Kemin Industries CEO Chris Nelson signs an agreement renewal in 2017 with Ertharin Cousin, then-executive director of the World Food Programme. Photo provided Starting around 4 a.m. on Oct. 9, Kemin Industries colleagues in Asia began pinging president and CEO Chris Nelson’s cell phone with the news: the United Nations World Food Programme, a Kemin […]
Alliant Energy is launching the Clean Energy Blueprint for Iowa to transition to cleaner energy for customers using solar power and battery storage. The company also plans to discontinue coal generation in its Lansing facility by the end of 2022, while transitioning their Burlington Generating Station to natural gas in 2021. The Clean Energy Blueprint […]
Smart-building technology firms Igor and Somfy announced a new partnership to allow business owners the means to connect and control natural and manufactured lighting. Igor’s Nexos IoT platform enables automation of smart devices such as Somfy smart shading; both companies will host a webinar on Nov. 5 to cover technology requirements and use cases of […]
Nearly $9.4 million in grant funds are available in Iowa to expand broadband access to rural Iowa and 43 colleges and universities in the state. The state of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Education awarded nearly $4.4 million to increase internet connectivity for students in the 2020-21 school year; $5 million in additional broadband […]
One month after releasing its findings on the digital safety net for small businesses, the Connected Commerce Council (3C) hosted Iowa businesses, community supporters and State Auditor Rob Sand in a webinar exploring how small businesses and individuals used technology tools to stay operating during the initial COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Moderated by 3C President Jake […]
Iowa Workforce Development amended the Coronavirus Relief Fund Earn and Learn Grant released on Oct. 19 to expand applicant eligibility, IWD announced this week. High schools and previous recipients of the Coronavirus Relief Fund Employer Innovation Grant and Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Grant may receive additional funds of up to $250,000 through the Earn and Learn Grant. […]
AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force’s innovation catalyst, is extending the deadline for the Department of Defense Reimagining Energy Challenge, a program challenge to modernize and create resilient energy production, transmission, utilization and storage for the U.S. Air Force. The submission deadline to the Reimagining Energy Challenge is Oct. 29; participants who submit by Oct. 21 will be […]
MidAmerican Energy says it has idled nearly four dozen electricity-generating wind turbines while workers check them for safety after blades broke off of two similar turbines over the past two months, reports the Des Moines Register. Those blade failures follow a break earlier this year and one in 2019. The blades that fell recently were on […]
After Walmart’s annual Open Call pitch event, Des Moines-based Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce will be one of 175 small businesses to find itself on the shelves of the national retailer in early 2021, Walmart announced recently. Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce already is carried in national chains such as Whole Foods, Costco, Target and restaurants through […]
Des Moines nonprofit founder Nancy Mwirotsi received a $10,000 Nation of Neighbors grant from Royal Neighbors of America for a new initiative dedicated to building entrepreneurship skills among young women, the Royal Neighbors of America announced. Mwirotsi, founder of tech education Pi515, is developing the Girls Entrepreneurial Summit Program, which focuses on educating young women […]