(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced a $96 million investment in growing Iowa’s small businesses, including startups, manufacturers and businesses owned by veterans and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The funding is available through the U.S. Treasury Department’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a small business aid program that was expanded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The program, created during the 2021 legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s food supply chain and support rural development, was so successful legislators renewed it during the 2022 session. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses, with a total of $1,000,000 available through the program in the current fiscal year.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs dream big, drive Iowa’s economy and make our communities better places to live,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “Iowa had the fastest economic recovery through the pandemic in large part because of the creativity and resilience of our small businesses. This funding will build on the momentum by investing in our small businesses and entrepreneurs just as they have chosen to invest in Iowa.”

The Treasury Department approved Iowa’s amount based on a plan submitted by IEDA. Iowa’s SSBCI dollars will focus on encouraging venture capital and investment in scalable innovation companies through the following programs:

• Loan Participation Program for Manufacturing 4.0 Investments: $28 million to help Iowa manufacturers invest in the new technologies that are transforming the industry. The state will purchase part of the loan to help offset risk for lenders.
• Small Business Collateral Support Program: $15 million to help small businesses offset collateral shortfalls as they secure loans through commercial lenders. Eligible borrowers include small businesses that are 51% owned by women, individuals from diverse backgrounds, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and long-term rural residents; and small businesses that enhance arts and culture in Iowa.
• Venture Capital Innovation Fund Program: $22 million to increase funding opportunities across the state’s assistance programs for entrepreneurs. This fund also will provide more funding to address gaps in startup development phases as businesses work through concept, launch and expansion.
• Venture Capital Co-Investment Fund Program: $31 million to process and hold equity investments in private companies and ensure investments are qualified.

“Iowa’s small businesses have faced some of the biggest economic challenges of the last few years, but they also have some of the greatest success stories and we’ve seen a record-breaking surge in new businesses for two years in a row,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Our team looks forward to working with our small business and innovation partners to bring these new efforts to life.”

The SSBCI was established in 2010 to increase access to capital for traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. It was reauthorized and expanded through the American Rescue Plan to build on that success as businesses emerge from the pandemic.

Planning for the SSBCI application process is underway. For more information, visit iowaeda.com/ssbci.

(Radio Iowa) – The federal website where some current and former students may apply for college loan forgiveness launched Friday night — and University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says for several weeks the university’s financial aid office has been fielding calls from students making preparations. “Trying to figure out if they qualify, under what respects, whether they qualify for $10,000 or $20,000,” she says, “and we’re there for them to try to help them sort it out.” Wilson says she’s unsure how many current students on her campus qualify. Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen says 43 percent of I-S-U students graduate without debt. “Those that do have debt have average debt of about $29,500 would be a pretty close figure,” Wintersteen says.

Wintersteen has been cautioning I-S-U students about potential scams and to wait for the federal website to apply for student loan forgiveness. Earlier this year, federal lawmakers increased the maximum size of a Pell Grant by 400 dollars, but Wintersteen notes it’s not as much as had been discussed a year ago. “That would make a tremendous difference whose family really don’t have the capacity to send their students to college without taking out significant loans, it would have helped them really directly into the future for a long time,” Wintersteen says. The University of Iowa’s president also contrasts the one-time student debt forgiveness plan with Pell Grants.

“I am hopeful at the federal level we really take a look at Pell Grants,” Wilson says. “because if we can increase Pell Grant funding from students from low income families, that will be a much longer path to affordability for students.”

Wilson and Wintersteen made their comments during recent appearances on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Biden Administration, over 400-thousand Iowa borrowers are eligible for student loan forgiveness and 61 percent of them are Pell Grant recipients who qualify for 20-thousand dollars in debt forgiveness.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is hosting its first Dementia Conversations Mini-Conference. The event takes place at The Gathering Room in Council Bluffs, on Thursday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Conference is centered around caregivers and families facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and is free for all to attend.

The Conference will feature presentations from:

·       Dr. Lindy Fields, Clinical Neuropsychologist at Methodist Health System, on when families should take their loved one to the doctor for cognitive testing

·       Shelly Otten, RN-BC, IALMP, CDP, Executive Director at CountryHouse Residence, on the four main types of dementia

·       Patti Salvo-McGinn, MS, LMHC, LIMHP, Mental Health Therapist and part-owner at Horizon Therapy Group, on caring for yourself as a caregiver

·       Deborah L. Petersen, Attorney and owner at Petersen Law PLLC, on legal considerations for families facing dementia

·       Jessica Duncan, CDP, Account Executive at Angels Care Home Health, on the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

·       Marti Nerenstone, local Attorney, on caring for her late wife throughout her journey with dementia

To register or for more information visit alz.org/iowa or call 1-800-272-3900.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Sunday afternoon in Creston caused a total of $1,500 damage, but no serious injuries. Creston Police report the accident happened in the eastbound lane of Highway 34 near Industrial Parkway at around 3-p.m. An investigation determined a 2022 Chevy Equinox driven by 64-year-old Laurie Girard, of Afton, was stopped in the left lane of the eastbound lane. Her turn signal was on while she waited to turn left onto Industrial Parkway.

A 2023 Chevy pickup driven by 22-year-old Dalten Bierle, of Creston, was coming down the hill and was not able to stop in-time. The pickup’s bed was loaded with “a lot of heavy material,” according to the report. Authorities say that contributed to Bierle not be able to stop in an assured safe distance.

Girdard told police she “was unsure she was hurt and that she had blacked out after she was hit.” Medics checked both drivers out at the scene and cleared them of injuries. There were no citations issued.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), last week, announced that grant awards totaling more than $3.3 million have been awarded to the communities of Arcadia, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Fostoria, Guttenberg, Hospers, Oelwein, Spencer and Yale to assist water and sewer infrastructure projects through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Yale, located in Guthrie County, was awarded a grant for $267,000 for water and sewer installation and improvement projects.

Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham said “Investments in water infrastructure are vital to supporting Iowa families and businesses.” The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. CDBG funds enable communities to make needed improvements to water and sewer systems, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals and make transformative downtown improvements.

IEDA received 15 applications totaling $5.47 million in funding requests and had $3.3 million available for allocation. Grants are awarded based upon the benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, financial need, project impact and readiness and commitment of local resources to the project.

For more information on CDBG or other community programs, visit iowaeda.com.

The awards list is available here.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion has been hospitalized for treatment of a kidney infection. Jimmy Peacock, Hinson’s chief of staff released a statement, announcing Hinson was admitted to a Cedar Rapids hospital Sunday evening. Peacock said Hinson appreciates all of the prayers and well wishes and is looking forward to being back on the road soon, but did not give a time frame for her doctor’s treatment plan. Hinson, who is 39, was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020 and is running for reelection in Iowa’s new second congressional district.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

Hinson and Liz Mathis of Hiawatha — the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s second congressional district — debated last week on K-C-R-G T-V, where they both have worked in the past.

Mathis posted a statement on Twitter, saying she’s sorry to learn of Congresswoman Hinson’s hospitalization and Mathis wished Hinson a speedy recovery from her illness.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says mobile food pantries will be held in both Atlantic and Anita in October. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required.  People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Visitors are asked to stay in their vehicles with the trunk open.

Cars can take food for up to two households. Households without transportation to the Atlantic Mobile Pantries can contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh about delivery. Delivery is offered on a limited basis.

Anita October 2022 Mobile Food Pantry
208 Chestnut Street, Anita; October 19, 4:00-6:00 PM

Atlantic October 2022 Mobile Food Pantry
Cass County Community Center -805 W. 10th St., Atlantic; October 29, 4:00-6:00 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries, local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says a resident in the 500 block of W. Adams Street reported Friday evening, that someone stole a custom-made sign out of his yard. The sign had been made a couple of days prior to the theft. The loss was estimated at $60.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Voters in Montgomery County will be receiving postcards in the mail this week, ahead of the General Election scheduled for November 08, 2022. Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Jill Ozuna, said the cards will be sent from the Iowa Secretary of State to update voters on their polling locations. As a reminder: The polling locations for voters living in Precinct 2 will be at the Red Oak Gold Fair Building. The polling location for voters living in Precinct 5 will be at the Elliott Community Building.

Auditor Ozuna reminds the voters that there is absentee voting in the Auditor’s office. “Absentee ballots will be available on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at the Auditor’s office and may be voted in the office until 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 7.” The Auditor’s office will also be open Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information about the 2022 General Election, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127 or visit the county website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov. Voters can also follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections on Facebook.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a traffic stop early this (Monday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a woman for having no valid driver’s license. Authorities say 46-year-old Lisa Marie Elliott was taken into custody at around 3:10-a.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on bond amounting to slightly more than $503.