Tag Archives: iowa

Cedar Falls Community Main Street

Cedar Falls Community Main Street
Announces New Associate Events and Promotions Coordinator

Cedar Falls, IA – The Cedar Falls Community Main Street Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Emily Yaddof began her duties at Community Main Street August 1 and will be serving as the new Associate Events and Promotions Coordinator.

Yaddof was raised in Northeast Iowa in rural McGregor. She attended Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in Marketing and a degree in Technical Communication. After college, she returned to Northeast Iowa, accepting a position with the Clayton County Development Group where she spent almost two years promoting tourism and economic development opportunities in Clayton County.

Yaddof is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Cedar Falls Community Main Street team “I have heard very good things about Community Main Street and I am looking forward to the new opportunities my role as Associate Events and Promotions Coordinator will bring.”

Cedar Falls Community Main Street, Inc. is a volunteer, non-profit organization established to foster economic vitality while preserving and promoting the historic image and character of the downtown.

Opportunities Left by PFG

The well documented but still emerging bankruptcy of PFGBEST placed the Cedar Valley of Iowa in the national headlines. In the wake, nearly 200 people were left out of work, financial obligations to global investors, suppliers, and a variety of other interests, including the GCVAC remain unmet. Though this event and its fallout present challenges, it also opens doors of opportunity for Cedar Valley businesses and GCVAC to respond with practical and creative solutions.

A state of the art building filled with advanced information technology infrastructure is now available for growth of a Cedar Valley business, or a new corporate citizen. Further, the availability of former PFG and MyVerona employees provides an opportunity for local companies to hire well trained and highly skilled talent in a wide range of jobs.

To facilitate this, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber established Cedar Valley Talent Connect. In cooperation with our local economic development partners, workforce agencies and the GCVAC investor base, Talent Connect facilitates the match of PFG’s displaced job seekers with businesses looking to hire through job fairs, and web-based tools for sharing resumes and job postings. Beyond the immediate circumstances, Cedar Valley Talent Connect will be further developed and deployed to respond to ongoing demand for skilled, talented people in the Cedar Valley.

The national and regional media attention is providing opportunities to accentuate our talented people and expanding businesses. By concentrating on helping you, our investors, to match your open job opportunities with available PFG talent, and seeking future uses for the extraordinary, available headquarters building, we’re working to keep the demise of PFG from overshadowing the great things that are happening all over the Cedar Valley economic area. We will continue to use the attention drawn by this unfortunate event to present the stories of success of our businesses and talented people of the Cedar Valley. Our – your – resilience and determination to succeed is the correct, lasting storyline.

GREATER CEDAR VALLEY ALLIANCE & CHAMBER LAUNCHES

Tuesday, July 17^th, The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber hosted a Campaign Kick-off event to launch their Fulfilling the Vision2 campaign and to unveil their five-year Plan for Regional Growth . The event, held at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, was hosted by Campaign Chairman Thad Nevitt of Deere & Company. A broad-based program celebrated recent accomplishments and Alliance economic development activities presented by Alliance & Chamber CEO, Steve Dust. A presentation of The Plan for Regional Economic Growth was given by Alliance & Chamber Board Chair -elect Kris Hansen. Outgoing Alliance & Chamber Board Chair Hugh Field also made comments.

Among those in attendance were regional businesses and institutions who have already made commitments to the current campaign, those who have participated in the past as well as potential investors in the campaign. The Fulfilling the Vision 2 campaign funds the ongoing efforts of the Alliance & Chamber to support existing local business, attract new business, and aid in the retention, development and attraction of talent to the greater Cedar Valley Region of Iowa.

FtV2 is the follow-up campaign to the successful Fulfilling the Vision initiative of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber. With this new campaign, the Alliance & Chamber will be raising the Cedar Valley to a greater power.

Goals of the campaign are as follows; to develop and strengthen a technology and innovation based regional economy, to act as a catalyst and focal point of effective regional action on economic issues of importance to businesses and institutions throughout the Cedar Valley economic area, and to increase the effectiveness of Alliance organizations.

These goals will be reached through focused efforts in six areas: Workforce and Talent, Business Growth, Advocacy for the Cedar Valley, Increasing Cedar Valley Regional Collaboration, Cedar Valley Business Intelligence and Economic Performance Data, and Reporting Our Success.

The FtV2 Campaign Goal

The goal to raise $4.25 million through the FtV2 campaign will be invested over the next five years in our work to attain the business development goals.

FtV2 ROI Estimates

Most importantly, The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber estimates that their efforts will generate 100 opportunities for business expansion, retention and recruitment, at an average of $5 million in value. They are also projecting new jobs with a target floor rate of $19 an hour. These jobs should influence produce $66,975,00 in annual total earnings adding $37,021,302 in annual area consumer expenditures and up to $5,787,220 in annual deposits for area banks.

A website and video have been produced for the campaign and can be viewed at www.FtV2.org.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber (GCVA&C) is a private, not-for-profit corporation whose investors and members include businesses, institutions, governments and professionals dedicated to continuously improving the economic environment and quality of life in the Cedar Valley.

The Cedar Valley-generally encompassing a 30-mile radius around the Waterloo/Cedar Falls metro-is one economy comprised of thriving corporations, enterprise-level institutions and locally owned businesses, as well as talented, skilled people pursuing careers and enjoying life.

Help for PFG and MyVerona Employees

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, along with other agencies is hosting an information meeting for PFG & MyVerona employees at Hawkey Community College, Tama Hall on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012, from 1:00 -3:00pm. The meeting will be lead by Iowa Workfoce Development and about a dozen other agencies. Read more here.

CBE Group to reoccupy Waterloo building, could add up to 350 jobs

The Courier reports that the CBE Group announced Friday that it will re-occupy its building located at 4140 Kimball Ave. in Waterloo allowing the company the ability to bring more jobs to the Cedar Valley

Acquisition Expected to Bring More Tech Jobs to the Cedar Valley

After more than a year of working collaboratively, Phantom EFX, a Cedar Falls, Iowa company that publishes and develops casino games for social, casual and mobile gaming entertainment, was acquired Friday by WMS Gaming of Waukegan, IL, a publicly traded Fortune 500 company.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported that Phantom EFX’s 35 employees will remain in Cedar Falls, and that they hope to add more tech jobs within the next 18 months. Aaron Schurman of Phantom EFX anticipates the Cedar Falls operation to double in size.

Cedar Valley Chamber Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Five years ago today, the election results were tallied and we found well in excess of 90% of our members had approved the merger of the two Chambers! This was, and still is acknowledged as a significant step for the businesses of our region to achieve this level of unity, recognizing that our economic interests are mutual, regardless of where we’re located. Good job! To our business and civic leaders who led – and still lead – the efforts to act in unity in matters relating to the economy and overall civic progress.

Economic Indicators Continue To Improve

DES MOINES, IOWA – June 1, 2012. Expected levels of sales, capital spending, and employment for Iowa’s largest employers have all improved as business leaders express a positive economic outlook for

the coming six months. The 2012Q2 Iowa Business Council (IBC) Overall Economic Outlook Survey Index (OSI) rose to 68.3 – two points higher than three months ago (66.3) and three points ahead of this time last year (65.3). This represents a historic high for the Outlook Survey Index, surpassing the previous OSI standard of 66.7 set in 2011Q1. The 2012Q2 survey was completed by 20 of the corporate members of the Iowa Business Council during the second half of May, the results of which were released today.

The 2012Q2 Sales OSI is 73, two points higher than last quarter (71) and four points better than one year ago (69). One hundred percent of the CEOs expect steady or increased sales over the next six months – substantially higher (20%), higher (50%), or no change (30%). Zero percent of survey respondents expect sales levels to decrease – lower (0%) or substantially lower (0%).

The 2012Q2 Capital Spending OSI is 69, which is two points above last quarter (67) and five points higher than the 2011Q2 survey (64). Ninety-five percent of IBC corporate members expect steady or increased capital spending levels through November 2012 – substantially higher (25%), higher (30%), or no change (40%). Five percent of survey respondents expect capital spending, i.e., investments in facilities and equipment, to decrease – lower (5%) or substantially lower (0%).

The 2012Q2 Employment OSI is 63, two points ahead of three months ago (61) and the same as this time last year (63). This result matches the Outlook Survey Index high for Employment of 63 first set in 2008Q1 and equaled again in 2011Q2. Ninety percent expect hiring levels for the next six months to remain steady or grow – substantially higher (10%), higher (40%), or no change (40%). Ten percent expect employment needs to decrease – lower (10%) or substantially lower (0%).

“Iowa business leaders are clearly experiencing an improving economy and have a positive outlook. This bodes well for Iowa companies and their respective supply chains and employees,” said Stan Askren, the Chairman, President, and CEO of HNI Corporation in Muscatine, and 2012 Chair of the Iowa Business Council.

The Economic Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly by the Iowa Business Council to informIowabusinesses and Iowans about projected trends in the state’s economy, which may prove useful for business and economic planning purposes.

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 24 members are the top executives of 20 of the largest businesses in the state, the three Regent university presidents, and Iowa’s largest banking association. Founded in 1985, the Council’s purpose is to focus the personal commitment of its members in active leadership roles on major initiatives that offer opportunity to enhance Iowa’s economic vitality and improve the lives of Iowans. Council members identify economic issues, evaluate options, and assist in implementing solutions through collaborative public/private partnerships. Collectively, these companies and institutions employ over a quarter million Iowans and have committed billions of dollars in capital investment to the state. On an annual basis, several hundred million dollars in financial contributions and thousands of volunteer hours are directed to numerous charitable causes around Iowa. IBC members also lead in technology innovation with billions of dollars spent and grants procured for research and development. The Business Council focuses its efforts primarily in areas related to advanced technology, continuous process improvement, economic and workforce development, education excellence, health care and wellness, and operations continuity and security. Its representation reaches across the state – from borders north and south to rivers east and west. For more information, please visit the IBC Web site at www.iowabusinesscouncil.org.

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