CIRAS Innovation Summit to Map Future for Iowa Machinery Makers

• Jeff Eckhoff

Iowa machinery manufacturers have seen their share of U.S. machinery exports more than double since 2000, according to a CIRAS analysis of U.S. industry statistics. Now, manufacturers need to figure out how to build on that gain.

A CIRAS analysis, completed by Iowa State University economist Liesl Eathington for an April 2 summit on the state of machinery production in Iowa, shows that Iowans have a competi­tive advantage over the rest of the na­tion—especially when it comes to making agricultural and construction equipment.

CIRAS Sets Table for Food Companies’ Success

• Jeff Eckhoff

For Iowa State University meat specialist Joseph Cordray, it all comes down to Americans’ changing demands for dinner.

Evolving societal preferences have created new opportunities for Iowa food companies, Cordray believes. Firms just need to innovate—or, if necessary, to find someone who’s willing and able to help them do it.

“Your spouse’s definition of a homecooked meal I guarantee is not the same as your grandmother’s definition of a home-cooked meal,” Cordray, a professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University, said of the changing consumer demand. “Your grandmother used to spend all day in the kitchen making it.”

Ten Myths of Government Contracting – by Beth White

• Jeff Eckhoff

Government Contracting, or stated more simply “selling to the government” at any level; Federal, State and Local, is enough to make many business owners cringe at the thought.  “Too much red tape, good ole boy’s club” are some common thoughts, but all in all it is many times thought of as being a market that is just not worth the perceived headache. 

While selling to the government, just like any business endeavor, may not be for everyone, it is certainly a market to consider if you want to diversify your revenue stream.  To assist in the initial consideration of the market, we would like to take a stab at some of the myths surrounding working with the government. Some are promoting working with the government, some provide a more “realistic view” and some are taken straight from the government’s mouth…but all will provide an honest perspective that will help you make informed decisions about working with these customers.

Government Contracting Tip: Meet the U.S. Defense Commissary Agency

• Jeff Eckhoff

FYI, WE’RE SKIPPING CIRAS DIGEST TODAY IN THE INTEREST OF SHARING ANOTHER TIP FROM BETH WHITE FOR NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING. HERE’S BETH:

Did you know that there is a littler known agency within the Department of Defense that provides food and other household products for military families, with the major mission to improve their quality of life?

Government Contracting: It’s not just a bidding thing

• Jeff Eckhoff

(ED. NOTE: CIRAS’ government contracting specialists try to offer their clients weekly tips for boosting business. This latest is from contracting specialist Beth White.)

Did You Know that there are a lot of ways to do business with an agency other than just waiting for a bid opportunity?

CIRAS points Mason City nonprofit to cremation urns

• Jeff Eckhoff

David Crowe made the announcement without warning, his wife recalls. They were in the car one day, and he simply turned to say, “When I die, I want to be cremated.”

One week later, Crowe’s widow would become the first customer of a new business seeking to give Iowans a novel, low-cost burial alternative. The hope is that this new line of handmade wooden cremation urns, conceived with help from CIRAS by the nonprofit training center where Crowe worked before his death, will create new financial stability for the mentally and physically disabled folks who used to be Crowe’s coworkers. It also may solve problems for a few families along the way.

FYI: Friday, January 9, 2015

• Jeff Eckhoff

Happy Frozen Friday. (That’s a temperature-in-our-communications-office reference, not notice of a particular Disney-themed day at ISU.)

One of the things we hope to do with the CIRAS Newswire is make you more aware of interesting stories out there that impact industry or that you might have missed.

Here’s what we declare to be interesting today:

What we’re about

• Jeff Eckhoff

Welcome.

If you’re reading this, you’ve found CIRAS Newswire, the “publishing” arm of Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service.