Economic Development

Greater Des Moines Partnership and Washington D.C.

One of the 200+ attendees to the 38th Annual Greater Des Moines Partnership Washington D.C. Fly In is Brent Willett the executive director of the Cultivation Corridor. We sat down with Brent to ask him why he's taken the time to attend.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:00pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Saving Communities One Town at a Time

Many smaller towns have trouble identifying their strengths and how to build on them. Enter Deb Brown and Becky McCray from SaveYour.Town. Here Deb talks about how they work to build on what already exists in Small Town America and defeat the "Committee of Negativity".  We also touch on jobs, immigration reform and more. Oh, and yes, she travels...
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:00pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Regulations, Growth and Small Business

We begin our conversation with Ned Flynn from Aureon about the importance of small business in America with a nod to Des Moines Area Community College and their Small Business Awards click to learn more. We then talk about regulations fostered on business and what the data says about business development and growth. If you are nodding your head in agreement...have a listen. 
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:00pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

The New American Economy - Immigration Reform

Through a bitter election cycle and afterward it would seem that immigration reform, to some, means only kicking people out of the United States rather than finding ways to create a pathway to a secure future. Enter the business, faith and social community and what is called the New American Economy. Here John Stienman talks about how hosts of individuals, from various political back-grounds, are urging a positive system that will not only improve our business climate but is also the "right thing to do".
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

News on The Foundry and Economic Development in the Historic Valley Junction

At mid-day on April 3rd about 100 people gathered for the "groundbreaking" of what is being called The Foundey near the Historic Valley Junction area of West Des Moines. Here is what you can expect from The Foundry from The Kitchen to The Hall to a new distillery. We follow that news story with a quick interview with West Des Moines Mayor Steven Gaer and Jim Miller from the Valley Junction Foundation on a recent move to help business owners and building owners fix, replace and renew their spaces. Good stuff here about small business economic development. .
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Project Labor Agreements - Local Control?

When we first read about Project Labor Agreements (PLA) and SSB 1145 working it's way through the Iowa Legislature we were intrigued as to what it meant for business, tax payers and workers. Greg Spenner from Associated Builders and Contractors contacted our office with a request to come on the air and discuss the bill and his organization. We set a date for the studio interview. After reading the documents from Mr. Spenner we then reached out to the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council (ISBCTC) president Bill Gerhard and asked if he would join us for a "point/counter-point" conversation. When we informed Mr. Spenner of this his group declined the offer. That is the back-story to this conversation.
Our guests are Andy Roberts Business Manager of the Plumbers and Fitters Local 33 and ISBCTC Vice President and Bill Gerhard, President of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council. We discuss local control, safety, costs, apprenticeship programs and jobs. We think you'll find this interesting...
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Dream Only Big Dreams - Kent Sovern on Community Development

The times are rapidly changing and a number of groups, including the Iowa AARP, are involved in some major projects that help build communities that are vibrant and approachable for people of all ages and abilities. Here Kent Sovern talks about thinking BIG and disrupting conventional wisdom to drive economic development. Oh and then there is also "Movies for Grownups".  We cover lots of ground here...enjoy. 
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Capital Crossroads 2.0 with Bethany Wilcoxon

This week the Greater Des Moines Partnership launched Capital Crossroads 2.0. We wanted you to know more abouto this far reaching program that is designed to increase the livability of Central Iowa so we reached out to Bethany Wilcoxon the program director for a peak behind the curtain. How do you improve on the first effort and what did that bring us and what is in Capital Crossroads 2.0? Here, on our newsmaker line, is Bethany. 
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940, FM-104.5 and in HD at 103.3 HD2. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Becoming a Targeted Small Business and What That Means

For years we have had hundreds of small business guests grace our microphones during the Business News Hour today we have a conversation with Jill Lippincott and Brooke Miller about how you might grow your business with the help of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Targeted Small Business Program. Who qualifies for TSB Certification? How do you get business contacts? Funding sources? We ask about that and much more. Here, for reference are some sites we discuss: IEDA-Targeted Small Business and the Iowa Source Link. And if you would like to DO BUSINESS with a Targeted Small Business here is a link to start your search! 
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940, FM-104.5 and in HD at 103.3 HD2. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Cycling, Economics, RAGBRAI and The Bike Expo

We pack a bunch of information and fun in this interview with Mark Wyatt from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and Scott Garner from RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). From trying to get Scott to fess up and share the 2017 RAGBRAI Route prior to the Route Party to the Bike Expo happening this weekend. We also talk about bicycles and public policy and how cycling has given many small rural communities a rebirth in their economic development. Told you...lots to digest here. Listen in. (Oh, and we had fun doing it!)
Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business broadcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday starting at 5:05pm on AM-940, FM-104.5 and in HD at 103.3 HD2. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications through a business relationship with The Des Moines Radio Group. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.