Blog - Grow Cedar Valley

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - May 9, 2023

posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Government Affairs

The Iowa Legislature adjourned the First Session of the 90th General Assembly on May 4th, one week past the scheduled 110 days. Governor Reynolds and leadership in both the House and Senate worked together in the final weeks to reach a compromise on key policy issues including the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, property tax reform, and youth employment regulations.

Cedar Valley Leadership Institute Supports 24/7 BLAC and BBEA Graduates

posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Grow Cedar Valley

This year's Red Team from the Cedar Valley Leadership Institute Class partnered with 24/7 BLAC to support the 2023 BBEA Graduates!

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - April 18, 2023

posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Government Affairs

Movement at the Capitol slowed considerably last week with the Senate holding no floor debate and both chambers holding very few subcommittee and committee meetings. One bill of significance that we have followed throughout the session changing child labor laws passed the Senate at 4:52 am Tuesday morning.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - April 4, 2023

posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in Government Affairs

The number one legislative policy priority for Grow Cedar Valley is talent attraction, recruitment and retention. We have been closely watching proposed legislation that deals with issues and ideas that could potentially help in attracting and retaining workforce. The main areas we have been tracking are childcare, housing, placemaking, and workforce readiness.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - March 21, 2023

posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Government Affairs

The number one legislative policy priority for Grow Cedar Valley is talent attraction, recruitment and retention. We have been closely watching proposed legislation that deals with issues and ideas that could potentially help in attracting and retaining workforce. The main areas we have been tracking are childcare, housing, placemaking, and workforce readiness.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - March 6, 2023

posted on Monday, March 6, 2023 in Government Affairs

First Funnel is now behind us. The beginning step in the Legislature's self-imposed system of winnowing the upwards of 1500 bills introduced in the first eight weeks of the session has now passed. It seems that more bills made it through this first narrowing than usual, but now they face passage in one Chamber and passage through a full committee in the other prior to the second funnel on March 31.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 20, 2023

posted on Monday, February 20, 2023 in Government Affairs

The last two weeks have seen a great deal of legislative activity. The Legislature is racing to move bills through the process before the first funnel or first winnowing step occurs on March 3. Back-to-back subcommittee meeting are being held throughout each day, along with meetings of the full committees in both the House and the Senate. The weeks leading up to the first funnel are always among the most hectic of the session.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 13, 2023

posted on Monday, February 13, 2023 in Government Affairs

The results of the second annual Iowa Chamber Alliance Talent Poll revealed some important and interesting trends. At our February 10 Friday Forum, Dustin Miller, ICA's Executive Director, shared the findings of the Talent Poll.

Grow Cedar Valley Launches Black-Owned Business Promotional Campaign

posted on Monday, February 13, 2023 in Grow Cedar Valley

In commemoration of Black History Month, Grow Cedar Valley launched a promotional campaign to promote local black-owned businesses today entitled #GrowDiversity. The campaign highlights seven businesses with business profiles in their business directory, video promotions on their website and social media pages, and a feature in the Newsletter “EXTRA,” produced by Grow Cedar Valley.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 6, 2023

posted on Monday, February 6, 2023 in Government Affairs

We're into the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session and education has been center stage so far. On other fronts, the pace quickened during the fourth week of session with committee activity increasing, sending several bills to floor debate in both the House and Senate.