Economic Development

The Business of the Refugee Alliance

You're about to meet Stephanie Moris who is the Director of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa (RACI). Given the fact that more people are leaving the State of Iowa than moving here gives business the opportunity to learn more about the refugee communities that are a part of RACI.  Here we'll talk about that, the barriers that many people face from debt to language to housing to a pathway to citizenship. We'll wind up with a conversation about a public celebration on 20 June...something that, perhaps, you might attend.  Here is Stephanie: 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 14 June 2021

Welcome back to yet another Monday and today, in the U.S., it is Flag Day...happy Flag Day to our friends in America. Coming up our Small Business Spotlight shines on the 1910 Sip House...a really cool story but first...the business news headlines:
More bad news out of Lordstown, Ohio;
Another mall owner flies for Chapter 11;
Wall Street is NOT the economy;
Ford is betting on...small;
Oil prices shot up again today;
The Wall Street Report;
The "quite rate" among workers is...massive.
Also, like we teased, you'll meet Karen and Jeff Lees the people behind the start-up of the 1910 Sip House. It's quite the story...and how they ended up in the Small Business Spotlight is also quite a story.  To listen to that conversation, click here.

The Business News Headlines 1 June 2021

Welcome to a brand new month and, if this was your first day back, we hope you had a safe and memorable Memorial Day Holiday. Here's what we've got for you today:
Texans and Tesla...it's a story;
Wages and truck drivers and you;
West Virginia governor and $700 million;
B.P. back in the U.S...think solar and why;
Chip makers cashing in;
Unions and Restaurants...a story;
The Wall Street Report;
Ride hailing gets more...pricy.
For the interview you'll meet Deb Brown and Becky McCray from SaveYour.town a two woman company out to help Rural America re-think and refresh. They are here to chat it up about the stories often missed by the media...and how do they know?  They asked folks that live in rural communities across the country.  To listen in, click here!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

Survey of Rural Challenges with Deb Brown & Becky McCray

When we saw the press release come through last week the headline pointed to the fact that far too often the media covering rural communities fail to report on what rural folks say are the true challenges they face. And, it's not just opinion. For years Becky McCray and Deb Brown from SaveYour.Town have collected surveys from rural residents and what these folks say are issues often does not match what is being reported. It's a great conversation and it's right here.  One more thing, if you want to know more about population and what makes a place a "micropolitan" or "nanopolitan" community here is that link. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity with Doug Minter

Here is a conversation with Doug Minter that I had back in 2018 during a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. At the time Doug was the Director of Small Business Development for the Knoxville, Tennessee Chamber. Since 2005 Doug has also owned the Minter Consulting Group and today is working with the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce based in Toronto. What he has to say about diversity, inclusion and equity is as important today as it was when we sat down for this conversation. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

EntreFEST 2021 with Jill and Jourdan

Coming up in June is EntreFEST 2021 a multi day event held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that focusses on building understanding, community and providing resources for entrepreneurs from across the county. Here Jill Wilkins, COO for NEWBOco and Jourdan McChesney the EntreFEST Event Coordinator visit with me about what it is, who should go, how to get there and if you want to do the event virtually you can join from wherever you are on the planet.  And, if you sign up feel free to use the Promo Code LIBBIE to get 20% off your registration fee.  Nice....
Thanks for listening! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 7 April 2021

Mid-Week and thanks for being here. Today was one of those odd days on Wall Street and we'll share details plus for the interview a massive transformation of a shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa caught our attention.  But first, the news:
Stop working and go for a walk...no, really;
Amazon does not want to talk about this;
The My Pillow guy is getting hit again;
He said "tax breaks have got to go". Stunning;
T-Mobile has a new promotion and it's big;
Janet Yellen and more tax news;
The Wall Street Report;
It seems Ketchup just can't...catch up.
Plus for the interview the stunning story about how one mall owner is totally transforming one of her properties. Our guest is Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors. She'll share a story about the difference between shopping centers in Europe and the U.S. as well as the retail reality that has brought down so many malls. Then we'll get into the amazing transformation of a property in Des Moines, Iowa.  It is...groundbreaking. To listen to that conversation, click here. 

Transforming A Shopping Mall & What A Story!

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.
 

Stand Up Rural America with Lorie Vincent

What does Rural America want...and need?  Meet Lorie Vincent the principal at Acceleration by Design based in Austin, Texas. Here we talk about the second Stand Up Rural America which will take place April 27 - 29 in Charleston, West Virginia. So, what is it? Why does it matter? Who will learn and why it's important that you show up and steal as many ideas as possible. Registration is going on right now. Meet Lorie Vincent: 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 25 March 2021

It's a busy business news day but we start off today with a special note from FEMA and while it's not business it may be helpful for those of you listening. Here's what we've got today:
FEMA to help pay for burial costs;
No, that vaccine was meant for...
127 Million Households a big number;
Savings and getting a better bank deal;
Not another toilet paper shortage;
Good news from the unemployment line;
The Wall Street Report;
Getting high in New York State.
For the interview it's Desmund Adams with us from Focus and Find in the closing days of National Women's Month. Here is the question: As women make up the majority of Americans why are they not better represented in board rooms and c-suites?  And, what if we told you that if that happened businesses could drive better profits?  Click here to listen!