Unemployment claims are down for the third straight week. Iowa Workforce Development says the number of ongoing unemployment claims dropped by 5,072 in the last week -- and are down by nearly 30,000 claims in the last three weeks. Ongoing claims have dropped by nearly 85,000 since peaking in … [Read more...]
Creighton survey shows Midwest economy slowly recovering
Iowa's economy is gradually recovering from the deep drop caused by the pandemic, according to the monthly Creighton University survey of supply managers and business leaders in Iowa -- and in eight other states. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the Midwest region overall is inching back … [Read more...]
Jewell celebrates the return of its grocery store
A ribbon cutting was held in the Hamilton County community of Jewell this morning for the reopening of the town's grocery store. The Jewell Market is back in business after the community's residents rallied to get the store reopened. Garren Zanker is the store manager. "I think once the store was … [Read more...]
Jobless claims drop in the last week
Unemployment claims dropped again in the last week. Iowa Workforce Development says continuing unemployment claims were down by 4,970 from the previous week, to 110,960. The number of first-time unemployment claims were down by 1,370, coming in at 7,441. Manufacturing continued to see the most … [Read more...]
River towns face double whammy from 2019 floods and now the pandemic
A year after record floods washed over the region, some Mississippi River communities are struggling financially during the pandemic. Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher co-chairs the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative. He and other mayors are urging Congress to pay cities for what they've … [Read more...]
Trying to sell a house? UI study finds virtual tours will bring more $$$
A University of Iowa study finds virtual home tours are a big factor in selling houses at prices two-to-three percent higher than similar homes without online tours. Gautam Pant, a UI professor of business analytics, says they studied thousands of real estate transactions in southern California, … [Read more...]
Governor extends business restrictions, as restaurant industry targets rule breakers
Governor Kim Reynolds has extended her public health emergency proclamation that requires social distancing measures for businesses and other establishments for another month. The extension comes as the President of the Iowa Restaurant Association is calling out establishments that aren't in … [Read more...]
Unemployment claims take biggest drop since pandemic began
Continuing unemployment claims dropped again last week. Iowa Workforce Development says the number of continuing claims was down by almost 18,000 from the previous week to 116,810. IWD says that is the biggest drop in ongoing claims since the start of the pandemic. The number of first-time … [Read more...]
Millions in federal funds approved for business loans in 62 Iowa counties
Ten Iowa organizations are splitting just over $13 million in federal grants, to be distributed as loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs who've taken a financial hit during the pandemic. Rick Hunsaker is executive director of the Region XII Council of Governments, which is getting a $2 … [Read more...]
Unemployment claims up in the last week
The number of new and continuing unemployment claims both increased in the last week. Iowa Workforce Development says the first-time claims for unemployment hit 11,125 in the last week. That's up by 1,195 and came after the U.S. Labor Department adjusted the previously reported number for the … [Read more...]