Ready for Government Work

A small central Iowa agency specializing in marketing, advertising, and website development has taken a big step toward bidding on government contracting work thanks to its relationship with CIRAS. Andi Fagen, president and creative director of Creative DSM in Des Moines, met Kelly Freel at the Central Iowa Business Conference earlier this year. During a … Continue reading Ready for Government Work

CIRAS Staff News

Ben Drescher joined CIRAS as a Food and Feed Quality and Safety project manager. Ben Drescher recently joined CIRAS as a Food and Feed Quality and Safety project manager, contributing to implementing food quality and safety practices in Iowa’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors as part of the CIRAS partnership with ISU Extension’s Grain Quality Initiative. … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News

CIRAS Secures Five-year EDA Grant to Benefit Iowa’s Construction Industry

The U.S. Department of Economic Administration has chosen CIRAS to continue its role in the National University Center program. This designation, along with a five-year grant, will provide CIRAS with the resources needed to enhance its support for the construction industry in Iowa. As part of the new initiative, CIRAS will undertake four specific activities: … Continue reading CIRAS Secures Five-year EDA Grant to Benefit Iowa’s Construction Industry

Small Changes Lead to Big Wins

Making relatively small changes to one aspect of your business operation can make a big impact on productivity, your bottom line, and your culture. That’s the lesson learned by Tri-City Electric, which saved an estimated $20,000 after spending just five hours with CIRAS project manager Emily Betz. She was called in to help the company … Continue reading Small Changes Lead to Big Wins

CIRAS Supports CyLaunch

Members of the CyLaunch team were just months away from the competition they had been preparing for throughout the 2022-2023 school year when they learned their original plan to utilize tools from a local facility one of the members was interning at was not an option. The team was directed to CIRAS for assistance, still … Continue reading CIRAS Supports CyLaunch

Meet the Buyers Event Facilitates Business-Government Connections

In the competitive business landscape, building customer trust is paramount. To instill this confidence, businesses require visibility and a clear understanding of their offerings. Acknowledging this challenge, CIRAS is proactively addressing it. Our upcoming ‘Meet the Buyers’ event in Sioux City next month offers businesses and government entities a vital platform to connect.  Government procurement … Continue reading Meet the Buyers Event Facilitates Business-Government Connections

CIRAS Staff News: Meet Jayna Grauerholz

Jayna Grauerholz has joined CIRAS as a government contracting specialist on the APEX team. Jayna brings a wealth of experience and expertise in government contracting.  She is an experienced RFP writer and evaluator, contract drafter, negotiator, and manager, and is experienced in many other areas of government contracting. She previously worked for the Ames National … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Jayna Grauerholz

Did you know…..Updating your capabilities narrative, seen in the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search tool, is of no cost.

A capability statement is a marketing statement about your business and its capabilities, past performance, company data and essentially showcases who you are and what you do when doing business with the Federal Government or Prime Contractors looking for subcontractors. If your business is registered in SAM.gov, you may have received marketing emails stating that … Continue reading Did you know…..Updating your capabilities narrative, seen in the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search tool, is of no cost.

Q and A: Is “Made in America” back?

Content was generated for: the Iowa Association of Business and Industry | Manufacturing packs punch in Iowa’s economy In 2020, the pandemic’s strain on supply chains served as a wake-up call to Americans, highlighting our dependence on imported products and an intricate web of global logistics. Public support for manufacturing noticeably shifted. Businesses across the country also … Continue reading Q and A: Is “Made in America” back?

Are You Ready to Learn and Improve? Register Today for the ILC Annual Conference

 Are you eager to find inspiration and keen to explore techniques to drive continuous improvement and growth for you and your company? If so, we invite you to secure your spot for the 2023 Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC) Annual Conference on October 26 at the Meadows Conference Center in Altoona.  This event will unite hundreds … Continue reading Are You Ready to Learn and Improve? Register Today for the ILC Annual Conference