Business Horizons: Scholarships Available
There is still time for high school students you know to register for Business Horizons 2016! Hurry, though - applications are accepted until July 14. 

During the week, Business Horizons participants will experience the world of business through team competitions and challenges and learn more about themselves and the career opportunities available to them here in the state of Iowa. Business Horizons is FUN, inspiration, action-packed and referred to as the "best week students have all summer!"

The ABI Foundation is searching for students from Iowa high schools to take advantage of scholarships from generous local sponsors. Students from the following schools can attend for only $25 (normally $385):
Des Moines Public Schools (1)
Grinnell High School (1)
Marshalltown High School (2)
Ottumwa High School (2)
Perry High School (3)
Webster City High School (1)
Westfork High School (1) 

Click here to learn more and download an application. You can also contact the foundation with questions or to hold a spot for your student in this year's program.
Legislative News
Registration open for August public policy committee meetings
Registration is open for ABI's annual public policy committee meetings, which will take place between Aug. 2 and Aug. 23. All meetings are held at the ABI office and are free for members. The committees review existing policies, propose new policies and make recommendations to the ABI Board of Directors for final approval of the legislative priorities and policies ABI will pursue in 2017. In the coming weeks, make sure to read the newsletter for announcements on speakers. Click here to register.

ABI meeting on Department of Labor overtime rules
ABI is considering hosting a meeting with a guest speaker from the U.S. Chamber and an ABI member company to discuss the new overtime rules that will go into effect in December 2016. The tentative date will be July 28. Click here if you are interested in more information.

Governors and ABI members converge on Des Moines
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will host the nation's governors in Des Moines, July 14-17, for the National Governors Association (NGA) meeting. ABI is a sponsor of the event and we are excited to see many ABI members are planning to attend the meeting. Keep reading...

Campaign finance filing deadline is one week away
The campaign finance filing deadline for ABI's PAC, IIPAC, is only one week away. Although we are running in line with last year's donations, we are only one-third of the way to our goal. Help us raise $5,000 by July 15! Donate $50 today!  Click here  to make your contribution.

State revenue growth less than expected
Iowa's 2016 fiscal year tax collections came to a close $42.4 million below estimates. During the year-long period ending June 30, State revenue grew only 1.6 percent versus the Revenue Estimating Conference's (REC's) March projection of 2.2 percent. Keep reading...

Department of Revenue to require electronic filing for W-2
The Iowa Department of Revenue has taken the first formal step to put in place a  new rule  requiring the electronic filing of W-2 and 1099 forms. Keep reading...
Expanding business with China
ABI members do business all over the world. Southeast Asia, in particular, has received a great deal of attention due to the size of its marketplace. In July, Des Moines is the center of activity related to China. 

ABI member company representatives and Kathy Anderson, ABI vice president member development and programs have been involved in a task force to develop economic exchange between Des Moines and its Chinese Sister City, Shijiazhuang. Now, the task force is compiling information about investment and opportunities for cooperation between the two cities. If your company is interested in exploring business relationships in Shijiazhuang, please contact Kathy Anderson, 515-235-0575. 
From the Desk of...
July offers the opportunity to take stock of the past year

Mike Ralston | President
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
mralston@iowaabi.org

ABI begins a new fiscal year each July 1. The date is much more than a simple accounting mark.

July is important to ABI because it provides the opportunity to take stock of the past year and prepare for success in the year ahead. First, did we meet the charge from the ABI Board of Directors to be fiscally responsible? Did we meet our financial goals during the past year and are we well established for the year ahead? Second and just as important, did we meet our programming goals? Is ABI serving members and providing resources that help improve member companies' bottom line? Keep reading...
Top News
New tax break estimated to save manufacturers $29 million a year  (Radio Iowa)
The new policy that went into effect July 1 means the state sales tax is no longer charged on consumable supplies used to manufacture something in an Iowa factory.

TechWorks design center holds open house  (Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier)
Dozens of manufacturers participated in an open house for the new Additive Manufacturing and Design Center at Cedar Valley TechWorks.

Survey: Millennial small business owners in it for the long haul   (Business Record)
A new Wells Fargo study shows millennial small-business owners are committed to their businesses for the long term and willing to take calculated financial risks and incur debt.

Upcoming Mercer seminar: Build a sustainable benefits strategy  (Mercer)
Mercer is hosting two breakfast seminars in Iowa - July 19 in Urbandale and July 20 in Iowa City - to discuss benefits best practices among mid-size employers.

Workiva customer submits first Inline XBRL filing with SEC (Workvia)
Workiva's Wdesk platform was used to submit the first Inline XBRL filing to the SEC since the agency allowed the voluntarily file-structured, financial statement format in the U.S.

Agile manufacturing brings jobs back to the U.S., Iowa  (Corridor Business Journal)
The ability to bring product conception to production in a short period of time is helping to bring production jobs back to America.

Des Moines business leaders pick 15 must-read books (Des Moines Register)
See what ABI members and others are reading this summer.
Governor's Club Sponsors