Smart Ag, the startup developing autonomous farming equipment platforms, has opened its new headquarters at 1115 South Bell Avenue in Ames. The new facility has half of its 12,000 square feet devoted to office space for its current 25 employees, while the other half is designated for research, development and…
If there is one symbol for Iowa agriculture and innovation, it is the tractor. Since the machine’s early history in the corner of northeast Iowa, the tractor has been the most persistent yet ever-changing mark of innovation – and some controversy – in U.S. agriculture. While the history is long…
CIO, Ruan Transportation Management Systems Ruan Transportation began in 1932 during the Great Depression with a single truck and a single load. Today, the company has its third generation of the Ruan family in leadership and has grown to more than 315 nationwide operations, 7,500 trailers and 5,600 employees. Among…
Des Moines-based Seneca Cos., a supplier and services provider to the retail petroleum industry, announced this week that it has partnered with ChargePoint, a California-based electric vehicle (EV) charging station network. As a signature partner, Seneca will represent ChargePoint’s entire product line and provide product support throughout Seneca’s footprint in…
It may have been overhyped, but blockchain technology is real and coming on in a very big way, reports the Corridor Business Journal. Streamlining international trade finance is becoming a high-demand application for blockchain technology, eliminating multiple copies of documents and narrowing the time needed to complete international trade transactions.
City by city, the first few tons of 5G wireless internet equipment is being installed — and protested, as CityLab reports. 5G networks have only just begun to spread — a few providers, including AT&T and Verizon, have started going live in a handful of cities (Verizon announced 5G service will be arriving in…
Iowa applicants applying for the USDA “ReConnect” Grant Program will have an advantage applying for the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced this week. The program, announced in December 2018, makes about $600 million in grants and loans available for broadband providers in rural areas that do…
A community broadband equity pilot project between the city of West Des Moines, Microsoft Corp., T-Mobile and other partners is entering phase two of the ambitious three-year plan, officials said at a news conference Wednesday. The city now offers free public Wi-Fi, managed by Ovation Network, from the West Des Moines…
CenturyLink has announced the completion of new broadband to about 21,000 rural Iowa homes and businesses, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The company announced last week the expanded broadband services, which reach more than 30 Iowa communities, including Muscatine, Winterset, Independence and Indianola. The expanded broadband was funded through the…
Cambrex Corp., which provides drug substance, drug product and analytical services across the drug lifecycle, has completed construction on a $24 million highly potent API manufacturing facility in Charles City, Cambrex reports. The 6,000 square-feet facility is undergoing validation and will be ready to launch projects in May.