The Iowa Economic Development Authority is pleased to announce the receipt of a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant in the amount of $370,258.00 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The STEP Pilot Grant Initiative provides grants to states for small business exporting assistance programs. The aim of the STEP Initiative is to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority will disburse grant funds via the following programs to help eligible Iowa companies develop or expand their export markets:

Technical Trade Assistance Program (TTAP) – Iowa Economic Development Authority’s International Trade Office will provide an assessment of a company’s export needs, provide consultation and linkage to a variety of export resources at the local, state and federal levels

Domestic Trade Assistance Program (DTAP) – Provides up to $3,000 assistance per occurrence to participate at a domestic trade show with an international buyers program

Expanded Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP) – Provides up to $4,000 per occurrence, up to three times in the fiscal year, to help defray expenses when participating at a trade show or on a trade mission outside of the U.S.

Product Trade Assistance Program (PTAP) – Provides up to $5,000 per occurrence to assist a company in adjusting product or product certification to expand export opportunities

Funding will be available October 1 through the International Trade Office of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. To learn more about the STEP grant , e-mail: international@iowa.gov or contact Lisa Longman at 515.725.3139.

The Iowa Board of Regents has chosen University of North Carolina Vice President for Research Steven Leath to be the president of Iowa State University.

The regents made their decision Tuesday afternoon at a meeting at the Ames campus after meeting with Leath and Kumble Subbaswamy, provost at the University of Kentucky.

Leath will replace current Iowa State President Gregory Geoffrey, who has announced he will retire next year. Leath will become the 15th president in Iowa State history.

–AP

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in southwest Iowa today.

At about 1:00 this afternoon Reynolds will hold a town hall meeting at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reynolds will then tour flood affected areas this evening starting at about 5:00 in Fremont County.

Following her tour she will speak with the media in Pacific Junction near County Highway L 40.

Reynolds had also been in southwest Iowa earlier this week when she held town halls Monday in Jefferson, Guthrie Center, and Winterset.

Adair County 4-H’ers claimed two championships at the Ak-Sar-ben Livestock Exposition held in Omaha this past weekend. Tyler Long of Creston exhibited the top Simmental heifer. Long is the son of Rob and Gina Long and is a senior at Orient-Macksburg. Kysa Downing of Creston earned her championship title in the feeder calf division with her steer calf. She is the daughter of Steve and Karen Downing and a junior at Nodaway Valley. Kysa also won her class with her feeder calf heifer.

Adair County exhibitors also picked up more honors. Chisum Downing won a 2^nd place purple with his feeder calf enter and Heath Downing claimed 3^rd place purple in the same division. Leah Gilman of Stuart also captured a purple with her shorthorn breeding heifer. Adding the Adair County collection of purple ribbons was Cody Long of Creston with his market lamb.

A crash in Adair County has claimed the life of a teen and injured two others Monday afternoon.
At approximately 2:45 Monday afternoon, a 2003 Acura RSX driven by 21-year-old Boby Vangkham of South Sioux City, Nebraska was eastbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 75 in Adair County. Meanwhile, a semi driven by 33-year-old Shayne Clousing of Ida Grove was westbound on Interstate 80.

Vangkham’s vehicle crossed the median on the interstate and crashed into Clousing’s semi.

A 17-year-old passenger from Des Moines in Vangkham’s vehicle was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. The passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where she was pronounced dead. She was not wearing her seatbelt.

Also injured in the crash were Vangkham and another passenger in the vehicle. Vangkham was transported by Anita Rescue to Cass County memorial Hospital while the other passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Vangkham was wearing a seatbelt while the passenger was not. The status of their injuries is unknown.

The accident remains under investigation.

The deadline is approaching for some homeowners and businesses who suffered losses during the flooding along the Missouri River to file claims.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional office in Kansas City, Mo., say flood insurance policy holders have 120 days from the date of the damage to file a claim and submit a “Proof of Loss” statement. For some, that could be as soon as Thursday.

FEMA officials say policy holders should call their insurance agent to open a claim.

The deadline is normally 60 days from the date of damage but it was extended to 120 days this year.

FEMA Administrator Beth Freeman says officials are concerned that some people have not been able to inspect their properties and may not know of the upcoming deadlines.

–AP

Press release:

Cass County is going “green” the first week in October, with the help of local 4-H club members and leaders. It may be a different kind of green, but you’re sure to notice clovers and other decorations going up in local businesses as 4-H’ers paint the town green for National 4-H Week, October 2nd through the 8th.

Club members decorate the windows of local businesses to spread the word about 4-H, and compete for the honor of “best display”. Clubs also observe 4-H week in other ways, from distributing bookmarks in local schools to wearing their 4-H tee-shirts. Cass County currently has 15 4-H clubs with more than 275 members across the county, so you’re bound to see a clover pop up somewhere near you!

National 4-H week is designed to celebrate and share the leadership, citizenship, communications and life skills that young people learn in 4-H every day across the US. 4-H Members can enroll in project areas from Animals to Technology, learning about topics that interest them while participating in activities that help them grow individually and benefit their local communities. 4-Hers pledge their “Heads, Hearts, Hands and Health” to becoming better citizens!

In addition to local club events, the Cass County Youth Council will be helping with a booth at Harvest Fest on October 8th, from 10-4 at the Rock Island Depot in downtown Atlantic. All local youth are invited to stop by and have fun at a “4-H Photo Booth” where you can dress up as your favorite 4-H project and have your picture taken while you “Choose Your Adventure with 4-H”. County Youth Coordinator Susan Oliver will answer questions about the 4-H program, and you can pick up information on joining 4-H! “I love having opportunity to get in front of people and talk about 4-H, because I get to see firsthand how much the kids grow from their experiences,” shared Oliver.

On Sunday, October 9th, Cass County 4-H Members will participate in their annual County Convention where clubs and individuals receive recognition for their accomplishments throughout the past year. This event wraps up National 4-H Week, as well as the 4-H year, and energizes the 4-H membership drive happening during the month of October. Individuals interested in joining 4-H during this enrollment time, or those with questions about the program, are encouraged to call Oliver at the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or e-mail xcass@iastate.edu.

The Audubon City Council had their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

City clerk Lora Hansen says the Council approved new IT contracts to purchase five new computers. The computers will be placed at City Hall, the Police Department, and the City Maintenance Building. Previously the public works department did not have computers. A new city website will also be designed as part of the IT contracts.

Also at the meeting last night the council discussed vacating a portion of Davis Street, which leads to a dead end. A resident had requested to vacate the street, but no action was taken on the matter as the city attorney was not present.