Author Archives: Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber

Former GMAC Employees Invited to Cedar Valley Talent Connect Job Fair

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is hosting a job and opportunity fair for former GMAC employees looking for employment and career development opportunities.

CEDAR VALLEY of IOWA (January 18, 2013)—On Monday, January 28^th, from 10am-1pm, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber (GCVAC) will host a job fair for former GMAC employees looking for new positions at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. This fair, a part of the Alliance & Chamber’s “Cedar Valley Talent Connect” program, will feature local employers who have expressed a need for talent skilled in customer service.

In addition to career opportunities, a number of higher educational institutions, including UNI and Hawkeye Community College, will be present to discuss in-demand training programs and coach interested persons through the application process.

“Good communications skills are always in high demand. The experience of the former GMAC workers combined with our low unemployment rates, make us optimistic that employment connections will be made at this event,” states Brittany Jungck, Director of Business Services with the Alliance and Chamber.

Former GMAC employees with questions about this fair can contact Brittany Jungck, Director of Business Services at the Alliance & Chamber office: (319) 232-1156. A direct link with information about this event and other Talent Connect services can be found here: http://cedarvalleyalliance.com/talentconnect

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2012 Economic Census Due Feb. 12, 2013

The Economic Census is the U.S. Government’s official five-year measure of American business and the economy. It is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, and response is required by law. Forms go out to nearly 4 million businesses, including large, medium and small companies representing all U.S. locations and industries. Respondents are asked to provide a range of operational and performance data for their companies. As part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s mission to measure America’s economy, the next Economic Census will be conducted for the year ending December 2012.

The economic census is the U.S. government’s official five-year measure of American business and the economy. It provides accurate benchmark statistics that are fundamental building blocks of economic indicators, including the gross domestic product, monthly retail sales and the producer price index. The economic census gives businesses the information they need to make informed decisions that affect America’s economy.

Learn about the Economic Census at business.census.gov
Get help with forms and reports online at econhelp.census.gov
Mark your calendar for the next webinar 1:00 pm EST on Jan. 24
More info at business.census.gove/webinar

Governor to Visit Cedar Valley

“Our Opportunity. Our Iowa.” Govenor Branstad’s Condition of the State Tour/ Cedar Valley Stop
01.24.13, 8:15 am, Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center

All Alliance & Chamber investor/members are encouraged to demonstrate the strength and vitality of the Cedar Valley business community and hear about the issues that affect you and your business by attending this special event, Thursday, January 24th. The public is invited to attend.

Highlights:

Providing Property Tax Relief
Making our Schools the Best in the Nation
Improving Iowa’s Quality of Life

Registration is appreciated. Click here.

Read the Govenors 2013 Condition of the State Address

“Our Opportunity. Our Iowa.” here.

GCVAC SETS 2013 CEDAR VALLEY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS

WATERLOO/CEDAR FALLS, IOWA (Jan., 2013) – The Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber recently adopted the 2013 Cedar Valley Agenda for Economic Progress. Assembled by its Government Relations Committee, local economic development partners, and its staff team of the Alliance & Chamber, the Agenda, assembled annually, reflects the priority issues requiring action by the Iowa Legislature to advance the business and civic interests of the Cedar Valley economic area.

The five areas of focus are: (1) economic development programs and incentives, (2) talent and workforce development and recruitment, (3) improving Iowa’s tax climate, (4) education transformation, and (5) critical physical infrastructure.

“Our Iowa agenda is focused on business climate, competitiveness, and critical workforce issues, said Steve Firman, Director of Government Relations of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber. “It’s also about making Iowa and the Cedar Valley more competitive and attractive for starting and expanding businesses of all sizes, and building a career,” Firman concludes.

The agenda was formally announced during a December 5th Pre-session Legislative Reception event for the Cedar Valley delegation of the Iowa legislature. The annual reception is traditionally co-sponsored by the Alliance & Chamber, Cedar Valley Manufacturers Associations, and REC of Butler-Bremer-Buchanan-Grundy Counties- each of which unveil their respective agendas for the session – and hosted by the Isle Casino Hotel – Waterloo. The legislators attending the event this year included: Sen. Bill Dix and Sen. Bill Dotzler, Rep. Pat Grassley, Rep. Sandy Salmon, Rep. Walt Rogers, and Rep. Bob Kressig.

The Government Relations Committee is chaired by Mike McCrary of Lincoln Savings Bank. The Legislative Agenda can be accessed at the Alliance & Chamber Government Relations web page Iowa Prosperity Project-Cedar Valley.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is a regional economic and community development organization focused on increasing economic vitality and improving the quality of life in the Cedar Valley economic region. Cedar Valley area business and community leaders created the Alliance to align economic development efforts and increase the region’s competitiveness in the global economy. Combined, the organization represents over 900 businesses with 50,000 employees.

Kate Washut Appointed to Technology Association of Iowa Board

Kate Washut, Partner at Cedar Falls technology and marketing firm Far Reach – a Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber investor, was recently appointed to the board of directors for the Technology Association of Iowa.

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is a professional service organization that strives to strengthen Iowa’s technology ecosystem and enhance the state’s reputation as a technically advanced place where world-class technology firms and organizations thrive. TAI’s Board of Directors provides leadership and vision for the organization and is responsible for establishing policy initiatives concerning TAI’s financial health and activities.

More info:
http://farreachinc.com
http://www.technologyiowa.org

Iowa’s Business Climate Great Across Sectors and for Start Ups

Great profile of IOWA biz climate in Delta Sky mag. Penned by Cedar Valley’s Courier writer Jim Offner. Read it here.

GCVAC Encourages Legislators to Work Together for Economic Growth

“The 2013 legislative session can do a great deal to promote economic growth, but the promise it holds can only be fulfilled if the policy makers work toward a shared goal of increasing economic growth, creating more well-paying jobs,” stated GCVAC CEO, Steve Dust in a recent Courier article. Dust, along with business leaders from across the state are optimistic about the amount of attention tax issues that effect business growth are getting from both sides of the isle. Read the entire artcle by ROD BOSHART, here.

Hydrite Chemical Company expands Waterloo facility

December 27, 2012 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board today awarded financial assistance to three companies for job creation and expansion projects. Today’s awards will assist in the creation of 96 jobs, retention of nine jobs and will result in over $9.9 million in new capital investment for the state.

The board held a telephonic meeting today to take action on three of the seven projects that were to be considered at the Dec. 20 meeting that was cancelled due to weather. The other projects will be reviewed at future meetings.

Hydrite Chemical Company expands Waterloo facility

Hydrite Chemical Company, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of chemical products in the U.S., plans to expand its existing Waterloo facility to increase production capacity with the assistance of board-approved tax benefits. The project is expected to create nine jobs, retain one job and represents a capital investment of $8.83 million.

Historic Tax Credits Awarded To The Green@TechWorks Campus

Iowa Cultural Affairs – State Historic Preservation Office has notified FDP, developer of The Green@TechWorks that $8.8 Million of Historic Tax Credits have been awarded to the project. The state office made the award based on a design that honored the industrial past of the Tech II structure while incorporating the features of the modern …business hotel, and office and educational spaces of The Green@TechWorks project. In addition to the work of Waterloo-based InVision architecture, FDP relied on Tallgrass Historians of Iowa City. Tallgrass Historians also assisted the developer in the process of nominating the site for the National Register of Historic Places.

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