Month: March 2023

Sarah Dvorak: Manufacturing is for Anyone Who Wants to Solve Problems and Serve Customers

This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. View the original blog post here.  Sarah Dvorak didn’t originally plan on a career in manufacturing, but her first career was not a good fit. Luckily, the opportunity to be part of a volunteer … Continue reading Sarah Dvorak: Manufacturing is for Anyone Who Wants to Solve Problems and Serve Customers

Did You Know? Small Business Development Contracts Program  

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) offers a program specific to small business contractors where small businesses compete against each other and not against large contractors. This program, separate from the DBE Certification, is called the Small Business Development Contracts Program. To be eligible for this, a small business must become a Certified Small Business Contractor … Continue reading Did You Know? Small Business Development Contracts Program  

Governor Reynolds, IEDA Announce $2 Million in Manufacturing 4.0 Funding

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Press Release Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced that Iowa will be investing an additional $2 million in the Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Program to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness in Iowa’s largest industry. The program helps small- to mid-size Iowa manufacturers invest in the adoption … Continue reading Governor Reynolds, IEDA Announce $2 Million in Manufacturing 4.0 Funding

Manufacturing 4.0 Assessments Exceed Expectations

Manufacturing 4.0 Assessments Exceed Expectations Iowa manufacturers are eager to incorporate advanced technologies into their enterprises. That was clear by the overwhelming response to the Technology Investment Grant Program led by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The goal of the effort is to assist Iowa manufacturers in becoming more competitive by adopting and leveraging … Continue reading Manufacturing 4.0 Assessments Exceed Expectations

CIRAS Intern Nationally Recognized

CIRAS intern Cassandra Swacker was nationally recognized at the Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in November 2022 for projects she completed with CIRAS. Swacker’s main project was in collaboration with On With Life, a nonprofit organization that works primarily with individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, to design and produce custom life aids to increase … Continue reading CIRAS Intern Nationally Recognized

Watching Iowa’s Economy: March 2023

Here is CIRAS’s quick look at major economic indicators for Iowa. For an introduction and a description of the indicators used, see our first post. Indicator Status Underlying Data Notes ISM Manufacturing PMI® Manufacturing contracted for the fourth consecutive month. Inventories and prices continued to grow, while most other measures remained contracted moderately. Mid-American Index … Continue reading Watching Iowa’s Economy: March 2023