West Des Moines-based payment processing company VizyPay is using its Look Local First initiative to help local businesses rebuild after pandemic-related disruption with free digital marketing efforts, VizyPay announced this week. Look Local First initially launched in 2019 to help small businesses implement a full digital marketing strategy with social…
A new analysis by Amazon finds that Iowa leads the nation in the per-capita number of small and medium-sized businesses selling through the tech giant’s online platform, reports the Corridor Business Journal. Iowa is home to nearly 10,000 small and medium-sized sellers on Amazon, earning it the top ranking for the…
The East Polk Innovation Collaborative, Facebook and other local partners have established the East Polk County Relief Fund for local COVID-19 relief, supported by an initial $350,000 contribution by Facebook, the company announced this week. The fund will designate $250,000 for small business support and $100,000 for nonprofit and individual…
Fourteen Central Iowa schools and nonprofits were awarded 2020 Facebook Community Action grants ranging from $3,900 to $62,386, the Facebook Altoona Data Center announced this week. The full list of local organizations is available online. The Altoona Data Center also announced applications are open for the Facebook Small Business Grants…
The Urbandale Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Shop Where I Live to launch an online platform for small businesses to sell products and services virtually. The marketplace, www.centraliowa.shopwhereilive.com, is free of charge to Urbandale Chamber members, and businesses have begun to add products and services to the site. The…
America’s SBDC Iowa announced Laurie Pieper as the new tech director for the state, who began her new role Feb. 3. As tech director, Pieper will lead the SBDC’s Rural Development Initiative and work with clients and resource partners to develop opportunities for commercialization of Iowa businesses’ technologies, products and…
Anders Sörman-Nilsson was a lawyer before he became an internationally-known futurist, author and public speaker on the TEDGlobal circuit. His mother, who still runs the family menswear business in Stockholm, Sweden, still thinks of him as a “glorified astrologer,” Sörman-Nilsson told the audience at this week’s Iowa Technology Summit during…
The Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce and Facebook will co-host “Boost With Facebook” Monday, Sept. 16. Area business representatives are invited to attend the free education event at Adventureland Inn and receive digital skills training to use Facebook to build their business. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. and the presentation begins at…
Grow with Google, the tech giant’s initiative to bring digital literacy workshops to students, small businesses and job seekers nationwide, will be planting itself in the Des Moines Public Library system on Monday, April 15. From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Library will host four free workshops for registered…
Two Iowa businesswomen will accept entrepreneurial awards by America’s SBDC Iowa later this month for their leadership as Small Business Development Center clients. Sara Winkleman, founder/owner of S&B Farmstead Distillery, is the 2019 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award winner, and Staci Ackerson, owner of Shankland Insurance, is the 2019…