Iowa is facing a critical nursing shortage, with 70% of its medical facilities struggling to find qualified staff and nursing institutions turning away students due to lack of space and instructor availability. In response, VRSim, a company with operations in Waterloo, aims to address this issue through innovative virtual reality (VR) technology. VRSim’s VR training … Continue reading Virtual Reality Eases Nursing Staffing Challenges
Year: 2024
CIRAS Partner Provides Industry Access to Premier Packaging Expertise
When a food industry client of Multi Packaging and Printing was having trouble with bags of cheese bursting, the Newton-based company turned to CIRAS, which had the perfect resource to address the problem: the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium (PFPC). Some Multi Packaging and Printing bags burst after being filled with cheese, sealed, and dropped … Continue reading CIRAS Partner Provides Industry Access to Premier Packaging Expertise
Predictive Maintenance Saves Big in Lost Production Costs
For Leo Avila, maintenance manager at Prairie Farms Dairy in Dubuque, it is not a matter of if, but when, critical equipment stops functioning and how many dollars are lost. Avila is responsible for running the multimilliondollar dairy coop facility that operates 24 hours per day. Inevitably, one of the hundreds of machines at the … Continue reading Predictive Maintenance Saves Big in Lost Production Costs
CIRAS: A Strategic Asset in Workforce Management
While language classes are not among the range of services CIRAS offers, its guidance on workforce strategies inspired Jake Oakland, president of Percival Scientific in Perry, to learn Spanish. It is part of an effort to connect with Percival employees and the larger Perry community, where individuals of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin account for … Continue reading CIRAS: A Strategic Asset in Workforce Management
Iowa manufacturers outline advancements, challenges from integrating AI, robotics, vision systems to production
As an industry already familiar with implementing advanced technology, Iowa’s manufacturing sector is one to watch as everything from robotic and automation technologies to solutions powered by artificial intelligence become more sophisticated and companies must decide where to invest resources.
Overview of the Final Rule on DBE and ACDBE Programs
On April 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published its Final Rule for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) programs. This rule marks the most significant overhaul of the DBE Program in a decade, fundamentally impacting Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) nationwide. The Final Rule aims to enhance the program’s … Continue reading Overview of the Final Rule on DBE and ACDBE Programs
CyLaunch Rockets to Success at NASA Student Launch
Members of the CyLaunch team headed back to Huntsville, Alabama, in April for the NASA Student Launch Competition. There, the team showcased their skills and resilience. Their participation was marked by both triumphs and challenges, highlighting the intense nature of the competition. CyLaunch is a student rocketry team at Iowa State University that designs … Continue reading CyLaunch Rockets to Success at NASA Student Launch
CIRAS Staff News: Meet John Michel
John Michel joined CIRAS as a Government Contracting Specialist with the APEX Accelerators, serving clients in Western Iowa. John brings over seven years of expertise in public procurement and contracting, specializing in various commodity areas, including scientific, medical (veterinary), construction, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations). In his past duties as a Senior Procurement Agent, … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet John Michel
CIRAS Staff News: Meet Kathy McKown
Kathy has more than ten years of contracting-related experience in construction and consultant contracts and in sponsored research. In her duties as Manager, Contract Administration at FPM, she leveraged contract administration skills to oversee over $100M in annual expenditures and ensure compliance for federally-funded projects up to $40M. Kathy works with Iowa companies to develop … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Kathy McKown
Best Practices in Selling to Iowa’s Regent Universities
Exploring Best Practices for Engaging with State/Regent Universities Being well-prepared and strategic is crucial before approaching a State/Regent University with your products or services. Here are some refined practices to enhance your approach: In-depth Research: Delve into the university’s strategic goals, active initiatives, and existing contracts. Regularly check their websites for details on current contracts, … Continue reading Best Practices in Selling to Iowa’s Regent Universities