tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9551373661567717752024-10-06T22:51:20.268-05:00WASHINGTON. The Corridor’s Southern Destination. Innovative Business • Creative Culture • Healthy Lifestyle.Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-22696652264728838062011-02-19T12:24:00.001-06:002014-09-19T17:35:23.720-05:00

The blog news updates from the Washington Economic Development Group have moved to the "news" section of our new website. http://wedg.washingtoniowa.org/news/ You can still subscribe to e-mail updates and RSS feeds into your favorite RSS reader. My updates are also still pushed to Twitter @washingtoniowa. Headlines are also pushed to FaceBook group at My first experience with blogging was

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-67968725586808238752010-12-22T09:47:00.001-06:002010-12-22T09:53:59.227-06:00

Washington County's unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% from October into November, 2010.  This is the 2nd lowest unemployment rate in Eastern Iowa, behind Johnson County.  The total laborforce held steady at 12,200 with 11,600 employed persons in the County. Of the estimated 600 Washington County unemployed persons, only 168 were drawing Unemployment Insurance benefits (down

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-80526346930493189442010-12-09T22:03:00.001-06:002010-12-09T22:09:21.280-06:00

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines recently awarded $3.1 Million for 16 projects in Iowa through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Two of the 16 projects are in Washington County.  Riverside Senior Village received $110,000 for energy efficiency improvements to 28 senior affordable apartments, through FHLB partner Freedom Security Bank in Kalona. Village manager, Don Yoder

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-90011677720328039232010-12-08T14:00:00.032-06:002010-12-08T14:00:02.072-06:00

On Monday, several non-profit healthcare leaders met with Rep. Dave Heaton (R-District 91) of Mt. Pleasant about recently passed federal healthcare legislation and what it means in Iowa.  Rep. Heaton has served on the Iowa House - Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee for a number of years. Rep. Heaton's comments and insights were helpful but there are still many unknowns

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-78364109124717326032010-12-07T21:54:00.002-06:002010-12-07T22:32:14.127-06:00

School leaders from Washington, Mid-Prairie, Highland and Columbus School Districts, along with the Washington Economic Development Group, toured the innovative, new Kirkwood Community College - Jones Regional Education Center in Monticello, Iowa on Tuesday, December 7th. Jones Center director Kristy Black and Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich gave an overview of how the $6 Million Center came

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-63059518258128539322010-12-06T22:05:00.002-06:002010-12-06T22:10:43.307-06:00

Five important commercial expansion or relocation projects in Washington are moving toward completion in 2011. These will add significantly to the Washington tax base and help these businesses to grow. Mercy Family Practice of Washington - Part of Mercy Iowa City, this 17,000 s.f., $4 Million medical facility is scheduled for completion in late 2011 on South Iowa Ave.  The trusses being

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-81070876233252657172010-11-24T14:00:00.001-06:002010-11-24T14:44:18.841-06:00

Washington County's unemployment rate fell to 5.0% in October, 2010.  This is the 2nd lowest unemployment rate in Eastern Iowa, behind Johnson County.  The total laborforce also fell slightly to 12,200 with 11,600 employed persons in the County. Of the estimated 600 Washington County unemployed persons, only 176 were drawing Unemployment Insurance benefits (down from 215 in

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-25455645520823389342010-11-17T21:21:00.000-06:002010-11-17T21:21:13.775-06:00

Kelly Wood is getting ready to open the new location for Scandinavian Interiors in Riverside, Iowa's Eastside Commercial Site development.  The planned opening day is Friday, December 3rd, 2010. The store was a fixture for a number of years on the Coralville "Strip" but has been closed since the floods of 2008 almost (but not quite) inundated the business.  Wood, of rural Ainsworth,

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-3738959705199325532010-11-15T12:50:00.000-06:002010-11-15T12:50:54.853-06:00

Here is a great opportunity to get some info and give some feedback on a major Washington School improvement project. Washington Middle School Renovation Plan Public Forum Hosted by WCSD and Bergland and Cram Architects Tuesday, November 16, 2010 6:00pm - 8:30pm Washington High School Auditorium313 S. 4th Avenue Washington, IA 52353 6:00-6:30 pm Walk-through of (existing) high

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-61656662374329780172010-11-10T15:41:00.000-06:002010-11-10T15:41:35.598-06:00

There are quite a few building improvement projects in the Main Street Washington Downtown District that are either wrapping up or just getting underway.  All of them are making downtown a more attractive, business friendly, scene. Zager Plumbing and Heating at 204 S. Iowa Ave. did a facade and entryway project that included a new retractable awning and exposing some of the transom glass

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-39240729671190573812010-11-08T16:17:00.000-06:002010-11-08T16:17:04.238-06:00

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, IOWA The City of Washington has issued a Request for Proposals on a unique development opportunity in beautiful, historic downtown Washington. The City is offering a site for redevelopment under favorable terms. If interested, call or email David Plyman, City Administrator, to request a copy of the RFP at (319) 653‐6584 or dplyman@

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-75134998760077960472010-11-04T21:16:00.000-05:002010-11-04T21:16:39.390-05:00

The Bodywrx Fitness Center building on the east side of the Washington town square is starting to see some visible rennovations. Last week, new windows were installed. This is after the steel false front was removed, and the cinderblocks in the window spaces were removed.  What an improvement! Today, the first of two replacement cornices was installed. You can see from the

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-66858585072049114972010-10-28T23:00:00.000-05:002010-10-28T23:00:23.089-05:00

Washington County's unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% in September, 2010.  This is the 2nd lowest unemployment rate in Eastern Iowa, behind Johnson County.  The real positive news in the County was that the laborforce surged by 2.5% to 12,500 in September from 12,200 in August. The number of employed persons in the County also grew by over 200 to 11,800. It is encouraging to see

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-40353388671701311152010-10-27T21:40:00.001-05:002010-10-27T21:49:15.594-05:00

Construction work has begun on the first commercial development project adjacent to the year-old Super Wal-Mart store on Washington's east side. The first project is on approx. 2 acres in the Wiley Subdivision on the south side of Hwy 92 (Washington St.) and Wiley Ave., adjacent to Super Wal-Mart. Phase I of the project includes a 5,200 s.f. Pizza Ranch with a drive through. This is a larger

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-92005119165641508442010-10-25T22:35:00.000-05:002010-10-25T22:35:38.671-05:00

The Washington County project to pave about 7 miles of Wayland Road(W-55) south of the City of Washington, Iowa is moving along quickly toward completion this fall. Construction started last week. The 4' paved shoulders will include a rumble strip close to the edge of the motor roadway to improve safety for motorists on this hilly and winding road through the picturesque Crooked Creek (and Skunk

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-70482247095470577142010-10-15T15:19:00.000-05:002010-10-15T15:19:59.964-05:00

BELMONT, WISCONSIN - Montchevre Betin, award winning goat cheese producers hosted a grand opening celebration for a new anaerobic digester on October 8, 2010. The digester utilizes the waste stream from its 100,000 s.f. Belmont, WI cheese plant to make bio-gas, which is then burned to generate electricity.  Alliant Energy is purchasing all of the power from the digester, which is enough to

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-69698117065278580892010-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:002010-09-22T07:00:45.540-05:00

Washington County's monthly unemployment rate for August 2010 held steady at 5.4% for the second month.  This is the second lowest unemployment rate in all of Eastern Iowa, behind Johnson County with 5.1%. Washington County's labor force is over 12,200 and there are about 700 of those people that are considered unemployed. The State of Iowa's unemployment rate in August is unchanged from

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-44722466187326411762010-09-21T16:06:00.000-05:002010-09-21T16:06:04.688-05:00

MD Orthopaedics of Wayland, Iowa, has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in America. The company, started by entrepreneur and CEO John Mitchell, is listed as the 704th fastest growing private company in 2010. The company was reported to have 435% growth over the past 3 years, and sales of $4.2 million in the last year. MD Orthopaedics has also

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-66833509642043584962010-09-10T14:52:00.000-05:002010-09-10T14:52:55.879-05:00

The UI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the UI John Pappajohn Entrepreneruial Center (JPEC) are again offering a 7 week entrepreneurial training course, beginning Sept. 28. This initiative is designed to provide a wide range of learning experiences for individuals who wish to create a venture, learn the entrepreneurial process, or need to update their knowledge and skills to

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-4775823636426635082010-08-17T15:02:00.000-05:002010-08-17T15:02:01.193-05:00

Iowa Governor, Chet Culver announced yesterday in a press release that Main Street Washington and Bodywrx Fitness Center were among the recipients of $13 million in I-JOBS grants to support physical infrastructure projects in "Main Street Iowa" communities. The Bodywrx Fitness Center project, owned and operated by Teri Hartzler, received $250,000 in I-JOBS toward a total project of about $

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-29159723430519238392010-08-13T13:54:00.000-05:002010-08-13T13:54:48.249-05:00

The Iowa DOT is finishing up counting traffic around Washington County. Every four years, the Iowa DOT conducts extensive traffic counts throughout Southeast Iowa. These traffic counts include state and federal highways, arterial city and county roads, and even some lower use residential roads. The data collected this summer will not be available until the Spring or Summer of 2011. Traffic

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-17085373357616299192010-08-03T22:09:00.000-05:002010-08-03T22:09:51.622-05:00

Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) has announced the KIB Community Beautification Grant Program, a competitive funding source for communities under 5,000 in population. Up to $5,000 will be awarded for beautification projects, and up to $15,000 will be awarded for projects addressing derelict buildings. In the Washington County area, the eligible communities include Ainsworth, Brighton, Crawfordsville,

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-59743206334003823902010-08-03T21:38:00.001-05:002010-08-13T15:53:38.098-05:00

The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Small Business Loan program earlier this year, and set aside $5 million. The aim is to create and keep jobs in Iowa’s recession-damaged economy by providing financing to eligible small businesses. - by Jennifer Jacobs (with some editing from Ed Raber) To be eligible for the Iowa Small Business Loan program, the small business or entrepreneur must: be

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-65581388596670737942010-07-26T14:57:00.000-05:002010-07-26T14:57:09.565-05:00

     SHERIDAN, IN, July 22, 2010 – JBS United, Inc., has acquired a feed mill and the surrounding property in Washington, Iowa that was previously owned by Practical Environmental Solutions.  Purchased through an auction on July 21st, 2010, the plant was not currently operating, so no jobs will be lost, and it is likely some jobs will be added in the area by the new JBS

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955137366156771775.post-57414598097503972192010-07-16T16:56:00.000-05:002010-07-16T16:56:44.689-05:00

DES MOINES - A state board Thursday agreed to invest $25,000 in a feasibility study for a proposed Iowa City project exploring a humane way to euthanize horses and process the meat for animal consumption. The state Economic Development Board gave unanimous support for a grant to Responsible Transportation, LLC, a startup company that intends to "consolidate unwanted horses across the Midwest"

Ed Raber, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182602953238883920noreply@blogger.com