Q: Tell me about your role at CIRAS and they type clients you work with? A: I lead our automation team of four, which includes myself, Eric Higgins, Kirk Haaland, and Ty Hill. We generally work with manufacturers, helping them understand what’s possible with automation and helping them prioritize and justify specific automation opportunities. We … Continue reading Q & A With CIRAS Automation Leader, Andrew Friend
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 fifth consecutive month. All indicators on the national scale registered as contracting, although most were near neutral. Mid-American … Continue reading Watching Iowa’s Economy: April 2023
Not many small businesses have staff who can spare several hours a week pursuing government contracts. It can be time-consuming to determine which government agencies to contact, to research their needs and protocols, and to prepare a sales pitch. It’s even a challenge just to find the right person in the right department—and to get … Continue reading Meet the Buyer Events Lead to Immediate Results
This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. Tell us a little about yourself and your work. Hello, My name is Brenda (Vande Voort) Martin. I’m employed with the Iowa MEP (CIRAS) at Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Ames, … Continue reading Brenda Martin: Create a vision of what an industry’s future could become with you involved.
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
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
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 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 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
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