Business News

Valero, which operates the Valero Renewables-Albert City ethanol plant and is a leader in providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, is donating $3,936 to the Albert City Ambulance Crew. The donation will be used to purchase safety equipment , including Air Max Helmets, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as tools that can quickly and safely sanitize an entire ambulance after calls. Pictured: Scott and Julie Olson of the Albert City Ambulance Crew. /Contributed...

October is Manufacturing Month, and the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is celebrating by featuring women in manufacturing across the region. From assembly workers to HR Managers and many in between, Corridor staff asked some of the area’s female manufacturing stars to share their experience in manufacturing. Their stories are being shared on the Corridor’s website, social media and newsletter through the end of the month...

A gift from Tyson Foods will provide 80,000 mealsto food insecure Iowans through Beef Up Iowa.  The Beef Up Iowa program is a partnership among Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Food Bank Association and Iowa’s beef industry organizations, and is an initiative of Gov. Reynolds’ Feeding Iowans Task Force led by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg. ...

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority have announced the launch of the new Residential Utility Disruption Prevention Program. The program will provide eligible households with up to $2,000 towards electric, natural gas and water bills if they are at risk of disconnection due to an inability to pay due to a COVID-19 related loss of income. Payments through the program will be made directly to utility providers and applied to the applicant’s account...

It’s once again time to start planning Bomgaars Ladies Night for the Storm Lake Bomgaars Store a night of Festive fun & fall shopping. For the past four years, Bomgaars has held a Ladies Night in the fall/winter. During this one evening, 5% of the total sales has been donated to cancer centers/ hospitals in the communities they serve. The first year they were able to donate over $18,000 to the 21 locations participating, last year, they were able to donate just over $40,015 to 88 locations...

Kemps, a well-known Midwestern dairy processor, has announced the milk processing facility located at 1188 Lincoln St. S.W. in Le Mars (formerly Dean Foods), is transitioning to become a part of the Kemps family. “Kemps has always been about bringing goodness — in the products that we produce and the communities that we serve,” said Greg Kurr, chief executive officer of Kemps. ...

Mollie and Amy Loughlin have opened a new, seasonal business in the former location of Main Street Pharmacy in Cherokee. The Loughlins own and operate the Book Vine and Underground Clothing next door to the shop, as well as the two Airbnb units above the retail space. Amy Loughlin is enjoying the new business, which was created for this 2020 holiday season...

The Storm Lake SOS Thrift Store presented a check for $20,000 to St. Mary’s School on Thursday. The contribution is raised through sales at the local thrift store, run by volunteers. The Storm Lake SOS Thrift Store has donated $100,000 since January 2020 to the St. ...

Rosecrance is pleased to announce Julie Enockson has been named Regional President of Rosecrance Jackson Centers. Enockson is a Siouxland native whose commitment to service began on her family’s farm, where she still remains involved today. After 20 years in the local manufacturing sector, she held the position of director of finance/controller at Mercy Medical Center. Enockson assumed the CFO role at Jackson seven years ago...

The IowaHousingSearch.org website offers Iowans searching for rental housing, including those that may be temporarily displaced due to natural disaster, a resource of up-to-date rental units with current vacancies. The website offers detailed listings of 56,000 housing units, including more than 2,200 immediately available units in the 27 counties declared disaster areas after the August derecho...

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) has donated more food over the past year than ever in its 85-year history, the company reported today. More than 30 million pounds, or the equivalent of 120 million meals, were donated by the company during the last 12 months to fight hunger...

The economy continues to improve in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business remains slower than before the coronavirus pandemic began, according to a monthly survey of business leaders released Thursday. The overall index for the region improved to 65.1 in September from August’s already strong 60. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below 50 suggests decline...

Mud On Main owner Jessica Kannegieter had a vision at a time in her life, that it would fun to have a business start-up, and control her own employment destiny. When she started the Mud On Main Coffee Shop over on the main drag of Aurelia years ago, there was no master plan to expand out into different locations around her area – it was a fun way to provide a good, down home service for her local patrons. ...

Mediacom Communications has provided a firsthand look at the future of connected-living during a smart home event powered by the next generation of broadband technology. Conducted in partnership with CableLabs and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, the tour of the Mediacom 10G Smart Home represented the first U.S. ...

Your thoughts on retirement may be among the many things in flux due to COVID-19. Some employers are offering early retirement incentives, and many Iowans are considering early retirement due to job challenges, health concerns or other reasons. On top of that, temporary policy changes have made it easier for people to withdraw from their retirement accounts during 2020...

August 31st marked the 20-year anniversary of Quad County’s incorporation, and during those 20 years, QCCP has enjoyed a strong relationship with the local fire departments. Without fail, firefighting personnel have always been quick to respond to any emergency that has required their assistance, one of the most recent being a dryer fire back in April of this year. ...

Buena Vista University (BVU) and Wellman of Creston, have become Strategic Partners, paving the way for a host of educational benefits now available to 300-plus employees of Wellman, a leader in the production of aerospace castings. Under the Strategic Partnership initiative, Wellman employees and their families are eligible for tuition discounts and/or grants in taking courses through BVU. ...

Delcias Bakery recently moved from their original downtown location, to a bigger building on North Lake Avenue with a brand new name - Delicias Super Market. A Storm Lake United Ribbon Cutting was held last week to celebrate their new home in the former Otto Furniture site. ...

King’s Pointe Resort in Storm Lake is in the process of interviewing for a new general manager, with some initial interviews taking place last week. Mark Clossey, who has served as manager for one year, recently submitted his resignation. Hie last day will be September 15. ...

Ciao Boji! (pronounced “chow”), a new Italian- and Mediterranean-themed restaurant with hand crafted cuisines by Juliana Domoras is now open. This family owned restaurant is easily accessible on Highway 71 in Arnolds Park, where the restaurant “Pho” was once located...

Pocahontas County Economic Development Commission (PCEDC) announced on Monday that they have awarded Aspen Leaf Cafe & Coffee House with a grant to open their doors in Pocahontas and TMC Tack & Supplies of rural Havelock with a grant to launch a mobile unit to sell tack and supplies all throughout Iowa and the Midwest...

Alliant Energy is beginning construction of its new headquarters building in Storm Lake. The company approached the city in late 2018 with plans to purchase almost 10 acres of land near the Lakeside Blacktop, across from Sunrise Pointe golf course. The roughly $7 million project includes office space, storage for trucks and equipment, and also a base for crews working on wind farm development. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

In Iowa, one in nine people struggle with food insecurity—meaning they have insufficient or unreliable access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy, active life. Fareway, in partnership with Food Bank of Iowa, is working to fight food insecurity by donating 21,600 dozen eggs to hungry Iowans in need...