Economic Development

Is Your Community Walkable?

Dan Burden is a "walk-ability" expert who came to Des Moines to help with a forum on neighborhoods and making them more walkable. Here he is with AARP - Iowa director Kent Sovern talking about how the ability to walk in a neighborhood increases the value for homes and business.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Cycling, Windsor Heights and Future Plans

We've spent considerable time on the economic impact that bicycling and the Des Moines Metro Trail System has on business. The City of Windsor Heights has been listening and recently they have come up with a structural design for a bicycle center that would be located on a very busy trail in Colby Park. Sheena Danzer and Matt Reiff are with the Windsor Heights Young Professionals (WHYPro) group associated with the Windsor Heights Chamber.  They visited about a fund-raising event on July 10 and how they hope to help this dream become a reality.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

The Des Moines West Side Chamber with Dave Nagel

It is a sprawling section of the near west side of Des Moines and Dave Nagel and his wife Carolyn are Directors of the Des Moines West Side Chamber. What they do and the diverse nature of the area are two of several points to this interview.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Mike Colwell on the Business Innovation Zone, Funding and More

We enjoy it when Mike Colwell from the Business Innovation Zone comes by for a visit.  Today we talked about the brick/mortar changes that have hit business, niche businesses that still do great in retail because they don't sell a commodity and funding start-ups.  Always a good conversation! Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Greene County Growth and the New Casino for Jefferson

In what some are calling a surprising vote, today the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved, on a 3-2 vote, a casino license for the Greene Country Community of Jefferson, Iowa. We visited with Chad Schreck the Executive Director of the Midwest Partnership the economic development arm for Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie counties as to what this, and other incentives, mean for his area.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page. 

Mayor Steve Gaer on West Des Moines, Medical Marijuana and More

We invited Mayor Steve Gaer of West Des Moines in for a chat about the economic development of his community, the future of new developments, bike trails, malls and a reflection with regard to the the new Iowa Medical Marijuana Law which he was instrumental in shepherding. Here is our wide ranging discussion.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

City of Johnston with Mayor Paula Dierenfeld

The City of Johnston has doubled it's population over the past ten years and now poised for more. This is our conversation with Mayor Paula Dierenfeld about economic development, the challenges of growth and the multi-million dollar Gateway Project.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Altoona and Skip Conkling

He was in business for 42 years and is now the Mayor of the "controlled growth community" of Altoona.  Sure, tell that to Facebook who recently developed some huge data farms in the community.  Skip talks about his town, the changes he's seen and what might just be next on the horizon.  Skip Conkling part of our Metro Monday Mayor segment.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Creating an Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs

When the press release came out, "Creating an Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs" it caught our eye and wouldn't you know it, Mike Colwell from the Business Innovation Zone was the contact. Here we talk about the building blocks of an ecosystem for entrepreneurs, what yet needs to be done and who is working on the project.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.

Iowa Trails - We've Got an App For That

We spent some time with Hannah Inman from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and learned about the funding of their program and a new app being released on May 1 that will guide Iowa trail users from point to point and assist in the economic impact the trail system in Iowa has on business.Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is heard Monday - Friday from 5PM to 6PM on 1350-KRNT, Des Moines.  Connect with us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more fun, here is our Facebook Page.