COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Today, Google announced plans to invest $1 billion in Iowa this year at an event at the company’s Council Bluffs data center campus. This 2024 investment will support its two sites in Council Bluffs as the company expands its technical infrastructure in southwest Iowa. Google is also announcing $1.3 million in support for a Missouri River Basin grade stabilization project in collaboration with the Great Outdoors Foundation and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Today’s announcements build on Google’s long-standing commitment to Iowa, including the more than $5.5 billion Google has already invested in the state since 2007 — along with more than $1.8 billion of economic activity for tens of thousands of Iowa businesses, publishers, nonprofits, creators and developers. Click here for photos from the event.

Google’s data centers are the backbone of the digital services — like Google Cloud, Search, Maps and Workspace — that people and organizations use to power their daily lives. Data centers are the engines behind the growing digital economy. Google’s continued investment in this technical infrastructure plays an essential role in supporting the company’s AI innovations and customer base.

The Iowa cloud region is part of Google Cloud’s global network of 40 regions that delivers high-performance and low-latency services to large enterprises, startups, and public sector organizations, including Hy-Vee, Inc., Casey’s, and Corteva. Customers benefit from key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements.

“Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to Council Bluffs and the state of Iowa,” said Joe Kava, Vice President, Global Data Centers at Google. “As we continue to develop and deploy AI solutions across our products, particularly within Google Cloud, our infrastructure is what brings these innovations to people locally and globally. For more than 15 years, the collaborative community here in Council Bluffs has been our partner in delivering the latest digital technology to the world. We look forward to continuing our work together to keep Iowa a digital leader for years to come.”

“Today, we’re seeing once again just how attractive advantages like low taxes, affordable cost of doing business, and a population known for its strong work ethic are to one of the world’s most prominent companies,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said. “It’s my pleasure to join the Google team to celebrate its historic $1 billion investment in its data center… and $1.3 million contribution for water quality projects in Iowa… as well as to express my appreciation for the strong partnership that has made these exciting announcements possible.”

“I applaud Google’s planned investment of more than $1 billion in its data center campus in Council Bluffs. This decision will create jobs, grow our economy, and support our communities,” U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra said. “From financing expansions and workforce development to supporting community projects, I appreciate Google’s long-time commitment to the families of Council Bluffs. I look forward to continue working with Google to promote economic growth, strengthen our workforce, and keep Iowa a leader in digital technology and infrastructure.”

“Google has called Council Bluffs home since breaking ground in 2007, and I’ve been fortunate to have a front-row seat to witness its commitment to our community,” Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said. “Whether it’s supporting our schools, local nonprofits, or the entire community through building out the BLink network, Google has worked to bring economic opportunity to all who live here. Today’s continued and monumental investment announcement underscores its dedication to Council Bluffs is as strong as ever, and I look forward to continued collaboration.”

“Our partnership with Google empowers Hy-Vee to connect with our customers in a way that’s relevant to each unique community we serve.  Google Cloud provides a flexible, scalable foundation that enables us to deliver customized digital experiences while implementing advanced tools to help protect customer data. This collaboration is key to our mission of making lives easier, healthier and happier,” said Brian Young, Chief Information Officer, Hy-Vee, Inc.

As a pioneer in computing infrastructure, Google’s data centers are among the most efficient in the world. Google is pursuing net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain, supported by an ambitious clean energy goal to run on carbon-free energy every hour of every day on every grid where it operates. An important piece of this clean energy goal is Google’s climate-conscious approach to cooling data centers, which prioritizes minimizing net climate impact and using natural resources responsibly — both today and in the future.

Beyond its operations, Google is committed to improving local watershed health where its office campuses and data centers are located and replenish 120% of the water it consumes, on average. As part of its commitment in Iowa, Google is announcing a $1.3 million grant to the Great Outdoors Foundation‘s grade stabilization project in southwest Iowa. This project will reduce surface runoff and erosion and improve flood protection, surface and groundwater quality, and the overall aquatic habitat. The Great Outdoors Foundation will implement the project at 47 sites in partnership with the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), various Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Drake University.

​​”Google’s investment in our Conservation Acceleration Fund exemplifies the efficacy and potency of public-private partnerships,” said Hannah Inman, Chief Executive Officer, Great Outdoors Foundation. “Of course, this will have a tremendous impact on the watersheds in the immediate footprint of the initiative, but more than that, it will impact the quality of water flowing into the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico, all critical to vibrant communities across our nation. Iowa has the potential to lead the way in protecting our natural resources now, and for generations to come.”

Google creates economic opportunities across central Iowa. To help Iowans access the opportunities created by technology, Google has helped train over 100,000 residents in digital skills through ongoing partnerships with local organizations. Google has created jobs in a variety of full time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers and various food service, maintenance and security roles.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa dairy producers who’ve been impacted by bird flu can now apply for federal emergency funding. The USDA expanded its Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program to help cover lost profits from the virus. Dairy farmers are required to discard milk from sick cows to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Matt Russell, executive director of USDA-Iowa Farm Service Agency, says expanding the program supports dairy farmers and creates an incentive to get tested. Russell says, “Because if you are seeing some cows be sick and they happen to have H5N1, then this program kicks in and will provide some support for that loss of production.”

To be eligible for recovery assistance, Russell says producers need a positive test result from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. “This is a support for farmers that are having decreased production because of H5N1,” he says, “but because it provides that support, it also creates that incentive for farmers to get tested.”

USDA photo

Russell says farmers with a positive test should contact their local FSA office to file a Notice of Loss. Payments are based on milk production averages for specific months.

AMES, Iowa – America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa, has announced that Elizabeth Christensen is the new Regional Director for the Iowa Western SBDC at Iowa Western Community College, located in Council Bluffs. Elizbeth Christensen will advise and train entrepreneurs and existing business owners in Pottawattamie, Shelby, Harrison, Page, Mills, Cass and Fremont counties. Elizabeth started in early June and is excited to continue supporting western Iowa businesses.

“I am delighted to introduce Elizabeth Christensen as the new Regional Director for the Iowa Western SBDC and welcome her to our team,” says Lisa Shimkat, America’s SBDC Iowa State Director. “With her outstanding expertise, dedication to empowering small businesses, and exceptional skills, I am confident she will be instrumental in advancing our mission. Together, we will further cultivate innovation, growth, and prosperity in Iowa’s dynamic small business community.”

Elizabeth has worked with owners on marketing, processes, and growth in local small businesses for the last 20 years. Elizabeth was an undergraduate alumnus of the UNO Business Management School and is a 2020 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master’s in Entrepreneurship of Technology. As an undergraduate and intern with Omaha’s Sunbelt Business Brokerage, she learned the ropes prospective business owners consider as new operators and carried that message of tenacity into other areas of her life.

During those nascent years, she worked with several family-based businesses and a theater-based organization, and she got a taste for supporting sustainable practices, sustainable growth, and herding cats. Elizabeth moved into information technology project management after relocating to Arizona, but still serving a small business environment. She supported many small business owners in cloud transformation, IT security, network development, and implementation projects there.

As a PaaS project manager, she worked with over 120 American college and university administrative teams to implement a new transcript and diploma platform. Elizabeth supported personal friends and family through business ideation and startup phases, including business plans, financial projections, and identifying high-value business processes for their services. As a technology startup professional, she worked with various space startups in different phases, implementing solutions for their strategic growth, including managing stakeholders’ long-term project schedules and submitting for government SBIR/STTRs.

Elizabeth Christensen, Iowa Western SBDC Regional Director

Elizabeth returned to Council Bluffs in 2020 to raise a family near her parents and continues participating in the community with economic development and business projects. Her hobbies include chaos gardening, being a patron of the arts, and raising her toddler, whom she adores.

America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since the program’s inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.

For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org, https://www.facebook.com/AmericasSBDCIowa, or https://twitter.com/IowaSBDC.

AMES, Iowa – July 2, 2024 – Road closures for counties that participate in the Iowa County Engineer’s Association’s 511 traveler information website can now be found on the state’s 511 system, 511ia.org, during large-scale disasters such as flooding or winter events.

To find the county information, visit 511ia.org, and choose the “County Closures” layer. County information will show up on the map in blue. County road closures are currently only available on the website but should be available on the Iowa 511 app soon.

Road closure information is currently available for 79 counties. To find counties participating in the 511 traveler information system visit https://shorturl.at/JkcV5.

Note that county information is input by the participating county, while information for state and U.S. routes is input by the Iowa Department of Transportation. You may see variety in the way data is shown on the map. If you have questions about individual county closures, please contact the contact listed in the event details when you click on the closure icon.

(Clarinda, Iowa) The Page County Sheriff’s Department has issued a report on arrests occurring from June 19th through the 30th. Those arrested are as follows:

6/19/2024: Seth Martin Kuipers (45) of New Market Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for ineligible to carry weapons; Darrion Michael Dale Foster (22) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office at the Pottawattamie County Jail.
6/20/2024 Aaron Scott Kincheloe (47) of Leander Texas. Booked into the Page County Jail for harassment, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
6/21/2024: Inez Nicholas Lunz (59) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for enticing a minor. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office; Sherry Danette Young (46) of Polo Missouri. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
6/22/2024: Christian Lyle Lauritsen (27) of New Market Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI; Jody Ann Berry (62) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a prescription drug.
6/23/2024 Justin Allen Sickler (45) of Council Bluffs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft.

6/24/2024 Lesley Ann Wright (45) of Sidney Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for assault on persons in certain occupations (X2). Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
6/25/2024: David Allan Charles (61) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Justin Allen Sickler (45) of Council Bluffs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation; David Dale Morelock (38) of Farragut Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Rodney Eugene Allely (56) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for reckless use of fire and interference with official acts.
6/27/2024: Cody Dean Nevada Carlson (33) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for harassment and contempt of court; Zachary Lynn Sherlock (47) of Quitman Missouri. Booked into the Page County Jail for contempt of court; Demica Nicole Parrish (30) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic abuse.
6/28/2024: Shanna Dawn Hernandez (45) of Omaha Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance; Cindy Joe Gray (44) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X2); Lowell Richard Wilcox (54) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and drug tax stamp violations.
6/29/2024 Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
6/30/2024 Rachelle Dawn Hunt (52) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an outstanding warrant. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report 68-year-old Sheryl Lynn Franzen, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:22-a.m. today (Tuesday), for Theft in the 5th Degree. Franzen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Residents of the Riverside neighborhood in Sioux City expressed frustration with the city’s flood response at the city council meeting. Susan Bart was the first to speak at Monday’s meeting. “Where we’re our city leaders when we’re in time of need? I am flooded out I got three lots along the Big Sioux in my backyard,” She says. “I’m flooded out and I had a sewer leak prior to the flooding. On Sunday, MidAmerican turned off my gas, so they were well aware of what was going on. Yet no sirens, no nothing.” Steve Kurally was awake and started warning neighbors as the floodwaters rose. He says they could have used more warning from the city.

“I don’t know who is in charge of that, but that really could have been used some improvement. I’m not here to, by no means to criticize anybody I think in the city, they came a long way through that flood. I mean they were working diligently trying to build the temporary levees and man and the pumps and all of that,” he says. Bonnie Whitlock was emotional as she talked about he flood damage. “I’ve lost two cars. I’ve lost my babies pictures and everything if I would have had some warning, I could have gotten that stuff up,” Whitlock says. “I’ve lost everything in my home. All my drywall is gone. All my flooring is gone. My furniture, my appliances, everything is gone. My husband and I are just retired.”

Mayor Bob Scott says he will meet soon with City Manager Bob Padmore to discuss what happened in Riverside and how they can move forward. “Let’s just say that I’ve told Bob that after this quiets down with his staff in a couple of weeks we need to have a real sit down and talk about what we did,”Scott says. “I think we were in denial that river was going to go as high as what did unfortunately it just kept rising and rising.”

Scott said he expected to be back out at the flood scene today (Tuesday)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Karen Albert. She said Secondary Roads Department crews have been cold patching roads along the RAGBRAI® Route in the County.

The Board heard also, from West Township resident Jan Norris, with regard to the (former) Iowa Utilities Board ruling last week, granting Summit Carbon Solutions unanimous approval of their 682 mile project, and the use of Eminent Domain, allowing the company to seize 853 parcels of land if the property owner does not grant them an easement. The IUB changed its name Monday to the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC).

Montgomery County BOS mtg 7-2-24

Norris said the Board’s approval affects 18-miles of western Montgomery County, where the pipeline route could run north and south, parallel to the County line. The entire Phase 1 route includes 3,035 parcels.

Norris said the project is a go, but there are still several steps ahead, including the likelihood those opposed to the pipeline will file for reconsideration by the IUC.

Norris said a meeting will be held at the Corning Opera House August 26^th at 6-p.m., with regard to Summit’s Phase II project. Another meeting will be held in Red Oak at the Red Coach Inn August 27^th, at Noon.

The Supervisors took no action on Norris’ renewed request for an ordinance dealing with the pipeline.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced General and Weight Loss Surgeon, Dr. William Rizk, will be providing care to patients starting this month. Dr. Rizk is a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon who specializes in weight loss surgery, and he has been performing laparoscopic weight loss surgeries since 2002. The Doctor says “People with obesity, particularly severe obesity, face a number of medical concerns that can be improved with weight loss surgery. It’s not an easy decision to make, and it takes commitment and lifestyle change to see long-term success. Weight loss surgery is a great tool, and I’m very excited to offer this surgery to patients in southwest Iowa.”

Iowa ranks 12th in states impacted by obesity, with more than 37% of the state’s adult population being impacted by obesity. According to Iowa Health and Human Services, 42.5% of adults in Cass County have an unhealthy body weight, which is classified as a BMI of 30 or higher. Dr. Rizk will perform sleeve gastrectomies, also known as gastric sleeve surgeries, at Cass Health beginning this fall.

Dr. William Rizek

“Our program will utilize a multidisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Rizk. “This will include several clinic appointments, nutritional counseling and behavior modification classes.  This education will help ensure the most successful outcome for patients.”

Patients interested in learning more are invited to come to a free educational class on the surgery on Tuesday, July 9th at 6:00 at Cass Health. Reservations are required; sign up online at casshealth.org/weightloss. Questions can be directed to our Program Coordinator at 712-243-7535; patients are also encouraged to talk with their primary care provider about the surgery and referrals.

(Radio Iowa) – Ag equipment maker John Deere is announcing plans to eliminate some 800 jobs at plants in Iowa and Illinois over the coming weeks. It follows word last month the company would shift production of its skid steer loaders and compact track loaders from Dubuque to Mexico by the end of 2026. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is reacting to the news. “Anytime that you’re hearing about roll backs, layoffs, moving things outside of the state of Iowa or the United States,” Naig says, “you’re concerned about those things, you want to understand them.”

In a statement, the company cited rising manufacturing costs as a key factor, while lower crop prices have also caused a slowdown in new ag equipment sales. Some forecasters predict a 25-percent drop in farm income this year over last. Naig says the agricultural economy in general is experiencing what he called “softness” due to a number of factors. “The announcements that you’ve heard made of late are indicators of very much some softness in the ag economy,” Naig says. “Given the effects of inflation, high input prices, the cost of capital interest rates remaining where they are, all those things are contributing in the ag space to delaying decisions if you can — let’s just go sideways for a little bit.”

Deere is eliminating more than 200 jobs at its Davenport plant and another 99 in Dubuque at the end of August, and more than 500 in East Moline, Illinois at the end of September. Deere announced earlier this year it’s cutting more than 800 jobs at facilities in Waterloo, Ottumwa and the Des Moines metro. Naig says the souring economic effects aren’t just limited to the ag equipment sector. “That’s also playing out now in some of these announcements that you’re hearing made about even meat processing or manufacturing,” he says. “So, you try to take all that in and look at it holistically, but I do think that it’s certainly sending some signals about a softening in the economy or at least a lack of confidence in the economy, and those are things what we need to be addressing as a country.”

Secretary Naig says it’s imperative for the state to do everything it can to help agriculture and manufacturing continue to thrive, as they are key economic drivers in the state. His comments came Monday as he was in Davis County to tour a local parts fabrication business.