The Iowa office of the U-S Small Business Administration reports a slight increase in the number of loans to new and expanding businesses in the state compared to last year, though there was a drop in the overall dollar amount. Jayne Armstrong took over as director of the state S-B-A office’s operations earlier this year and says she’s making a few course corrections. “We’re changing some of the ways we do business, particularly our marketing and outreach,” Armstrong says. “We’re trying to be much more visible within the community and to market ourselves more to the small business community in addition to the banking community.”

The S-B-A’s fiscal year ended at the end of September and during the year, loans were made to 444 Iowa businesses. That’s up from 440 loans the previous year. The total value of this year’s loans to Iowa businesses was nearly 135-million dollars, down from almost 150-million a year ago. “Our overall lending, the dollar volume dropped this past fiscal year,” Armstrong says. “You’re going to have fluctuations of some years bigger loans and smaller loans other years. You have no control over that. It’s really what the small business community, what the demand is.”

The dollar amounts aren’t a big concern, she says, but the number of loans is more significant. Other important figures are that this year’s S-B-A loans created more than 15-hundred jobs in Iowa and retained another three-thousand. Loans were made in 65 of Iowa’s 99 counties. By far, the most loans were made during the year in Polk County, the home of Des Moines and the state’s most populous metro area. Polk County had 106 loans, followed by Linn County with 56 loans, Black Hawk County with 29 and Scott County with 25.

“We feel there’s some untapped potential for SBA in the Sioux City, Davenport and Dubuque markets in particular,” Armstrong says. “You’re going to have a much stronger presence in those areas as we move forward.” During the fiscal year, loans to minority- and women-owned businesses in Iowa rose compared to the previous year, while the number of loans to veterans fell slightly. Access to capital is one of the biggest challenges facing small business, according to Armstrong. She adds, more than 95-percent of Iowa’s businesses are small businesses.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — A school bus driver in central Iowa is accused of assaulting a student on a packed bus, and authorities say riders recorded video of the incident. Johnston Police Department Lieutenant Lynn Aswegan says 60-year-old Robert Scarbrough, of West Des Moines, was arrested Thursday. He’s being held at the Polk County Jail.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — A man faces several charges in connection with a school bus crash in eastern Iowa that sent 32 students to the hospital. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year-old Monte Klink was served an arrest warrant Thursday on charges that include serious injury by motor vehicle and operating while intoxicated. Authorities say Klink failed to yield at an intersection near Manchester on October 1st. His SUV collided with a West Delaware School District bus.

SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — Presidential candidate Donald Trump says he’s pleased with his performance during the third GOP debate, even if the media won’t give him credit. Trump told several thousand supporters at a rally at the Nugget hotel-casino in Sparks, Nevada that all the online surveys conducted Wednesday evening show he was the clear winner.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Charlie Strong has Texas trending upward. Paul Rhoads is looking to get Iowa State moving in a similar direction — and keep his job in the process. The Longhorns have won two straight, including a victory over Number 14 Oklahoma, ahead of Saturday’s visit to Iowa State.

Atlantic businessman James “Jim” R. Tyler is among three well-known professionals who will be inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame, in December.

James “Jim” Tyler

The Greater Des Moines Committee will recognize Tyler, along with Charese E. Yanney, a Managing Partner in Guarantee Roofing, Siding and Insulation Company of Sioux City, and James W. Hubbell III, a central Iowa real estate and land developer, as the 2015 Inductees to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored during the Greater Des Moines Committee’s annual Black Tie Dinner to be held at The Meadows Events and Conference Center on Thursday, Dec. 3rd, 2015.

The Iowa Business Hall of Fame honors the achievements of Iowans who have made outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of Iowa’s business climate. Jim Tyler is the second generation family owner of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which was founded in 1909. He took over management of the company in 1958. Within 10 years the company grew from 16 to 40 employees and added a number of soda brands to its bottling lineup. In 1975, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling purchased the Des Moines area Coca-Cola franchise, which increased the brand’s presence and popularity. In 1989, Jim led the way as the company’s Des Moines operation moved into a larger warehouse and sales center on Hickman Road in Waukee. James became the company’s chairman in 1991. His son Kirk was named President of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, that same year.

Inductees to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame are selected on merit rather than endorsement. Past Hall of Fame honorees under the leadership of the current Chair serves as the selection committee. The criteria for selection are as follows:

• Business Leadership: The nominated individual should lead or have led a business that has provided valued jobs and economic development to his/her community and the state; creating both wealth and workforce opportunity.
• Community Development Impact: The nominated individual should have made an impact by improving the economies of the community and the state through his/her leadership in such organizations as Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations or centers of education.
• Community Volunteerism/Leadership: The nominated individual should have personally given of his/her time and financial resources for the betterment of the community through support of charities and organizations.
• Strategic Leadership: The nominated individual should have contributed to community economic growth through visionary leadership, community problem-solving, and building strategic alliances.
• Business Recognition: The nominated individual should be recognized by his/her peers as a business leader.

The Greater Des Moines Committee was formed in 1907 by a group of 30 local business leaders. Today, the Committee consists of 121 members and provides an opportunity for business leaders to come together for an information exchange about important topics in the community, the state, and the nation. The Committee founded the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 1975 to honor the achievements of Iowans who have made outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of Iowa’s business climate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — First National Bank of Omaha is reissuing debit cards to some of its customers in seven states in because of a data breach at an unidentified national firm. Bank spokesman Kevin Langin declined to identify the business that experienced the breach because the problem is still being investigated by authorities.

Langin says the extent of the data breach hasn’t been determined. Langin refused to say how many new cards the bank has issued to its customers in Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Texas.