One of our favorite times of the year is here! ‘Tis the season to remind everybody that there are awesome Iowa-made products to give as gifts! Stay well-equipped on and off the road with a new Truck Topper from Black River. Celebrate your special moments with custom photos and printed home decor from Photosynthesis. Give … Continue reading 8th Annual CIRAS Holiday Gift List
The original content was generated from The Industry Iowa Podcast, recorded on June 30, 2022. Q: Can you share your background and how you became involved with Iowa State and CIRAS? A: I started around 2006 after working as a chemist and obtaining a degree in chemistry from Iowa State University (ISU). After that, I … Continue reading Q&A with CIRAS Project Manager Brian Muff
Most businesses receiving services from our CIRAS APEX Accelerator program are receiving a Bid Match service from us no cost. This service helps businesses find formally-posted opportunities related to their products and services. The majority of posts found by the Bid Match, however, are in the solicitation phase, in which government agencies are actively seeking … Continue reading What Does the Forecast Say?
Participants in the next ExporTech 2.0 series can expect the same mix of in-person presentations and online content that made last year’s program so successful. “The hybrid format was well received by both the attendees and subject matter experts,” said Marc Schneider, a CIRAS project manager who leads ExporTech. “It provides a regular cadence for … Continue reading Gearing Up for Next ExporTech
In a business environment where adoption of technology is increasingly important—but also increasingly overwhelming—CIRAS is helping Iowa businesses identify the best systems and reduce the risk of adopting those systems. A case in point is Osmundson Manufacturing in Perry. Osmundson makes agricultural tillage equipment. It is a constant challenge to prevent soft-tissue injuries and the … Continue reading Technology Solves Workforce Challenges
Cruise down 350th Street in Osage and eventually you will drive past an eye-catching swath of land vibrant with wildflowers and butterflies. This 34-acre spread is the Jiri-Rita Prairie Park, which was developed by Valent BioSciences with support from CIRAS. The park symbolizes the value of connections: an Iowa company’s connection to its corporate values; … Continue reading Connections Cultivate Value-Based Actions
Lakeside Products has seen a substantial drop in the cost of producing door flaps for its pet doors despite the ever-increasing cost of raw materials. The savings is the result of a team effort involving the company, their mold supplier, and CIRAS. “Our injection molding partner has had some challenges with the quality of a … Continue reading Team Effort Yields Big Savings
Out-of-the-box thinking prompted by CIRAS helped a northeast Iowa manufacturer significantly increase interest in its intern program. JEDA Polymers, a Dyersville company that makes engineered resins, went from a few intern applicants to more than a dozen after the CIRAS workforce services team assisted the company with refining its recruiting process. CIRAS helped JEDA develop … Continue reading Broadening Intern Applicant Pool Results in a Big Win for JEDA
In the world of technology research and development, it’s all about gathering the best and brightest ideas and then synthesizing them so a product can take the next step forward. That’s why PowerFilm Solar turned to CIRAS. PowerFilm designs and manufactures custom solar modules and power solutions—including lightweight, flexible, waterproof solar-powered battery chargers. They’re used … Continue reading Solar Cell Manufacturer Turns to Iowa State Students for Bright Ideas
In today’s competitive business landscape, attracting top talent is as crucial as attracting customers. For small and medium businesses, this can be a real challenge. So how do you make your company the top pick for job seekers? Before diving into digital strategies, it’s essential to understand one fundamental principle: authenticity is key. If your … Continue reading Digital Authenticity: How True Workplace Excellence Meets Online Marketing