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ABI Members Return from Washington D.C.
ABI members and public policy team returned Wednesday night from a three-day visit to the nation's capital. The Biennial ABI D.C. Fly-in included meetings with every single member of the Iowa Congressional delegation, along with briefings at the White House and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Four key issues
were the focus of discussions with members of Iowa's Congressional delegation: 1) Tax reform, 2) Workforce challenges, 3) Controlling health care costs, and 4) Regulatory challenges.
Secretary of State Announces Business Fast Track Filing System
In last week's newsletter you read about the Secretary of State's rule proposal to increase business fees.
Click here
if you missed the article. After the rule was released, Secretary Paul Pate announced the Fast Track Filing system which, according to the
press release
, will provide Iowa businesses with quicker response times for business filings and free up staff to handle a higher phone call volume to assist Iowa's business community quicker and more efficiently. ABI has been in touch with the Secretary of State's office and other organizations that are affected by the rule change. Thank you to those members who have responded with your feedback about the rule. As a reminder, please get any feedback to Jessica Harder at
jharder@iowaabi.org
by Friday, October 6. The Administrative Rules Review Committee will hear about this at their meeting on Tuesday, October 10.
Interim Study Committee on Opioid Epidemic to Meet
Members of ABI's Workplace and Product Safety Committee added policy the last two years during the policy development process to address the opioid epidemic taking place around the country and specifically in Iowa. The Legislature is looking at potential options for policies that may help deter prescription drug abuse and will be meeting on October 16 and 17 to hear from individuals and professionals, and recommend options. Information about the meeting, once available, will be posted
here
. Keep reading for ABI's 2018 policy position on prescription drug abuse and reform.
Voter Registration Week Over, Early Voting Begins
Last week was Employee Voter Registration Week. Thanks to all the ABI members who participated! Now that EVRW has concluded, early voting in Iowa for local elections begins. Like school board elections, at times it is difficult to find information out about who is running. Make sure to check your local paper for information about candidate forums. The best way to get involved and make a difference is to run for local office. ABI has several members who are local elected officials or are running for office, and we thank you for your commitment to local government. For more information about voting in this year's November 7 elections go to
www.iavotes.com
.
IIPAC Directory Deadline is October 6
Earlier this spring and summer, you heard from us regarding ABI's Iowa Industry Political Action Committee, or IIPAC. Although you haven't heard from us much lately, that doesn't mean we don't need your help. IIPAC is about to launch the fall campaign where we will make one last push for much-needed PAC dollars prior to the year's end. We hope you will consider ABI for a PAC-to-PAC contribution if your company has a PAC. If you've been a past IIPAC supporter, we want to make sure you are included in ABI's Annual Business Resource Guide. We need your contribution by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. So please consider a
$100 personal contribution
today!
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Emily Schmitt
"Giving Back" Conference Theme Inspires Charitable Partnership
In early 2016, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry was planning its annual conference and invited proposals for speakers around that year's theme, "Giving Back." Here at Sukup Manufacturing, we like to say that giving back is "inGRAINed" in our culture, and I immediately decided to submit a proposal to present about the Sukup Safe T Home
®.
The Sukup Safe T Home
®
is a grain bin modified into a hurricane-, earthquake-, and termite-proof 254-square-foot home. The home features a lockable door and a ventilated roof, and is designed to stand for 75 years. Sukup Manufacturing first began producing the Safe T Home
®
in 2011 in response to the earthquake that devastated the country of Haiti. The company has worked with its partner, GoServ Global, to distribute 280 homes to date. The 200 homes currently located in Haiti withstood 145-mile-per-hour winds during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 with minimal damage.
Keep reading...
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Innovation Roadshow to Be Held October 10
Business leaders and executives from north central Iowa will share examples of their successful integration of philosophies and actions that have fostered innovative thinking in their own businesses. The event is October 10, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield.
Learn more and register online
.
Palmer Group Promotes David Leto to President
David Leto has been promoted to president of the Palmer Group, the company
announced
. He succeeds Austin Palmer, who will remain with the company as board chairman.
Leto has over 18 years of experience in the employment business. He joined Palmer Group in 2004 and has held multiple leadership roles during his time.
The Concord Coalition to Host Interactive Principles & Priorities Budget Exercise
Be part of an interactive exercise where you'll learn how challenging it is to balance the federal budget and why it matters. The free event is October 10, 7-9 p.m., at the Drake University Olmsted Center.
Learn more and register here.
ATW to Host "Driving Difficult Conversations" Training Session
Participants will be shown how to conduct a difficult conversation that leads to improved relationships and increased productivity. The training session will be October 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., in Urbandale. For more information about the session,
click here.
To register,
click here
.
46th Annual Iowa Governor's Health and Safety Conference is November 2-3
Join occupational safety and health professionals from around Iowa for two days of conversation on how to best protect Iowa workers. Network with colleagues, make new contacts and continue your growth as an OESH professional.
Click here for more information. The event is hosted by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council.
Owner Revolution Acquires Blue Wave Ultrasonics
Owner Revolution in Adair
announced it has acquired Blue Wave Ultrasonics, a world-class manufacturer of ultrasonic cleaning systems based in Davenport. The purchase is an important addition to other Iowa companies owned by Owner Revolution and furthers Owner Revolution's strategy of acquiring successful manufacturing businesses in niche markets in the Midwest.
2017 Iowa Trends in Talent Development Survey Reinforces Value of Talent Development
ATW Training Solutions recently released the results of its 11th annual Iowa Trends in Talent Development Survey. The survey was conducted between August 14 and September 1, 2017. 118 respondents--who represented a variety of Iowa industries, companies and organizations--completed the survey. Read the
survey overview and the
full survey results.
Manufacturing Parent's Night of the Cedar Valley is October 26
Elevate Advanced Manufacturing will host Manufacturing Parent's Night of the Cedar Valley on October 26 at 5:30 p.m. The event will include tours of Power Engineering & Manufacturing and TechWorks: Makerspace & UNI Metal Casting Center in Waterloo. For more information on the event and how to register,
click here.
Call for Manufacturing Day Photos
Tomorrow is Manufacturing Day, and we know many ABI members will be hosting events at their facility. If you're hosting an event, please email photos of the event to
dhildahl@iowaabi.org, and we may include them in our e-newsletter.
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