July 19, 2024 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today (Friday), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for two companies, which will assist in the creation of eight jobs and result in $28.5 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Minden and Sioux City.

C&A Scales to rebuild and expand Minden facility
C&A Scales Service, Inc. manufactures and installs bulk weigh grain loadout systems and also sells and installs truck scales, truck automation and truck probe sampling systems. After a tornado destroyed the manufacturing facility in Minden earlier this year, the company plans to rebuild as well as incorporate previous expansion plans. The project represents a $2.5 million capital investment and is expected to create four jobs at a qualifying wage of $25.36 per hour. The board awarded the project tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Cargill to update Sioux City facility
Cargill offers food, agricultural, financial and industrial products to a global market, with operations in 70 countries and regions. The company plans to construct a new building, make upgrades and add additional rail service to expand their soybean processing capacity at their Sioux City location. The board awarded the $26 million capital investment project tax benefits through the HQJ program. The project is expected to create four jobs at a qualifying wage of $27.07 per hour.

IEDA also recently approved assistance from Iowa’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Innovation Fund for five startups in Ames, Brighton, Cedar Rapids, Urbandale and West Des Moines:

Ames’ Genvax Technologies, an animal vaccine company, has developed proprietary next generation RNA and nanoparticle vaccines. Their first product is to be a vaccine for swine influenza, with technology that uses a cell-free encapsulation system that can be developed further for custom, herd-specific vaccines. The company was awarded a $250,000 Innovation Acceleration Launch Fund loan for equipment, construction and other testing needs.

The Agenda. Period, Inc., doing business in Brighton, has created a comprehensive mobile application to better understand and navigate an individual’s menstrual cycle. The multifaceted platform integrates cycle and symptom tracking with resources to support hormonal health and overall well-being. The company was awarded a $175,000 Demonstration Fund loan for product buildout and refinement, market planning and entry activities, and key personnel.

Stratafolio, Inc., headquartered in Cedar Rapids, is a cloud-based SaaS product for companies that own and manage commercial real estate. The technology allows real-estate organizations to streamline their operations, reducing manual entry and increasing organizational profitability. The company was awarded a $100,000 Innovation Acceleration Launch Fund loan for market expansion and key personnel.

HUDU, Inc., based in Urbandale, is a centralized online marketplace for odd job services. The platform combines an innovative competitive bid approach with artificial intelligence to offer a solution to the question of, “who do you know.” HUDU is committed to creating a better gig economy. The company was awarded a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for product refinement, market planning and analysis, and key personnel.

West Des Moines-based Coviance, Inc. developed cloud-native lending automation technology software applications for community banks and credit unions, specifically in the home equity and mortgage lending space. The company was awarded a $1 million Innovation Acceleration Expansion Fund loan for IP development and evaluation and key personnel.

The SSBCI program’s Innovation Fund increases assistance available through Iowa’s innovation continuum to support entrepreneurs through concept, launch and expansion. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the SSBCI Review Committee to the IEDA director for approval. The committee met on July 11, 2024, to review eligible applications.

DES MOINES—Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Friday) announced that some state government systems and employee devices have been impacted by a global outage caused by an automatic software update from CrowdStrike, which the state uses for malware and virus protection.

The Iowa Department of Management’s Division of Information Technology operates a 24/7 security operations center. At approximately 12:30 a.m. today, the security center identified the CrowdStrike error, and a temporary fix was applied at 1:04 a.m. At approximately 1:30 a.m., a formal fix from CrowdStrike was issued. The quick action by the security team limited the initial impact of the outage to approximately 1,400 servers and 3,300 workstations, or less than 20 percent of all devices across executive branch departments.

IT staff are working now to restore all systems and devices and will continue to do so around the clock. It’s anticipated that systems will be fully restored over the weekend.

In the meantime, Iowans should be aware that some system outages could temporarily impact them today. The Iowa Department of Transportation reported Iowa DOT services including driver’s license and ID issuance, vehicle registration and titling, oversize and overweight permitting, and International Fuel Tax (IFTA) and Registration (IRP) were being impacted by the IT outage that has been impacting businesses across the country. The DOT says they are working to restore service as quickly as possible. However, they cannot guarantee all services will be available until the outage is under control and we can restore any necessary connections.

Additional updates will be provided as necessary.

(Radio Iowa) – Southpark Mall, a retail hub in Spencer that was hit by flash flooding a month ago, will reopen according to an executive with the company that owns the property.

“We’re looking for all of our tenants to come back,” Steven Williams, a senior vice president for Security National Properties, said. “We have commitment from all of our nationals and anchors. They are heavily involved in construction and coordinating with us right now to get these stores open as soon as possible for the local residents. We know they need places to shop and we are pushing to get this mall back open so we can serve the local community.”

The Southpark Mall in Spencer was flooded with well over a foot of water. “Sixteen inches of water throughout, so that means we have to do a four-foot flood cut throughout the entire mall and anything that touched that water has to come out,” Williams says. “We’re looking at this as an opportunity to improve this asset. Flooring, walls will all be new and fresh. Some of these stores that have dated finishes…they may be looking to upgrade to their more modern prototype.”

Earlier this week, the Facebook page for “The Palms Movie Theaters” at the mall in Spencer announced “incredible strides had been made in post-flood recovery efforts” and demo work is nearly done. Williams says Hobby Lobby, JC Penneys and Dunham’s are among the anchor stores that have committed to reopening, too.

(Radio Iowa) – Cyclists are converging in western Iowa this weekend for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, commonly known as RAGBRAI. Glenwood is the starting point for the 434 mile route. Glenwood City Administrator Amber Farnan expects the town of about five-thousand to more than triple in size on Saturday night, bringing along some much-welcome business. “It’s maybe a longer-lasting economic boost just in the fact that you get the name of these local businesses out to people who wouldn’t normally know about them,” she says. “Day of, I think you’ll definitely see some local businesses make some money. They’re not going to get rich, but they will enjoy a nice weekend, I believe.”

Jennifer Uphoff, of Glenwood, will be hosting 30 RAGBRAI riders. “We have a group of one bus with 20 people. I just know they are setting up ten tents, and then we have another bus with ten people coming to stay at our house — so yes, it’ll be an exciting weekend,” she says, with a laugh. Riders will exit Glenwood Sunday morning, headed to spend Sunday night in Red Oak.

The other overnight stops are in Atlantic, Winterset, Knoxville, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant and Burlington. This the 51st year for RAGBRAI and while this year’s route
is the shortest ever — it’s also the hilliest.

(Reporting by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Participants in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI ®) will be riding into Atlantic Monday, July 22nd. Preparations have been made and now residents need to be prepared to change their normal routine (with regard to parking and getting around), as the mass of bicycles and their support vehicles swarm the town. Support vehicles will arrive as early as 7-a.m.,  Monday, to set up camps and park. Officials anticipate riders will begin rolling into town around noon, Monday. All riders and support vehicles will be in town by 5-p.m.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce reminds business owners, riders may come into your stores and shop, and they may also ask to use your restrooms or faucets. You are welcome to accommodate them or refer them to a map which highlights the kybos (porta-potties). Riders are encouraged to fill up their waters at City Park Shelter or the Library. Riders are typically very courteous, and will respect your wishes.

The Chamber has issued the final list of road closures and no parking restrictions (shown below), shuttle information, information for businesses, a map of the stations and other necessary information, such as vendor data and restroom locations. They’ve also provided details about Atlantipalooza. You can find all that information in documents shown below. The Chamber says parking will be limited, and streets will be congested. If you can shuttle to work, that would be a great option. If you are already parked in a City parking lot, you do NOT need to move your vehicle.

Road Closure and No Parking requests for July 22 & 23, 2024.

Monday July 22nd-Tuesday July 23rd starting at 6AM-2AM (or when vendors and entertainment areas are cleared)

Chestnut Street: from the Court House Driveway access in the 700 BLK to 2nd street. (Used for stage/entertainment area, and vendors.)
6th Street: from Locust to Walnut. (Used for entry to the entertainment area, Bike parking, and vendors.)
Poplar Street: From 7th Street to 5th Street. (Used for bike parking and portable bathrooms)
7th Street *already approved by the Iowa DOT*: From Poplar to Walnut Street. (Used for entertainment area and crowed area while the bands play.)
10th Street: At intersection with 7th street for Eastbound, traffic. (Only during peak times of riders getting to and leaving town.)
14th Street: From Olive to Plum. (On Tuesday the 23rd while riders are leaving town.)

Temporary no parking (will be put out on Sunday, July 21st and picked up after riders have left town on Tuesday, July 23rd.)

10th Street: from 7th to Olive, North Side of Rd
6th Street: from Sunnyside Lane to Polar Street – North side
Roosevelt Drive: from Olive to 14th Street – Both sides of the street
Palm Street: from 9th to 10th, West side
East Mahogany at 9th Street: North & West Sides
West Mahogany at 10th Street: West Side
Ed Podolak Dr: from Linn to Olive, North Side
Linn Street: from 10th to Ed Podolak Dr, West & East Sides
14th by Heritage House Sign: South Side
Olive Street/Roosevelt Drive: 100 Ft North on East Side
10th/Olive: Half Block in all directions

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – A draft horse is still recovering after the Animal Rescue League of Iowa said someone called about a very thin horse pulling a carriage in downtown Des Moines. The Percheron Horse, named Bruce, was attached to a carriage on June 22 when officers with the ARL arrived and said they clearly saw he was malnourished. Officers reported being able to see every rib, and his hips and spine protruded from beneath his skin. The horse also had small sores and open wounds across his body.

A draft horse is still recovering after the Animal Rescue League of Iowa said someone called about a very thin horse pulling a carriage in downtown Des Moines.(Animal Rescue League of Iowa)

The temperatures on that day were around 90 degrees, and ARL officers said the horse was dripping in sweat and his nostrils were flaring. The horse’s owner, Ramsey Zimmerman, has been charged with livestock neglect. On July 12, a judge ruled against allowing the horse to be returned to Zimmerman.

The horse remains at the ARL’s Second Chance Ranch, where he continues to recover.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Riders associated with the largest river-to-river (Missouri-to-Mississippi) bicycle ride in Iowa will be traveling from west to east this coming week, and the Atlantic Police Department suggests residents in the community, and persons from around the area who may have business in town during RAGBRAI® (July 22^nd and 23rd),  find alternate driving routes. Riders will be entering Cass County throughout the day, Monday, and exiting through at least mid-day on Tuesday.

Authorities ask you to “Please pay close attention to the roadways and the significant amount of increased traffic, to include bicyclists! Give yourself plenty of extra time during your daily commute(s).”

Maps of the bike route through Cass County can be found on RAGBRAI’s downloadable maps site, and the turn-by-turn mapping option, on their website. Please see https://ragbrai.com/maps/ for additional information and more clear mapping options.

Here is a synopsis of the route: