• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Business / Some businesses see a boost from the Iowa Caucuses

Some businesses see a boost from the Iowa Caucuses

January 3, 2012 By Matt Kelley

The Iowa Caucuses provide a boost for many businesses every four years as presidential candidates and media members flock to the state. One Des Moines restaurant, Centro, has reported a 10% increase in revenue during caucus years.

Chris Diebel is marketing director for Orchestrate Hospitality, which runs about a dozen restaurants and hotels in central Iowa. “The caucuses have a great impact on our businesses, specifically in the downtown (Des Moines) restaurant core,” Diebel said.

“This is a huge spot for people coming in, not only for the press covering the Caucuses, but also for star gazers who want to see the press.”

Iowa State University Economist Dave Swenson doesn’t believe this election cycle will pack the same punch as 2008 since only one party’s nomination is in play. He said the spending around the competitive 2008 caucuses added up to just about 1/100th of the state’s GDP — or about 230 jobs.

“It’s not a big deal. It doesn’t drive our economy,” Swenson said. “But what it does do is provide a lot of exposure for the state of Iowa. To a certain degree, it covers our issues that people think are important.” That’s why many candidates make promises to support federal policies that benefit agriculture. Dave Miller is with the Iowa Farm Bureau.

“We care a lot about biofuels policy. The Caucuses allow us an opportunity to have interaction and debate with regard to that type of policy,” Miller said. According to Miller, favorable federal policies have helped grow Iowa’s agriculture sector at a time when other sectors of the economy are struggling.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Business, News Tagged With: Democratic Party, Food, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

Iowa’s governor approves liability limits for trucking industry

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa AD Gary Barta announces retirement

Iowa to visit Creighton in Gavitt Tipoff Games

Iowa and Indiana collide Thursday at B1G baseball tournament

Former Hawkeye joins Lisa Bluder’s staff at Iowa

Iowa rolls in B1G Tournament opener

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC