Economic Development

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.

The Des Moines Metro Tech World with Marco Santana

We continue our "All Tech Thursday" discussion with Marco Santana from the Des Moines Register. We visit about the "Tri-Techta" that went on this week from the Iowa Technology Association: The Prometheus Awards, Pitch & Grow and I2Iowa and more.  And, yes, we did lots and lots of "name dropping"!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 West Des Moines Business Incubator

We made welcome Jo Eckert from the West Des Moines Business Incubator.  What is it? How do you get hooked up with it? How can it help your idea become a real business? Who uses it?  What's the funding?  Yes, we asked and had answered those questions and more.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 Bicycles and the Legislature

So, what were all of those bikes doing riding through the City Center of Des Moines? It was the Iowa Bicycle Coalition Legislative Ride and fresh off the five mile ride is our friend Mark Wyatt of the Coalition with the who, what, and why of this event.  Two words: Economic Development.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.