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
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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
New Tool Available to Help Companies with Workforce Strategy
You must understand the needs, expectations, and desires of your current and future workforce before deciding what changes to make. Your company can identify areas of potential strength you can build on and weaknesses you may want to address by using a new assessment offered by CIRAS In collaboration with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), … Continue reading New Tool Available to Help Companies with Workforce Strategy
Employers Find Workforce Success through Student Opportunities
Using Career Fairs to Engage Future Workers Iowa State career fairs are an excellent way for employers to meet, interview, and interact with students to grow an educated and well-rounded workforce. In-person fairs occur each semester and offer employers the opportunity to fill interview schedules, network with students and increase name recognition. The College of … Continue reading Employers Find Workforce Success through Student Opportunities
CIRAS Looks Forward to 2023
CIRAS Service Highlight Digital Manufacturing Lab eNews Government Contracting Growth Iowa Lean Consortium Manufacturing Networking Supply Chain Technology Assistance Workforce
It’s been a wild and wooly economy the past three years, but CIRAS is looking forward to the upcoming year with new ways to help Iowa businesses manage oncoming challenges. “2023 is going to be a year where we learn a lot about where the economy and industry is going in the next three to … Continue reading CIRAS Looks Forward to 2023
Watching Iowa’s Economy: January 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 second consecutive month. Most measures indicate a general slowing; however, employment grew in December. Mid-American Index Midwest manufacturing … Continue reading Watching Iowa’s Economy: January 2023
Wrapping Up 2022 and Preparing for 2023
As we wrap up 2022, our team wanted to take the opportunity to provide Iowa businesses doing business in the government sector with updates and considerations. Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has a new registration site. The new state of Iowa DAS electronic bidding system, the Iowa Management of Procurement and Contracts Systems (IMPACS), … Continue reading Wrapping Up 2022 and Preparing for 2023
Q&A with Retiring CIRAS Director Ron Cox
CIRAS Director Ron Cox is retiring after more than 25 years at CIRAS. We sat down with him to discuss what he has seen develop over the past quarter of a century and where he thinks things might be headed. Q: How did you get your start at CIRAS? A: I was returning to … Continue reading Q&A with Retiring CIRAS Director Ron Cox
1st Annual Construction Diversity Accelerator – Hosted by Turner Construction & CIRAS
An international construction company is partnering with CIRAS to increase the participation of underrepresented contractors on its projects. Turner Construction, the largest domestic contractor in the U.S., and the CIRAS Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) are offering a free five-week program designed to enhance the ability of Underrepresented Business Enterprises (UBEs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises … Continue reading 1st Annual Construction Diversity Accelerator – Hosted by Turner Construction & CIRAS