than 150 of […]
According to a new survey released by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 9 in 10 Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances. More than half (54%) of Americans say among the top five things causing the most financial stress right now is not having enough saved (41% for emergency savings; […]
An estimated $310 million in sales is expected to be lost in April by Iowa’s restaurant and food service industry, a newly released study shows. The study, conducted by the Iowa and National restaurant associations, also found that 10% of Iowa’s estimated restaurants and bars won’t be able to reopen if mandated closures are extended […]
Tyson closing Waterloo plant indefinitelyWaterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: Following criticism from public health officials over coronavirus concerns, Tyson Foods today announced it is indefinitely closing its meatpacking plant in Waterloo. “Despite our continued efforts to keep our people safe while fulfilling our critical role of feeding American families, the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds today launched the Test Iowa Initiative to expand testing capacity to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. The state is partnering with Utah-based Nomi Health and its subsidiary, Domo, which has already launched a similar initiative in Utah, Reynolds said in a news conference. Watch the news conference here. “Iowa is now the second […]
The Iowa Insurance Institute, a not-for-profit association representing Iowa property and casualty insurers, has donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Iowa on behalf of its member companies in a special donation to help Iowans affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. “The Iowa Insurance Institute is very excited to support the Food Bank of Iowa during […]
Employees working from home will be able to take their lunch break while enjoying performances by local artists as part of a new lunchtime series announced this week by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The “In for Lunch” series is a virtual twist to the popular Downtown Out to Lunch series that takes place every […]
Local distilleries Foundry Distilling Co. and Cat’s Eye Distillery are partnering to produce a blended whiskey called Des Moines Strong, with all proceeds benefiting the Iowa Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Three hundred bottles of the initial Des Moines Strong release will be available in early May at local retailers, including Fareway stores, the distilleries said […]
UnityPoint Health announces furloughs, reduced staff hoursCedar Rapids Gazette: UnityPoint Health announced a reduction in staff hours, furloughs and pay cuts for its executive staff members starting next week as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials with the West Des Moines-based health system said today that these temporary measures “were needed to focus resources and […]
Tyson reopens Columbus Junction plant; new cases at JBS plant in MarshalltownDes Moines Register: Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Columbus Junction is resuming “limited operations” after closing for two weeks due to a coronavirus outbreak there. The company said the plant would reopen today. Tyson closed its location in southeast Iowa on April 6 after […]
To support its local communities during the COVID-19 crisis, Bank Iowa has launched Bank Iowa Helping Hand, a crowdsourcing initiative to identify both big and small needs across 23 Iowa communities. Through the initiative, anyone can submit a community-focused idea, task or charitable cause, and if selected, Bank Iowa will lend a helping hand through financial sponsorship […]
Business leaders from organizations of all sizes would do well to renew their commitment to keenly listening to both their employees and their customers as they work through disruptions tied to COVID-19. The critical nature of communicating well during the crisis was among the themes that emerged from an hourlong virtual panel discussion last week […]
Several businesses and organizations have joined the effort to fill the need for personal protective equipment for health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, donating more than 190,000 items over the past few weeks, officials with the Des Moines Partnership said in a release today. A.J. Mumm, director of Polk County […]
Meredith Corp. will temporarily cut pay for 60% of its employees and paused its dividend as advertising revenue takes a hit during the coronavirus outbreak, the company announced today. Reuters reports that the Des Moines-based company also rescinded its financial guidance for the year. Meredith joins a number of large news media companies including Gannett Co. Inc. and […]
RAGBRAI called off for 2020 due to coronavirus concernsDes Moines Register: RAGBRAI organizers announced today that they will push this year’s ride — including the planned route — to July 25-31, 2021. The decision was made after “deep consideration” and conversations with key team members, organizers said. It will be the first time since its 1973 […]
More than 260 meatpacking workers test positive for COVID-19Iowa Capital Dispatch: More than 260 people were found to be positive for COVID-19 in expanded surveillance testing related to meatpacking plant outbreaks, the state reported Sunday. The positives from meatpacking employees made up 67% of the 389 total positive cases reported in Iowa Sunday. Iowa has recorded […]
MercyOne Medical Group-Central Iowa has consolidated its urgent care clinics and established a clinic specifically for patients with fever and upper respiratory infection symptoms, in an effort to provide better patient and staff safety and preserve personal protective equipment. MercyOne East Village at 1350 Des Moines St. now serves as the Fever and Upper Respiratory Infection Clinic. […]
University of Iowa Health Care issued a statement over the weekend to provide more context for its initial self-reporting of 64 positive COVID-19 cases. That figure represents the aggregate number of cases since February out of 15,000 employees, and does not represent a sudden spike in cases, the organization said. “The 64 number is an […]
Reynolds says schools will remain closed, Iowa will adopt phased reopening elsewhereDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to reopen Iowa using “a phased approach” that aligns with guidance issued by President Donald Trump, she announced today. The governor did not specify which businesses or entities may open first, or when they would get the green […]
The Des Moines hotel is among 29,242 Iowa small businesses to be approved for the loans The Hilton Des Moines Downtown Hotel has been approved to receive a nearly $1.2 million loan through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, the board of the nonprofit corporation that oversees the facility learned this morning. The Iowa […]
Governor acknowledges suspected COVID-19 outbreak at Waterloo meatpacking plantDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday acknowledged a suspected COVID-19 outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Waterloo, where the local sheriff slammed “a small few” for not doing more to mitigate spread of the coronavirus. The potential outbreak at the Tyson Fresh Meats plant, which has […]